Deciding on the proper artwork for your house can be difficult, but for many of us, framing it’s the true puzzler. What color? What dimensions? Mat or no mat? And if you are anything like me, those choices can be so overpowering that beautiful paintings and photographs languish for months or even years in a cupboard, unframed and hidden. But here’s the good news: Once you break it down, the process really isn’t that hard. Follow these tips to choose the guesswork out of framing your art to its best advantage.
John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA
Consider the style of this art. The framework you choose should complement the piece inside. An impressionist-style painting may appear ill at ease in a contemporary stainless steel framework, even though a spare, modern work will not jibe with a detailed gilt one. Select materials and a profile that sense appropriate to what you are framing.
Sroka Design, Inc..
Consider the style of this space. The framing you select does not need to coordinate with your decor just, but it must at least feel as though the piece hangs in the right property. The conventional frames utilized for this set of paintings complement the area’s classic, understated style.
Pelletier + Schaar
Match the dimensions of this framework to the dimensions of this image. A thick, chunky framework can overpower a diminutive piece of art, and a skimpy one can fade away next to a solid, overscale painting or photograph. Pick one that will balance the job it surrounds.
Tobi Fairley Interior Design
Decide whether to use mats. Not all pieces require them, and it is largely a matter of personal taste. Hold mats and frame moldings against the job in question to ascertain the way you’d like it best. Art with a clean background, such as the shell prints in this bedroom, works especially well without a mat.
Allison Cosmos
Select a mat which contrasts with the color of this art. Generally, you can’t go wrong with classic white or cream (cool colors are a huge no-no, unless you do not mind swapping them out several years). But black and white photographs, line drawings and pen sketches are able to appear striking with a surround of black. Just be sure there’s a powerful contrast between the art and the mat a murky piece will disappear in a field of darkness.
Domestic Stories with Ivy
Select the kind of glass you want. If your piece is especially fine or sentimental, you might opt to put money into museum glass, treated to block UV rays that can fade colors over time. It’s costly, but it can pay off in the long term. Normal glass is a lower-cost choice, but it can be too heavy for quite a large part. In these instances, lightweight acrylic is often the best bet.
Kati Curtis Design
Make sure mats are broad enough. A mat that’s too skinny will not set off the piece it surrounds. Here’s a handy rule of thumb: To the best effect, create the mat two times as wide as the framework. You are able to go wider, but you should be sure the art doesn’t get lost.
Lauren Gries
Don’t be concerned about matching eyeglasses. Take your cue from art galleries and fit frames to the art, not to every other. Grouped on a wall, correctly framed pieces will complement each other beautifully.
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