Everyone has that friend who prominently displays the story of their life. In general, all pictures feature the friend in question, and said friend always looks remarkably, unusually attractive. It’s true—pictures of loved ones shouldn’t necessarily be relegated to an overlooked drawer, but keep the following gentle, interior designer–approved guidelines in mind if you insist on leaving them out.

Corkboard

A contained montage on the side of the fridge (or even on the inside of a kitchen cabinet) is a good way to keep your summer memories accessible—but out of the way. Or consider Brocade Home’s ornate approach to a traditional piece of cork (left, $199, brocadehome.com), which elevates a utilitarian message-board to something worth hanging in your kitchen or near your front door. “The frame will make any grouping—whether it’s postcards, to-do lists or photographs—look more intentional and less messy,” explains Miron.

Frames

“I hate millions of picture frames everywhere! They drive me nuts,” explains Tatyana Miron, one half of interior-design firm Pappas Miron. “They take up a lot of space, create clutter and collect a lot of dust.” If you must employ them, relegate their use to a private space, such as a bedroom or bathroom (or group them in a throughway, such as the hall wall). Invest in well-made, monochromatic frames—all silver, all wood, all white (see Anthopologie frames at left, $18–$22, anthropologie.com)—to make the collection look more cohesive and less like it belongs in a dorm room. If you’d like to recycle what you already own, consider a unifying coat of spray paint.

Album

“A photo album is really the most elegant solution,” Miron says, adding that the preciousness of its pages demands a tight edit. “Choose the best of a group of similar shots and toss the rest. If you’re going to make someone flip through your pictures, they shouldn’t be redundant.” A leather-bound volume from T. Anthony (20 pages, $125, tanthony.com) can be embossed, making for an excellent gift.

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