CART (If you’re stuck wondering how to design a picture frame that will complement, elevate, or intensify your art, don’t fret! We get it. The very fact that you want to pick a custom frame for something you own means that it’s not just another piece of decor. Your piece carries meaning, it signifies something special to you, and it’s to be celebrated and preserved.
We want you to fall in love with the frame you choose for your piece and that’s why we are sharing all our go-to picture framing guidelines and favorite custom frame ideas to inspire you.
From our Lookbook to our advice on selecting mats to our in-house design team that is on standby waiting for your questions, Framed and Matted has all the resources you need to custom design picture frames for your art, photos, and mementos.
Check Out Our Lookbook
Skim through our Lookbook to see how we have put together some of our favorite designs with the premium frame and mat combinations we offer on our site.
It’s easy to get caught up thinking that there is one single perfect frame and mat combination for a piece. The truth is, however, that with custom framing, the sky’s the limit! A variety of different mat and frame colors, sizes, and layouts could give your art the finishing touch you want.
Our Designers Are Here for You
Professional picture framing help is just a click away! If you’re looking for an expert opinion, reach out to our skilled and passionate design specialists today - simply send an email with a photograph of your artwork and tell us about your space and any design preferences you have.
Mat Rules & Recommendations
Don’t miss our time-tested mat customization tips and recommendations!
The power of a perfectly chosen mat (or two) simply cannot be denied. Mats help draw the eye in to focus on the art it surrounds, and they can add drama, brightness, contrast, and sophistication to a piece. Your choice in mat layout, color, and size can make all the difference when it comes to bringing your art to life.
Neutral Tones
Mats in neutral tones like tan and gray effectively make your framed piece pop without drawing too much attention away from the artwork itself.
Weighted Bottom
A “weighted bottom” refers to the bottom margin of a mat being taller than the top margin. This truly custom framing style elevates any piece with added elegance.
Oversized
An oversized mat with substantial margins is the easiest way to make a big impact with a smaller piece be it a print, photo, postcard, memento, etc.
Double Mat
An easy and cost-effective way to give your art even more presence is with a double mat. It looks more expensive too!
No Mat
Going for a minimalist look? Skip the mat! A frame without a mat feels more modern and is great for large-format photography and artwork.
Multiple Openings
Create a collage mat with custom openings for a signature layout that highlights multiple pieces inside the same frame.
How to Use a Double Mat
A classic choice for double mats is to pick two different shades or tones of the same color. For example, a darker blue mat topped by a skinnier lighter blue mat.
Build a Frame
How to Use a Double Mat
Color combinations that go together naturally will also be appealing as double mat combinations. For example, green and blue, blue and red, orange and blue, or green and purple.
How to Use a Double Mat
Add a vibrant pop to your mat selection by choosing a colorful mat to sit underneath a white or gray top mat.
How to Use a Double Mat
Keep it simple but elegant with a double mat in the same crisp shade of white. This small addition adds dimension and depth to your piece.
How to Use a Double Mat
A classic choice for double mats is to pick two different shades or tones of the same color. For example, a darker blue mat topped by a skinnier lighter blue mat.
Build a FrameHow to Use a Double Mat
Color combinations that go together naturally will also be appealing as double mat combinations. For example, green and blue, blue and red, orange and blue, or green and purple.
How to Use a Double Mat
Add a vibrant pop to your mat selection by choosing a colorful mat to sit underneath a white or gray top mat.
How to Use a Double Mat
Keep it simple but elegant with a double mat in the same crisp shade of white. This small addition adds dimension and depth to your piece.
Elevate Your Space
Beautiful, high-quality matted picture frames are quite possibly the simplest and most powerful way to elevate your art. Whether it’s a treasured family photo, a vintage poster, a one-of-a-kind print, your child’s artwork, or even a postcard or hand-written letter, the right frame will transform it from that piece you like to that piece you love and want to display.
Quick Tips for Selecting Picture Frames with Mats
When you order custom picture frames online, you want to be thoughtful not just about the size frame you select for your piece, but also about the frame’s color, shape, and width. Each of these aspects will play an important role in enhancing your art for hanging.
Color
Wood, black, white, or metallic finish will always provide a solid foundation from which to frame any piece of art.
- Wood - as a natural material, wood feels warm and uncomplicated. Its array of light to dark shades also makes it appropriate for a range of home decor styles from rustic to modern to country and everything in between. When choosing the right type and shade of wood for your frame, note the overall tone and coloration of your art as well as the undertones of the room you will hang it in.
- Black and white - it’s hard to achieve a more classic presentation of your art than with black and white frames. These hues don’t just make for clean lines and a modern feel; they also help to accentuate your art and highlight small details and patterns in it. White leans toward a more casual, bright look while black adds contrast, elegance, and consistency (especially when utilized in a gallery wall setting).
- Gold and silver - a metallic finish has a dynamic way of lending both a modern and vintage feeling to a piece. Because of its sheen and shimmer, you don’t want to go too wide with a gold or silver frame, however, feel free to try it out on striking pieces like black and white photos, landscapes, and vintage prints and keepsakes. The shine of a metallic finish will naturally draw out the vibrancy in your art and help it pop.
Shape
Different shapes add texture and dimension to your framed artwork helping to make the overall look more compelling.
A flat frame, for example, feels neat, precise, and uncluttered while a beveled frame can add style, softness, and formality to a piece. Depending on the scale and visual strength of the subjects in your piece, you might want to play with different frame shapes and edges.
Width
A few rules of thumb apply to choosing the width of your frame. When in doubt, make sure your mat is at least double the width of your frame. This time-honored standard offers an appropriate ratio of image to mat to frame that is both familiar and pleasing to the eye.
You can, however, add more artistry and drama to your art by playing around with the size of your mats for picture frames. For example, an extra-wide mat combined with a thin picture frame can help a smaller image make a big impact.
Keep It Simple and Make It Yours
Use our picture frame website tools above to mix-and-match colors, shapes, and widths to choose the ideal mail order picture frames for your special pieces. Remember, you want your art to feel balanced with its frame, not dominated by it. Instead of trying to make an exact color match between a frame and the shades in your artwork, turn your attention towards the tone of your piece (warm or cool), the feel of it (formal or casual), and the decor of the space in which it will live.
Ultimately, if it looks and feels good to you, that’s all you need! The perfect frame will simply need to bring a smile to your face every time you glimpse your art on display.