One of the first steps in the picture hanging process is framing—once you’ve curated a selection of pictures, be it artwork or photographs, you can then proceed to framing them if you so choose.
Picture frames are a classic component of a gallery wall, and for good reason. They amplify a piece’s quality and appeal, and even elevate it. Not only that, a good quality wall frame provides protection from the elements and helps to preserve a picture’s condition so it doesn’t quickly degrade over time.
For these reasons, choosing the right picture frame for your artwork or piece is important. By the time you’re done with this article, you’ll have an informed grasp of the considerations involved in picture framing and you’ll be more confident in your own choice of wall frames. And of course, your pictures will be all the better for it!
Let’s dive in!
Table of contents
Choosing a Frame: A Two-Part Decision
There are two primary guiding factors when picking a picture frame. First is to pick a frame based on the picture you’re framing and then to base it on the room it will be displayed in.
Choose based on the picture
You will want to choose a frame that is congruent with your picture itself. Now, you might think this means picking a color on the picture or something close. But this doesn’t always apply.
Instead, the key principle is to consider the overall tone of the picture or pictures instead of just a single picture’s color. Is the collection a formal-looking, sophisticated gallery wall? Or is it leaning towards a casual tone? Is it dramatic or playful? Does it emit a simple tone, or is it more eclectic?
Once you’ve assessed the tone of your curated pictures, you should consider if you want matting in your wall frame. Matting affects picture frame sizes and the aesthetics of your overall display. Pictures on the smaller side are often recommended to have matted framing, but you can also use mats as a decorative border regardless of the size of the artwork.
Mats provide a level of separation between the frame and the picture and lends the piece an organized look. Be careful of the matting color so that it doesn’t clash with the frame. If they’re too similar, it will highlight the framing too much and detract from the picture.
Choose based on the room
Similar to how you should interpret the tone of your pictures, you should also look at the interior design of the room and match your choice of frame with it accordingly.
Perhaps you have a rustic-style room or a minimalist design. There are frame styles that suit Scandinavian interiors more as opposed to a room decorated with Rococo-inspired furniture. Select a frame that not only matches the picture, but also complements the rest of the room. Or depending on your preference, you can pick out wall frames that have a contrasting effect instead.
In line with this, you should specifically mind the wall color behind your display. Your frame and picture interact with the wall directly more than anything else in the room. Generally, you can avoid a frame color too similar to the wall paint or wallpaper, unless you want a camouflage effect where the frame seems to disappear and blend into the wall. Otherwise, choose a frame that contrasts the wall it will be hung on to make the picture or art stand out.
With tone, matting, room decor, and wall color in mind, you can now begin looking into different types of frames. So, exactly what kind of options do you have to choose from? Read on.
Types of Picture Frames
There is a variety of picture frames for a variety of framing and hanging needs. With reference to the factors we just discussed above, you can now look at each type of frame and pinpoint the ones that most closely match what you’re looking for in a frame.
This is best done by looking into the various aspects that differentiate picture frames by themselves. These are frame material, color, size, and profile type.
By material
Wood
Wooden frames are the most natural choice of material for frames. They’re a classic choice and add an instant level of warmth to a gallery wall or display. Wooden frames come in a range of light and dark finishes and are best considered together with the decor in a room, such as in a Japandi-style space.
Hardware made specifically for hanging frames made of wood are called wood frame hangers. You can choose from a variety of durable picture hangers that suit a wood frame’s tendency to be heavier than other types.
Metal
Metal picture frames are simple and lend pieces a sleek and classy look. They accompany pictures in a subtle manner and have a more subdued and crisp quality to their framing. Modern and abstract artwork are complemented well by this frame type.
The most common metal frame profile is the #11 profile, which is mounted with the help of metal frame hangers.
Plastic
While not a very common material in professionally curated displays, plastic frames are a great choice for lightweight pictures. Oftentimes, a plastic frame will have a finish that doesn’t make the material apparent and even appears as if it was wooden or metallic.
Plastic wall frames are the most compatible with hangers that are equally on the lightweight side, such as adhesive picture hangers.
By color or finish
While you can consider just about every color out there, the two most popular solid colors for gallery wall frames are black and white. These colors are simple, but also the most versatile, and each add a different effect to a framed display.
Black picture frames are neutral-colored and complement most pictures and artwork. They tend to highlight dark tones in a picture and contrast against light tones, resulting in a display that leans toward an elegant, classy style.
White picture frames are clean and timeless. A white frame is the option to go for if your pictures are more candid and informal. Darker tones jump out in a white frame, while light elements blend right in.
By size
Before getting a frame, you need to have a good idea of the space you’ll be working in to gauge the right picture frame sizes. For instance, a living room wall is more flexible and spacious than a mantelpiece or a tabletop. You can use painter’s tape to measure your pictures on the wall and determine the gallery wall frames you need.
It will also matter whether you are framing a photograph, a painting, or paper-based artwork. A standard frame works best the majority of the time, but for custom-sized pieces, you might need gallery frames. In addition, matting will take up space in your frame as mentioned earlier, so take note of that too.
By profile type
We’ve mentioned standard frames and gallery frames—these are frames of different profile types. Floating frames, deep-set frames, and decorative frames also offer a variety of profiles that make each frame decidedly unique.
Images courtesy of CueThat, Picture Hang Solutions, and Stephanie Temma Hier
Floating frames are ideal for paper-based items, while deep-set picture frames are reserved for more dimensional displays, like 3D art. Learn more about these types of frames in this article:
To summarize, peep the little Venn diagram below of everything we’ve discussed in this guide!
Final thoughts
When hanging a picture, it can seem like any frame will do for our pictures. But each type of frame has a different impact on our space and the entire viewing experience. When matched correctly, the right frame accentuates a picture with care and subtlety, letting observers appreciate the art in the best way possible.
We’re curious how you choose the frames for your pictures. Did you relate to the article? Or maybe we missed an important step? Let’s get the discussion started in the comments below!
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