Pottery Barn Kids | Stylehouse: Art for the Ages

Macaroni necklaces. Tissue paper bouquets. Magic Marker masterpieces. Children express themselves through art, and each treasure deserves an audience. But after the initial oohing and aahing is over, what do you do with each piece of artwork? Some kids are truly in the moment, moving onto the next project before the paint dries on the last; others are more attached to their pieces. Work with your child to display and keep the best of the best.

Think one of your child's pieces is museum-quality? Show it off in a real frame. Bold color mats and frames will complement the bright hues of the crayons, paint or stickers. For those that capture the essence of your child, print the image on professional-grade cotton canvas, then stretch it over a wooden frame for a gallery-ready look.

Divide a large format work into nine 4'x6' pieces and then insert them into the mat of a gallery frame. When you're ready to hang, create a dynamic wall by flanking it with similar single-image frames with related artwork, by theme, color or texture.

Displaying artwork and photographs at your child's eye level allows him or her to rearrange them easily. Some of our display frames have a hidden pocket for changing pictures quickly; others have a linen-covered tackboard back for easy attaching. Other ideas for displaying artwork include clipping pieces to a cable or clothesline, setting them up an easel, or stacking cork or magnetic squares to showcase a collection.

Don't be afraid to mix media, whether it's a finger-painting along side a collage, or origami animals with a favorite bead bracelet. The trick is to cluster items by theme or color. A shadowbox or shelf could feature a drawing of a car, an antique toy truck, and a photo of your child in the driver's seat of the family car.

For the best of the rest, protect artwork and photos from light and humidity by storing them in archival-quality or acid-neutral storage boxes, albums and scrapbooks. Large format pieces do well on long, flat shelves or architect-style drawers.

Occasionally clear out your storage bins by turning paper artwork into functional household items. For example, scan a favorite drawing into the family computer and use it as the screensaver. Or laminate four or six complementary pieces to be used as placemats. Fold drawings into gift wrap and note cards. Using one of the many online photo sites, arrange digital photos of kids' artwork to create a hardbound coffee table book or calendar.