How to Display Your Family Portraits as Holiday Decorations (Beyond Just the Mantel!)

You know that moment when you’re unpacking holiday decorations and suddenly you’re surrounded by the same ceramic snowmen and random ornaments you’ve had since 2012? Meanwhile, your gorgeous family portraits are just hanging there, totally unaware there’s a whole holiday situation happening around them. What if those photos could actually become PART of your holiday decor instead of just existing next to it? Here’s some ways you can display your family portraits as holiday decorations:

Creative Portrait Displays Just for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative with how you display your family’s photos, especially the ones that hold years of memories. One of my favorite ideas is putting together a small album of Santa photos from years past. It’s such a sweet, nostalgic way to see how much your little ones have grown, and it instantly becomes a festive décor piece. Leave it right on your coffee table through December, and it turns into something guests love flipping through during holiday gatherings.

One of my personal favorite traditions is making yearly ornaments of my kids using the same Christmas backdrop, seeing them all together on the tree each year is truly the sweetest timeline.

Another simple but meaningful idea is to hang your past holiday cards from a garland along your staircase or banister. It’s an easy way to add cheer while showcasing how your family has changed throughout the years. And since we don’t have a staircase in our home, I keep a small book of our past Christmas cards out on the coffee table instead

You can also create a set of “holiday frames” that you pull out each season, just swap in your newest Santa photo or your most recent holiday session image. Let it live on your bookshelf during the season before storing it away with your decorations.

Why Your Family Portraits Make the Best Holiday Decor (Seriously!)

There’s something about family photos during the holidays that brings a kind of warmth no store-bought decoration ever could. Twinkling lights and garlands are beautiful, but it’s the familiar faces on the walls, the gummy toddler grin, the gap-toothed elementary smile, the “how were they ever that tiny?” newborn photo, that make a home feel alive. These images tell your family’s story, and seeing them woven into your holiday décor adds a layer of nostalgia and love that nothing from a shelf can replace.

And the best part? Family portraits are the ultimate conversation starters. When guests come over, they’re naturally drawn to the framed moments lining your shelves or the garland of past holiday cards on the staircase. People ask about when a photo was taken, laugh at the hairstyles or tiny outfits, and relive shared memories right there in the moment. Your portraits don’t just decorate a room, they bring your family’s history into the heart of your holiday gatherings, creating connection, joy, and just a little extra magic.

Easy Ways to Add Holiday Flair to Your Existing Gallery Wall

One of the easiest ways to make your framed photos feel instantly festive is by adding a touch of greenery. A simple strand of eucalyptus, pine, or even high-quality faux garland draped across the top of a gallery wall or a shelf of frames adds that soft holiday texture without overwhelming your space. It’s subtle, timeless, and makes your everyday portraits blend beautifully into your seasonal décor.

For a little extra magic, tuck fairy lights or twinkle lights around your frames. You can weave them through the garland or lay them gently across a console table, they add a warm glow without needing to drill or tape anything to the walls. And if you want something even simpler, seasonal ribbon or velvet bows are a beautiful touch. A single velvet bow (the kind you can find in a pack on Amazon!) placed on the corner or top of a frame instantly elevates the whole display. It’s minimal effort with a big visual payoff, turning your family portraits into charming, festive focal points all season long.

Quick Tips for Swapping or Updating Photos Seasonally

One of the best parts about using your family photos as holiday décor is how easy it is to refresh what you already have. Most frames make it simple to swap prints in and out, so you can keep your favorite frames but give them a seasonal twist. I love the idea of having a “holiday version” of certain photos, whether that’s from a winter session, holiday minis, or even past Santa photos, so you always have something festive ready to rotate in.

Some families even do a full seasonal swap, replacing their everyday gallery wall images with holiday photos just for November and December. Then, come January, everything goes right back to normal. Keeping your frame sizes consistent makes this process super simple, no measuring, no reframing, just a quick switch that instantly transforms your space. It’s such an effortless way to make your home feel fresh and festive every year while giving your favorite holiday images a moment to shine.

Don’t Forget About Portrait Gifts for Everyone on Your List

The holidays are the perfect time to gift something truly meaningful, and framed portraits always top the list. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, pretty much everyone lights up when they receive a beautiful photo of the people they love most. It’s personal, thoughtful, and something they’ll actually want to display year-round.

I gift framed photos to my own parents every year, and it has genuinely become the easiest and most appreciated gift. They already have everything they need, but photos of the kids? That’s what they really want.

When it comes to sizing, 5x7s and 8x10s are always crowd-pleasers, especially for desks, bookshelves, or smaller wall spaces. For something a little more elevated, an 11×14 or matted print makes a gorgeous gift that feels special without overwhelming a room. And if you want to go beyond a single print, a small set of loose prints or a mini album is such a heartfelt way to share a collection of moments, it’s a gift that truly lasts.

Presentation can be simple but still feel elevated: slip prints into a matted frame, tie a velvet ribbon around a stack of photos, or tuck a mini album into a keepsake box. And ordering early is key, gift prints always look their best when they’re not rushed, and getting ahead of the holiday shipping craziness means you can wrap everything with care instead of scrambling at the last minute.

Make Your Portraits Part of the Holiday Magic

As you decorate for the holidays, remember that your professional portraits deserve more than a quiet spot on the wall, they deserve to shine. These aren’t just photos; they’re the heart of your home, the moments that make your space feel warm, lived-in, and deeply personal during a season that celebrates connection.

So as you pull out the garland, the stockings, and the twinkle lights, take a fresh look at your gallery wall. Have fun swapping in holiday favorites, updating frames, or creating little seasonal moments throughout your home. Let your portraits be part of the magic, they’re the pieces of your story that make the holidays feel even more meaningful.

I’d love to see how you bring your photos into your holiday decorating! If you’ve displayed past portraits on your mantel, in a gallery wall, on the tree, anywhere, share a picture and tag me. It’s always so fun to see the creative, meaningful ways families make their images part of the season.

If you’re feeling inspired to update your family portraits or start a new holiday tradition, I’d love to help. You can contact me here and we can start planning a session that feels natural, meaningful, and perfectly you.