{decorating with style} From Awkward Inset to Floating Photo Shelves

When we purchased our home, one of my first decorating challenges was figuring out what to do with the 5 inch deep inset in the corner of our living room. I originally tried tucking a console table in the nook, but it just looked awkward.

So I sat and stared at the space for a while until it hit me - floating photo shelves!

Five inches really isn't deep enough for much - but it turns out to be the perfect depth for tabletop picture frames.

A family friend installed the shelves for us while we were occupied with other projects around the house. He stained the shelves to match our alder wood trim, then simply inset key hole hangers into the back of the wood shelves to hang them. 

The shelves are 54 inches wide, each placed about a quarter of the way in from the right and left ends, supports the shelves nicely. They do tilt forward just a bit {which bugs me and I'm working on a fix}, but not enough to pose a problem for the frames.

Once the shelves were installed, we set about filling them up. Over time I have purchased a variety of photo frames in black and silver {more silver than black to keep it from feeling too dark}, ranging from 4x4 to 8x10.

We have high ceilings in this room, and I realized that photo frames on the very top shelf didn't work well because the pictures were too hard to see. Instead, I purchased the letters of our last name in paper mache form from Hobby Lobby and painted them silver with acrylic craft paint. Since this photo wall is all about our little family, having our name right at the top gives it a special, personal touch!

In addition to the photo frames, I've mixed in a few accessories that provide balance, as well as a couple of pops of pink, which help to draw your eye to the wall.

These shelves make me so happy every time I look at them - after all, they are filled with my three favorite people! I have plans for a much larger family photo wall on the stair way leading to our master bedroom, and that photo wall will also include photos of the grandparents and our extended family. But that's a project for another day! 

This photo wall even served as the backdrop for one of my favorite family photos - a picture that was taken when Beckett was about 14 months old {the age Cooper is now} and when I was 6 months pregnant with Cooper. We might have to make photos in this spot a tradition as the kids get older!

The shelves really complete the living room, and I think they make a great use of that previously awkward 5 inch inset. But I'm curious to know, how would you have used the space?

Another of my favorite projects in this space is the flat screen television frame {affiliate link} that we mounted around our TV. When the television is on, it looks like a piece of art - especially when we turn our DVD of 50 famous paintings from the Museum of Modern Art {affiliate link}.

So now that you've seen this little corner of our living room, hopefully you want to see more. I'll be sharing a full living room tour soon!