I have a great gallery wall of all travel photos at the top of my spiral steps, so of course I'm a fan of them. I'm not crazy about ones with people, but I don't have kids so what do I know. Mine are in different black frames (some with silver or gold; some matted, some not; some shadow box, some not):

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I think you need to be careful of photographs fading if hung directly under a skylight.

Here is a link that might be useful: protecting your photos

Yes, I agree about fading photos. I had a studio (very high end work) photograph done of my #1 and #2 children when they were wearing Buster Brown haircuts and short pants with cute little Italian jackets, high top shoes and knee-high socks.

They cost me a small fortune. I probably could have had oil portraits done cheaper, but I got talked into it and was told if I buy "this frame" which was equally expensive the color would never fade (the pictures looked like watercolor art, not kidding, gorgeous and the frames were equally so) but 30+ years later....the beautiful children studio art-colored photographs are almost like negatives from the past.

So I never believe all this business anymore about certain applications preventing fading. Just keep your pictures out of sunlight, and enjoy in a dark place.

Yes, I think the large collection under the skylight would look fine. And that's so nice that you're not just sticking your daughters art on the refrigerator. It should add a lot of color to the space (pic is missing from your post so I can only imagine kids artwork!)

And that inspiration rug is great. (does that pattern have a name?) I hope you find one that works because, again, it'll add some softness and color to your hallway.

I think a chair rail will give the area a more formal feel, is this what you are going for? With the kids artwork, gallery wall and rug it doesn't sound like it but if it matches the rest of your house it could work.

Jennifer

Love a gallery of photos! More than one wall, even better!! Here's some great grouping ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ideas

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Good point about the fading from the skylight. The area doesn't get any direct sun though as the actual skylight is pitched at a slight angle and is opaque. I think I'd be OK with it as I have either duplicates or digital versions of almost all and some I will need to scan, resize and print to fit my frame sizes.

Any thoughts about the chair rail, painting mouldings? I was thinking that dividing up the wall would give more definition to where the gallery walls would start.

jennifer_in_kansas: That rug is on overstock which I will link below. I absolutely love it and similar patterned ones, but they don't seem to carry it in the narrower width that I need. :( I haven't really begun looking further for a runner, but am hoping I could find a similar one in the size I need. It's a Hamaden style. I want something in more of a tribal, geometric design which doesn't make the hallway look too narrow. I think the diamond shape may give it a more spacious feeding.

patty_cakes: Thanks to the link for ideas. I'll check it out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hamaden Rug on Overstock.

You can try to buy this kind of runner on Ebay. I've been pretty lucky.

Mouldings or wainscotting of some kind would at least protect the wall from all the traffic. I think your gallery will look great on the wall that you see first when you enter the hallway!

I wouldn't waste money on a chair rail or wainscoting, but just add the gallery pictures.
However, I have to agree with kevin not to just add family portraits, or at least add some artsy touch (black and white, certain themes)..