Matting & Framing Artwork

On Display Thursday: Matting & Framing Tips & Technique

You found a fabulous printable or piece of artwork that you love.  So now what? How does this printed piece of paper turn into a useable decorating element?  You need to frame it of course -- and how you mat and frame it makes ALL the difference in how your final piece will look and whether it will work in your space.  Here are a few things to consider when you get ready to put your favorite piece of artwork on display:

Frame Color & Style:

^{sample artwork: You Are My Sunshine by SignsByAndrea}

You'll want the frame color and style to coordinate with the decor of the room and the items that will be displayed around it.  You may prefer a thin clean-lined metal frame for a more modern look, or a wide chunky ornate wooden frame for a more traditional style.  Consider whether you want the frame itself to be neutral and blend into it's surroundings, or to become a bold statement in itself (such as in the red choice below). 

Tip:  Like a frame's style and size, but not the color? Spray paint it!  Yard sales and consignment stores are a fantastic place to collect frames in all kinds of sizes, materials, styles and textures.

Mat Width:

The mat width (if you choose to add one) will depend largely on the size of the artwork and the size of the space where it will be displayed.  A mat that is too narrow may not give the artwork enough "breathing room" while a mat that is too large may dwarf the artwork.    All three examples below could work well depending on the final size of the framed piece.

For example, though the third wide-matting option might slightly dwarf a small detailed print, an oversized mat could have a very dramatic look and become a show-stopping focal point around a 20" x 24"" poster print.

Tip: If you are creating a gallery of frames, similar matting can help unify the group of frames and draw focus to each piece of artwork. 

You can use the same colored mats and frames throughout a grouping like the folks at YoungHouseLove did in their gallery wall:

Or simply use similar matting styles to unify a collection of eclectic frames as was done at 320Sycamore:

Layering Options:

Double and triple-matting is another option for adding an extra element depth, color and texture to your framed artwork. Yes, it can add cost, but that extra touch can make your artwork have a much more polished and professional look.

Tip: Custom framing is often offered at 1/2 price at your local craft supply stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, JoAnn's, etc.)  Plus, mat-cutting is very inexpensive at these stores which is a great solution if you need non-standard mats for your artwork or frames.

However you choose to mat and frame your artwork, be sure to give it some thought.  A slight change in color or size can turn a so-so print into the perfect accent that makes a room complete.

You Are My Sunshine by SignsByAndrea

"On-Display Thursdays" is a series here at SignsByAndrea.com meant to show off fabulous ways to display inspiring words in your world through signs, posters, prints, monograms and more.  Subscribe to my feed to check in each week to see what we've found!