How do you hang big pictures without looking like a motel room?

For me it's all about the frame and how much room you have to work with. A big picture goes great behind a couch, or some other object that is also big so that the picture does not dominate what is underneath. The rule is a picture should be hung 63-68 inches from the floor to the bottom of the frame. A picture should be eye level to the middle of the picture when standing up. If it is directly beside a chair or couch it can be lower but depends on how big you mean. Family pictures are meant for where ever you want them. The rules of pictures has changed a lot over the years and almost anything goes. I make clusters of pictures on one wall. All the same colour frame (sometimes but not always) and do a little collage of pictures big, small etc. As long as it is pleasing to your eye then it works for you. I hate a small picture on a large wall and hate when they are too high. Look through some magazines and see what they do. Good luck.

Why exactly a motel? They screw things into walls so they can't be stolen.

Have you considered doing something different and hanging pictures in groups with ribbon. The ribbon adds to the frame and decor of you're room.

I have seen it done on TLC and the pictures always look great hanging with the accent of ribbon.

Depending on whether you want to put them over a fireplace mantel or your bed, - off center, propped on the mantel with candlesticks next to it. Hang it in the entry and embellish it with some greenery on the wire and some ribbon. Put it on a standing easel in the family room, or hang it and put a spotlight over it. Group them together to make a gallery in a hallway. Hope these ideas get you going!

I don't hang photos of pople in bedrooms... it makes me feel wierd like they are looking at me while I sleep.

A friend of mine did something kinda cool... she took a wall of her house and drew out a big rectangle, painted inside the area with a bold red paint and got chair-rail and "framed" the area. Then she hung her family photos... all sizes, shapes and colors, it was in a long entry/ hall way and it was very cool.