Where to hang artworks that isn't on a wall

First, let's address a design myth. Framed art does not have to live exclusively on walls. You only have to browse a fraction of the House & Garden archives to find evidence that artwork and photography can add personality to all manner of unexpected nooks and corners in your home without you ever having to drill a hole. In fact, some of the most interesting interiors approach art in novel ways, integrating it into shelves and cupboards, or leaning frames of different heights against a wall to create an alternative to the classic gallery wall.

Bookshelves are an easy place to start. Propping small framed photographs up within a bookcase or fixing them to the edges of the shelf creates a layered feel that immediately communicates personality. Mixing frames – gilt or walnut, minimalistic or ornate – among the books and other decorative objects also helps to break up the visual rhythm of tightly packed shelves, bringing a little bit more of a relaxed feel and a charming wonkiness.

‘There’s something I find really irresistible about using otherwise perfunctory elements of the house (like bookcases and shelves) to display art,’ says garden designer Sean Pritchard. ‘Not only does it add an interesting textural layer to the room, but its slightly disorientating and surprising hanging location somehow, to me, elevates what is on show.’

Kitchen spaces offer surprising opportunities too. Open shelving can hold small framed prints alongside the ceramics or cookbooks, meaning you may not even have to reach for the Command strips. Glass-fronted cabinets are also useful. A postcard-sized artwork placed behind stacked plates or glassware creates a glimpse of colour every time the cupboard is opened.

Sophie Merrell of online art gallery Wondering People is fond of displaying art ‘in nooks and crannies.’ ‘We often collect smaller artworks from the artists we work with which can look lovely on bookshelves or a mantlepiece, propped up against the wall, or even ceramics or books,' she says.

Kitchen countertops can also be deployed, particularly in areas that are already being used to display decorative items. A framed photograph placed beside a fruit bowl or propped against the backsplash adds warmth to a space. Choosing smaller frames helps maintain a balance between practicality and decoration, while larger framed prints add personality and create a potential centrepiece for the kitchen.

A row of small frames can sit along the ledge of a windowsill, catching natural light throughout the day, though you do have to think about light damage and protect works that may be susceptible. 'Framing is always key (and transformative) when presenting any art and if you're propping the artwork up on a shelf, for example, the frame will protect it,' says Isabella Rothman, co-founder of Wondering People. ' We're always playing around with framing but are often drawn to contemporary aluminium frames, perspex boxes, or thin wooden frames with linen mounts.'

Finding alternative spaces to display artworks and photographs helps these treasured objects to behave less like static decoration and more like living objects within the home. By leaning, layering and integrating them into everyday surfaces – shelves, cabinets, counters and windows – you can create moments of visual interest throughout a home without committing to permanent wall arrangements. The result feels more informal and lived-in, allowing images to shift and evolve alongside the rhythms of daily life.