One of my favorite things about creating artwork is seeing where it ends up. Whether it's hanging in a hallway, displayed on a gallery wall, or tucked into a dreamy yoga studio, each piece takes on a new life when it becomes part of someone's home.
Recently, I asked customers to share photos of their Julia M Illustrated prints styled in their spaces, along with the stories behind why they chose the pieces. The responses were so creative & I hope these entries inspire your next decor project!
A Love Story on the Wall
For Lynnea, several of the places I've illustrated hold special meaning.
"A couple of the places Julia has drawn were important parts of our love story! So now they're a part of our 'love story' section of the wall."
When it came to framing her collection, she embraced a less-is-more approach to coordination.
"Don't be afraid of experimenting with vastly mismatching frames in the same area because sometimes they look cool together!"
Her gallery wall is proof that not everything needs to match perfectly. I love how it fits together to make a collage.
Coffee Shops, Friendships, and Memories of Omaha
Although this particular coffee shop print series has been discontinued, I still love seeing how customers have styled these pieces in their homes.
For Charming, the collection serves as a reminder of a meaningful season of life spent in Omaha.
"I spent a lot of time in coffee shops when I lived in Omaha. Now that I've moved away, the coffee shops remind me of my time living in Omaha, the friendships built over coffee dates, the ups and downs, and more."
Now, hanging in Charming's home, the collection serves as a visual reminder of the people, places, and experiences that made Omaha feel like home to her.
Maggie (above photo) framed several greeting cards from the Coffee Shop Series and styled them in her home coffee bar. I was especially delighted to see them paired alongside work from one of my favorite Costa Rican artists, Hola Lola!
Maggie's styling advice: "When in doubt, add multiple pieces to balance out the space!" Thanks for the tip, Maggie, and for sharing your adorable coffee bar styling.
Daniel's espresso corner also brings me so much happiness! (Photo above)
Mini Prints
One of my favorite customer submissions came from Tanin, who styled a mini vending machine print in the sweetest way. These tiny prints can be found in the special vending machine at Carter & Rye's bakery for just $1—bring your quarters!
Tanin shared, "Our daughter is named Joslyn and she loves art. When you had the shop downtown, she got this from the quarter slot machine. Such a fun memory!"
Maximalist Gallery Wall
Becky incorporated her 2026 Parks & Gardens Calendar into her dreamy yoga studio and plant room where the maximalist vibes are in full effect.
Her styling advice? "As you can see, I have a large gallery wall. Don't be afraid to incorporate different sizes, mediums, colors, and textures. Use images that make you happy. Symmetry is not required."
Thanks for the inspiration, Becky! I love how this space feels vibrant, personal, and full of joy.
Another maximalist is Sarah. Using simple and budget-friendly materials to decorate. Love! She hung her Passageway print in her bathroom using sticky tack, leaving it in its clear sleeve for extra protection.
Her philosophy is both practical and inspiring: "I'm on a budget, so I hung it in a way that's cheap, looks good, and won't damage the artwork."
A great reminder that thoughtful styling doesn’t have to be expensive!
Childhood Memories on Display
Peg transformed her garage entryway into a meaningful gallery wall featuring pieces that remind her of her childhood- The Cottonwood Hotel , Keystone, One Hope & Bohemian Cafe postcard. By choosing all white frames, she created a cohesive look that unified the five pieces together.
Her decorating advice is simple and timeless: "Decorate with things that bring you joy!" Thanks for sharing your beautiful space, Peg!
Melanie also shared a beautiful story about how her artwork connects to both her and her husband’s childhood in the Benson area. When they bought their first home just a block from Main Street, her sister-in-law gifted them a color print. Years later, she added the black-and-white Benson print to the collection.
The Rule of Thirds
In art and design, groups of three are often considered especially pleasing to the eye. I love how Jennifer paired three prints that, together, represent all of the neighborhoods she's called home. Thank you for sharing Jennifer!
Colorful Matting
Colorful matting is one of my favorite ways to display prints. I love choosing a mat color that’s already present within the illustration to complement the print. I also like to size up one frame size to give the artwork a bit of breathing room, letting the details really stand out.
For this gallery wall, I purchased 16 x 20 inch standard gold frames. The mat opening for each print is 11 x 14. I used washi tape to gently adhere the print to the back of the mat before framing. I also used command strips to hang the frames. Command strips are great for renters, teachers or people who like to switch things up, like me! This example is from my old studio on Cuming street.
Here are some other customer entries that I found to be so inspiring. It was really fun to see all the submissions & read the reasons why each one of you connected with my artwork. It's an honor to have my art hanging in your homes.
Submission by Katie Waldron of her Durham Museum & Hotel Deco print
Tanin's Rose Theater print styled next to some coffee table books.
Jim's Keystone greeting card framed by some sea shells.
A submission by Randi Vogt of a limited edition Coneflower Creamery print! An OG Julia M collector!
A Benson Print inside of Melissa's Airbnb. Melissa said, "We love we are able to display your art at our Airbnb for everyone out of town to enjoy!"
Adalia's Joslyn Castle print in the entryway of her Joslyn Castle home!
Thank you to everyone who took the time out their busy day to submit artwork for this blog entry! I appreciate you all.