Searching for your next creative project? Whether you’re looking to decorate your walls with trendy designs or surprise your loved ones with sentimental gifts, photo collages are one of the best ways to show off your favorite pictures. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words — and photo collages can help you convey stories and messages that you wouldn’t be able to achieve with a single photo.
The best photo collages are made from a variety of images, from photographs to screenshots and even graphic designs. So, what are you waiting for? From our favorite photo collage ideas to how to make your own collage, here’s everything you need to bring your artistic vision to life.
Why should you create photo collages?
Contrary to popular belief, creating a photo collage requires much more than just arranging pictures into a grid or frame. In reality, it’s an art form that allows you to express your creativity, celebrate your favorite experiences, and tell a story. Collages are amazing tools to preserve memories, relive your nostalgia, and even celebrate special occasions. From family vacations to wedding and birthday parties, photo collages capture the moments that matter most.
Still on the fence about collages? Even if you’re not looking for fun art projects to make your walls pop, photo collages can help you reflect on your life and appreciate the people who’ve made an impact. Some of the best reasons to create collages include:
Push your creative skills
Want to try out a new art form? Looking to push your creative boundaries? Whether you’re a pro graphic designer or total newbie, photo collages are perfect for anyone. They’re a great way to showcase your artistic abilities and get the creative juices flowing — and it only takes a few minutes to create your own. You can even use photo collages to track your progress as an artist over time.
Add a personal touch
Bored of plain walls? From dorm room decorations to living room centerpieces, photo collages can help you add a personal touch to your space. Design collages with pictures from your big day, photos of your pets, or family photos over the years. No matter what your collage ideas look like, the creative possibilities are endless!
Visualize your goals
Whether you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle or take more time to relax, photo collages are an amazing way to visualize your goals. All you have to do is find images that represent your vision, arrange them on a grid, and add some motivational quotes to keep yourself inspired.
5 popular types of photo collages
Ready to channel your inner artist? Before we dive into our favorite picture collage ideas, let’s take a step back and discuss the different types of collages. Each type of collage has unique characteristics, so you’ll want to make the best choice for your creative needs. Some of the most popular types of colleges include:
1. Grid collages
When most people think of collages, they’re probably picturing grid collages. Grid collages arrange images in a grid-like pattern, making them a great format for showcasing a collection of images with a consistent theme. For example, if you’re highlighting pictures from your last vacation or showcasing food photography, grid collages are a simple way to piece your pictures together.
2. Blend collages
When you’re ready to turn the creativity up a notch, blend collages can save the day. They blend multiple images together to create a single image, so they’re the perfect choice for creating surreal or dreamlike images. Whether you’re trying to capture a certain mood, upgrade your vision board, or test out your artistic skills, blend collages can help you find inspiration.
3. Freeform collages
Freeform collages aren’t your typical collage. When you make a freeform collage, you’ll arrange your images in a nonlinear, creative way based on your artistic vision. These collages are great for showcasing images with a more artistic or abstract theme, such as mixed media or abstract photography. Freeform collages require a bit more creativity and experimentation, but the results can be truly unique and eye-catching.
4. Layered collages
Layered collages, or mixed collages, use layers of different types of media, such as magazine cut-outs, photographs, and newspaper, to create a cohesive collage. If you’re looking for a fun DIY art project or want a creative design to spruce up your space, layered collages can instantly add a touch of creativity.
5. Photo montages
Photo montages involve cutting and gluing pictures together to create new images. Many creators choose to photograph the new image to add a seamless element to their photo collage. The good news? With photo editing tools like Picsart, you can skip the scissors and glue and create your own photo montage online.
21 best collage design ideas to try
Now that you’re an expert on the different types of collages, it’s time to dive into collage making ideas. From simple vacation photo collages to DIY vision boards, there are countless collage themes to choose from depending on the occasion and the memories you want to celebrate. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
1. Travel collages
Want to show off your FOMO-worthy vacation pics? Create a collage of all the places you’ve visited! Use photos of famous landmarks, landscapes, and the people you met during your travels to create a beautiful piece of art that will remind you of your adventures.
2. Family collages
A family collage is a great way to showcase your family photos. Dig through your phone (or photo albums) to find photos from family events like weddings, holidays, and birthdays. This way, you’ll create a meaningful collage that celebrates your family.
3. Pet collages
Why not create a fun collage to celebrate your furry friends? Use photos of your pets playing, sleeping, cuddling, and doing all the cute things you love.
4. Black-and-white collages
Want to keep it classic? A black-and-white collage is a great way to create a timeless piece of art for your space. Use black-and-white photos of your favorite memories to create an elegant collage.
5. Colorful collages
If you want to create a fun and colorful piece of art, use photos with bright colors and patterns. You can use photos of flowers, landscapes, and other colorful objects to create a vibrant collage.
6. Year-in-review collages
Showcase your favorite memories to recap your year. Use photos from holidays, birthdays, and other events to celebrate your year and everything you’ve achieved.
7. Sports collages
Whether you’re a sports fan or player, it only takes a few minutes to create a collage of all your favorite sports moments. Combine photos of your favorite players, teams, and games to bring your collage to life.
8. Graduation collages
Celebrate your graduation (or surprise your soon-to-be graduate) with a sentimental collage. Use photos from the ceremony, parties, and other events to create a beautiful piece of art.
9. Heart collages
Want to surprise your special someone with a romantic gift? From BFFs to significant others, celebrate all the special people in your life with a heart-shaped collage.
10. Friend collages
A collage of your closest friends is an amazing way to celebrate your friendship and create a lasting memory. You can include pictures from memorable trips, inside jokes, and group shots.
11. Love collages
Searching for the perfect anniversary gift? Combine pictures from your first date, memorable moments, and your favorite places to visit together to create a thoughtful collage they’ll remember for years to come.
12. Wedding collages
A wedding collage is a great way to capture all the special moments from your big day. Try including pictures of the ceremony, reception, and candid shots of your guests to relive the moment.
13. Fitness journey collages
Want to track your fitness project? Compile your before-and-after photos, goals, inspirational quotes, and other progress markers to keep yourself motivated.
14. Artistic collages
Tracking your progress isn’t just limited to fitness journeys. Why not create a fun collage of your artwork over the years to see how your creative skills have progressed?
15. Vision board collages
Whether you’re searching for inspiration for your next creative project or want to design an inspirational desktop wallpaper, vision board collages are a great way to remind yourself of your goals.
16. Scrapbook collages
Combine pictures of your best moments, travels, and special occasions with a cute scrapbook collage. For bonus points, spark feelings of nostalgia with bright colors and Polaroid frames.
17. Mood board collages
Revamping your personal brand? When you’re aiming for a new style or aesthetic, mood board collages can help you find inspiration. They’re also a great resource to maintain your style and aesthetic, whether you’re posting on Instagram, working on a project, or reinventing your fashion sense.
18. Torn paper collages
Trying to add vintage vibes to your collage? Add torn paper effects to your favorite pictures and give them a retro look with vintage photo filters.
19. Baby collages
Want to send everyone adorable pictures of your baby? Turn your baby pictures into stunning works of art with baby collages.
20. Birthday collages
Whether you’re searching for the perfect birthday gift or looking to reminisce, birthday collages are a great way to highlight your favorite memories and show your loved ones how much you appreciate them.
21. Aesthetic collages
If you want to show off your personal aesthetic, aesthetic collages are the answer. Combine your favorite pictures, looks, and styles for a beautifully curated aesthetic collage.
How to make a collage with Picsart
Once you’ve picked your favorite creative collage ideas, it’s time to start creating. With Picsart, it only takes a few clicks (or taps) to turn your creative vision into a reality. The best part? Even if you’re not a seasoned designer, it’s easier than ever to create works of art with our pro-grade collage templates. Here’s how.
On the web:
- Open the Picsart Collage Maker on the web. Then, scroll through our library of premade collage templates to find the perfect match for your collage making ideas.
- Once you’ve found the right template, it’s time to replace the stock photos with your own. Click Uploads to choose your pictures.
- Next, readjust, reposition, and resize your pictures as needed to fit into the template.
- Want to add some extra details? Click Text to infuse your collage with creativity. You can add dates, quotes, or any other design elements to bring your collage to life.
- When you’re satisfied with your design, click Export and Download to save your college.
On mobile:
- Open the Picsart app and tap on the plus sign (+) to start a new project.
- Next, scroll down to Collages and choose the perfect format for your collage. You can choose between traditional grid formats, freestyle, or mix it up with our preset templates.
- Once you’ve found the right template, it’s time to upload your pictures. After uploading images, you can rotate, crop, and cut out your pictures as needed. When you’re finished, tap Apply.
- Need to add some finishing touches? Tap Text to customize your collage with dates, quotes, and other eye-catching design elements.
- When you’re finished with your design, tap Next. Then, choose Save to download your collage.
Bring your photo collage ideas to life
Whether you’re honoring your big day or celebrating your friendships, collages are a great way to preserve your favorite memories and appreciate life’s special moments. The best part? With tons of different collage design ideas to choose from, you can pick the theme that resonates with you the most.
Ready to dive in? With Picsart, it only takes a few minutes to create beautiful, personalized designs with photo filters, custom-made stickers, typography, and more. The next time you want to celebrate a special occasion, create a collage to capture the moment and keep the memory alive.
