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Picture Framing Ideas
From perfectly paired mats and frames to stunning wall arrangements, great framing has the power to transform rooms - and we want to show you how!
Check out our top design tips and ideas for picture framing, and don’t miss our one-of-a-kind Lookbook below overflowing with real-world custom framing and design inspiration.
8 Essential Design Tips & Custom Framing Ideas
Curious about the best way to frame your art? Looking for imaginative family picture framing ideas? We have a treasure trove of hints, tips, and tricks to spark your creativity and get your artistic juices flowing.
Pick a frame that flatters your art(not just your decor)
A beautiful custom frame will complement and enhance a piece of art without outshining it. When selecting your custom frame and mat, assemble a combination that perfectly suits your art and then find the ideal spot for it in your home (check out our tips for choosing the right frame, here.
If you already have a place in mind, great! The right frame will allow your art to shine in practically any setting. Play around with different options before you break out the hammer and nail though! You never know what unexpected frame and decor combination might win over your heart.
Remember, opposites attract
Large, visually busy, and pattern-heavy pieces are served well by minimalist frames that are thinner with polished, clean lines. On the other hand, small, simpler pieces can make a big impact with larger, more stylish, and ornate frames or exaggerated bottom-weighted mat boards.
Embrace consistency and variety
When it comes to custom framing, you can have it both ways! A variety of different frame sizes, styles, and colors can add panache and flourish to a room. At the same time, however, different pieces of artwork can also come together in a single space (like a gallery wall setting) when you utilize the same style frame with a neutral color like black or white.
Place the center of your artwork at eye level
A good rule of thumb when displaying a single piece (or a handful of pieces) of artwork on an open wall is to center up the piece roughly at eye level. If you are particularly tall or short, aim for around 60 to 70 inches from the ground. Align artwork with key focal points in the room (like furniture) or offset it asymmetrically for a more contemporary look and feel.
Keep lighting in mind
Does the area where you want to display your piece receive adequate lighting from either a lamp, light fixture, or nearby window? When choosing your custom frame and display setting, keep lighting in mind. For example, a dark hallway may benefit from artwork with metallic frames that help catch and reflect what light does filter through.
Get creative with what you frame
Don’t have a photo or memento to frame? You can still add color, style, and visual interest to your walls with original items you may not have considered before. Maps, favorite album or CD covers, hand-painted watercolors, stamps on background paper, postcards, vintage book covers, wallpaper swatches, handwritten family recipes . . . the ideas are endless!
Don’t just hang your art
There is a multitude of ways to display your art in addition to hanging it on the wall. You can let large pieces stand alone on the floor and simply lean against the wall, or better yet, stand them on top of a stack of books on the floor.
Custom framed pieces also look exceptional placed on floating shelves or picture ledges and leaned against a solid structure like a wall, beam, etc. You can mount a framed piece in a picture frame stand too that sits on a shelf, countertop, desk, or other flat surface.
Ask a professional
When in doubt, ask a professional designer for advice! Get in touch with our in-house design and custom framing team by emailing design@framedandmatted.com. Or chat with a live representative via the chat box on this screen!
The best part? It’s totally free! You can send us a picture of your artwork and let us know more about your aesthetic and the space where you want to display your piece. We’ll send you back a couple of expert design ideas based on different budgets.
Lookbook
From perfectly paired mats and frames to stunning wall arrangements, great framing has the power to transform rooms - and we want to show you how.
Our lookbook is full well-designed spaces guaranteed to help you love your walls. Go ahead, take a peek and click any image to start customizing your frame.
Frame: BLAIR GOLD
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: White ice
Bottom Mat: Saffron
Bottom Mat: Saffron
Frame: ADDISON NATURAL
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Color: Porpoise
Frame: ADDISON BLACK
Mat Style: no mat
Mat Style: no mat
Frame: CROCKER SILVER
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: black
Bottom Mat: aqua
Bottom Mat: aqua
Frame: MUIR WALNUT
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: antique blue
Bottom Mat: aqua
Bottom Mat: aqua
Frame: BLAIR GOLD
Mat Style: oversized / DOUBLE
Mat Style: oversized / DOUBLE
Top Mat: White ice
Bottom Mat: aqua
Bottom Mat: aqua
Frame: ADDISON NATURAL
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Color: iced mint
Frame: BROMPTON WHITE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: White ice
Bottom Mat: real red
Bottom Mat: real red
Frame: BLAIR Silver
Mat Style: oversized / DOUBLE
Mat Style: oversized / DOUBLE
Top Mat: dark blue
Bottom Mat: clover
Bottom Mat: clover
Frame: crocker GOLD
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: blue
Bottom Mat: Saffron
Bottom Mat: Saffron
Frame: BROMPTON BLACK
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: storm grey
Bottom Mat: Soft mauve
Bottom Mat: Soft mauve
Frame: BLAIR GOLD
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Color: Tangerine
Frame: ADDISON BLACK
Mat Style: weighted bottom
Mat Style: weighted bottom
Mat Color: White
Frame: BROMPTON BLACK
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: white ice
Bottom Mat: dark black
Bottom Mat: dark black
Frame: CROCKER SILVER
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: aqua
Bottom Mat: juniper
Bottom Mat: juniper
Frame: ADDISON WHITE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: porpoise
Bottom Mat: powder blue
Bottom Mat: powder blue
Frame: addison white
Mat Style: weighted bottom
Mat Style: weighted bottom
Mat Color: porpoise
Frame: aDdison black
Mat Style: no mat
Mat Style: no mat
Frame: BLAIR silver
Mat Style: no mat
Mat Style: no mat
Frame: addison blair
Mat Style: no mat
Mat Style: no mat
Frame: addison natural
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: White ice
Bottom Mat: dark maroon
Bottom Mat: dark maroon
Frame: muir natural
Mat Style: oversized
Mat Style: oversized
Mat Color: Antique blue
Frame: addison natural
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: soft mauve
Bottom Mat: dark maroon
Bottom Mat: dark maroon
Frame: Brompton white
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: aqua
Bottom Mat: dark blue
Bottom Mat: dark blue
Frame: Brompton white
Mat Style: STANDARd
Mat Style: STANDARd
Top Mat: soft sky
Bottom Mat: coral
Bottom Mat: coral
Frame: addison black
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: White ice
Bottom Mat: dark grey
Bottom Mat: dark grey
Frame: muir natural
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: clover
Bottom Mat: juniper
Bottom Mat: juniper
Frame: Brompton white
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Style: STANDARD
Top Color: clover
Frame: BLAIR GOLD
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Color: White ice
Frame: Brompton black
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: White ice
Bottom Mat: white ice
Bottom Mat: white ice
Frame: crocker GOLD
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Style: STANDARD
Mat Color: Brown
Frame: BLAIR Silver
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: pistachio
Bottom Mat: goldenrod
Bottom Mat: goldenrod
Frame: BLAIR GOLD
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Mat Style: STANDARD / DOUBLE
Top Mat: saffron
Bottom Mat: brown
Bottom Mat: brown
LOOKBOOK
From perfectly paired mats and frames to stunning wall arrangements, great framing has the power to transform rooms - and we want to show you how.
Our lookbook is full well-designed spaces guaranteed to help you love your walls. Go ahead, take a peek and click any image to start customizing your frame.
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Image Credits Brittany Anne Jarman, Chrissy Irvin, Matt Bellassai, Ann Ueno, Calli Fox