What are Memento Walls and Why are They Resonating?

Unlike a regular gallery wall made up of framed photographs and painted canvases, memento walls incorporate sentimental objects for a heartfelt wall display. "Memento walls bring warmth and individuality into a home," Accetta says. Whether it's through candid polaroids, handwritten letters, or objects that mark a significant milestone, they tell more than a visual story, which is why they are resonating so deeply with people right now. "They resonate more because they have personality, they are more authentic to the person who's home they live in—plus they are more interesting to look at," Accetta notes.

Based on what Brigette Balagot, who is on the in-house design team at Frameology, is seeing with her clients, memento walls are resonating because people are looking for fun ways to incorporate personal items beyond just photos. "Some examples of things people have requested to include in their memento walls are kids’ art and small trinkets," Balagot shares. Other objects, the expert says, set memento walls apart are things like plants, books, and polaroids intermingled with framed photos and art.

What to Incorporate Into a Memento Wall

The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can use in a memento wall. Think outside the box—or picture frame in this case—and assemble objects that have personal meaning to you. Here are some fun ideas to give you inspiration:

• Handwritten letters
• Maps of past vacation spots
• Graduation tassels
• Napkins or matches from a favorite restaurant
• A pickleball paddle
• Old house numbers
• Treasured recipes that have been passed down to you
• Decorative plates and cutting boards
• Flags
• Keys
• An old-school vintage phone
• Vinyl records
• LEGO creations
• Dried flowers

How to Create a Cohesive Memento Wall

Seek Visual Balance

The challenge when assembling a memento wall is striking the right balance between heartfelt and cohesive—rather than cluttered. For Accetta, curating meaningful objects to look cohesive is all about balancing color, texture, size, and spacing. "To balance the wall, pick an overall color tone or palette," the designer says. Some objects are naturally more visually "busy" than others, so she advises balancing "busier" mementos with objects or artwork that read as visually "quieter".

Choose Objects that Lay Flat

"When combing through your heirlooms or souvenirs, look for objects that might typically lie flat but are the same depth as the frames you are using on the wall," Accetta suggests. This way, the items will be easier to hang and blend in more seamlessly with whatever frames you are adding to the memento wall mix.

Get Creative

A memento wall is inherently personal, so don't be afraid to get creative! It's not about perfection, but about personality. "Some pieces I have added to memento walls that were fun and unconventional were vintage paint brushes, ceramic art, wooden sculptures, dream catchers, and vintage mirrors," Accetta shares.

Where to Hang a Memento Wall

As for the ideal spot to create a personalized memento wall, both experts suggest hallways. "Hallways are a great area to hang memento walls—they can tend to be very busy, so I find that they work really well in hallways," Accetta shares.

Kids' rooms are another spot where Balagot says a memento wall can work well. Incorporate items like kids' artwork, treasures they've collected, and handmade creations they're proud of. A relaxed gathering space, such as a family room, also serves as a lovely backdrop for a heartfelt memento wall. Consider the room's color scheme and style, and assemble meaningful objects that vary in size, shape, and texture while adding sentimental value.