HOLIDAY photos are a lasting memory of happy times with family and friends.

But don’t waste them by keeping them in albums, boxes or on the computer – or bore friends with endless sessions looking at your latest shots.

Instead, turn them into art for your rooms. Displayed in clever ways they’ll not only add personality to your home but also just looking at them will give you a warm glow long after that sun tan has faded.

Julie Savill, author of 101 Finishing Touches believes it’s easy to enhance photos.

She suggests using a glass-fronted box frame to show off a special holiday shot, and including a small souvenir from the place where the picture was taken.

“For instance, pop in a few shells or pebbles collected on the beach, or maybe a couple of travel tickets or a tiny memento,” she says.

“Make sure the occasion it was taken is never forgotten by writing a small label noting the time, place and people in the photo and stick it underneath the image.”

She recommends grouped images, framed or otherwise, to give them more impact, and advises selecting around 15 to 20 photos for a wall display.

“Ideally, use only black and white photos to give the arrangement unity – colour photos can simply be copied on a black-and-white photocopier. Fast photo shops offer this service.

“Arrange the photos on the floor to help you decide the order in which you want to display them,” she adds.

IN THE FRAME

Framing a selection of small photographs within a large mount – so there’s plenty of space around them – can make any photo look intriguing. Theme the photos by using perhaps only beach scenes, or shots taken on one particular outing. Alternatively, pick out the most atmospheric photo, enlarge it and give it a frame to itself, then have around eight other similar photos divided between two other frames.

Simple, plain black or white frames are ideal so there’s no visual distraction from the photos.

FAMILY PORTRAIT GALLERY

Why display someone else’s art on your wall when you can display your own? Instead of hanging paintings, get holiday photos blown up and mounted on canvas to bring instant interest and personality to a room.

If you’re hanging several pictures together make sure each is the same size and keep the wall spaces between them even. As the experts say, measure twice to be sure, then hang once!

WICKED WALLS

Wallpaper isn’t an ideal background for photos but ‘Frames’ – a white wallpaper printed with black hand-drawn picture frames in various sizes – is designed to show off favourite photos.

Simply stick images inside the framed spaces and change them whenever you feel like it – this paper could be a good choice for children’s rooms.Frames wallpaper is £12.99 a roll from Graham & Brown (0800 3288452/www.grahambrown.com) Alternatively, create wallpaper from one of your favourite photographs or a montage of a collection of snaps. Bespoke wallpaper starts from £45 a roll from online company 55Max.com

SHELF STARS

Pictures are far easier to change on a whim when propped on a narrow shelf or ledge. There are no nail holes to fill if you want to pop some new ones up, and a random selection of frames in different colours or sizes will only add more interest. This look works particularly good in a long hallway, as it creates a gallery effect.