With the school year ending, finger-paint landscapes and crayon masterpieces are making their way home from lockers and cubbies. But they don’t have to be confined to the refrigerator door.

Deborah Wiener, owner of Designing Solutions in Silver Spring, Md., says children’s artwork can enliven a home when properly presented.

“If you do it well, you may never have to buy artwork or a poster again,” she says. Wiener offered several ideas for parents who want to exhibit the early period of their budding Picassos.

¢ Create a collage. Use magnetic or cork boards to showcase multiple paintings and drawings. Hang alone or fashion a series down a staircase or in a playroom. For a more permanent display, trim a wall with upholstered lattice or cover with cork and paint to match the color of the room. Coat a closet or bedroom door with magnetic paint to make it ready for an art exhibition. Wiener prefers the permanent options for children’s bedrooms.

Nicole Spencer, then 3, paints during preschool at the Lawrence Arts Center in this March 2005 file photo. Decorating professional Deborah Wiener says if parents display children's creations smartly, they may never have to buy artwork or posters again.

¢ Invest in frames. “If it’s not hanging on your wall with Scotch tape, it looks a lot better,” Wiener says. Though framing can be costly, she says a few framed pieces can make a nice wall display. Use acid-free mats to keep construction paper from fading. Wiener likes Pottery Barn Kids’ Ashby Gallery Frames ($25 to $49). Their hidden pockets allow for easy picture replacements when next year’s artwork needs the spotlight. Kids’ art also can be displayed in shadowbox frames.

Children's work from the Lawrence Arts Center preschool class is hung on the wall to dry. Simple efforts can help display and preserve a child's artwork long after it's decorated the refrigerator for a spell.

¢ Be resourceful. Use plate racks as easels to display artwork in plastic picture frames for an inexpensive gallery. Show off pottery with acrylic easels and boxes. Wiener favors sprinkling these on a baker’s rack or bookshelves.

¢ Get the little artist involved. Let your child help decide where artwork should be showcased.

¢ Go bold. Another display option is a customized enlargement of the art, which makes for a dominant piece of decor in a hall, playroom or child’s bedroom. FedEx Kinko’s can transform a letter-size masterpiece into a 36-by-48-inch color poster. Call your local branch for prices.