How to frame a picture so you'll still like it tomorrow

Photo illustration by Alice Bailey

By Alice Bailey

May 5, 2009 | The artwork you display in your home can have a big influence on the atmosphere within your household and make your home your own. How you display this artwork is also very important. Framing can be an expensive process, so you want to make the right decision the first time. Picking the right frame is important and can take some time, so here are a few tips on getting it right the first time.

The first thing you want to take into consideration when picking a frame is the size of the picture. A bigger frame always looks better on bigger pictures, and a thin frame will not usually be able to support the weight the mounted picture and the glass. If the frame is too small, then the secures in the corners will come undone and the bottom of your frame will fall off. The exception to this rule would be that of a metal frame, which can usually support more weight than the average wood frame.

The subject of the picture is also important when picking a frame size. Kevin Chugg at Al's Trophies gave the example of the subject of the picture being a predominantly large apple. In this case you can pick a large frame and a wide mat, even if the overall size of the picture isn't very large. If the subject of the picture is small, too much frame and mat can distract from the actual picture.

Another way to accent small subjects would be to pick a frame with small details, which amplifies the style of the picture you are framing.

If your picture is big you also might consider mounting it. Mounting your picture will keep it from buckling in the frame over time, and will keep it flat. The larger the picture, the more likely it is that it will buckle. If your picture is wrinkled or has dents in it, mounting can help alleviate the appearance of these flaws. As a general rule though, you won't usually want to mount an original piece of artwork or a limited edition print.

You can also get a protective UV spray on your mounted print if you don't want to get glass. This will make your picture lighter and prevent the glare that glass produces. If you choose to not get glass on your picture, you can also get a finish on your print which will make it look like it is printed on a canvas or linen.

If you choose to spray your picture instead of putting glass on it, don't put a mat on it. Mats need the protection of the glass and will usually warp and discolor otherwise.

Depending on the subject of your picture and the room you are going to be hanging it in, you will want a different style of frame. If your picture has a rustic subject you will probably want to avoid ornate of modern frames, and choose instead a simple wood finish. The typical choice for classic style paintings would be a gold frame, and modern art usually is framed in something plain and black.

Don't plan on matting paintings, especially oils. Because mats need glass, and paintings don't, it's usually better to put just a frame on your painting, unless it is a watercolor. If it is an oil painting, the oils will seep into the mats and discolor them.

If you are picking a mat, the mat you pick should usually be fairly neutral and match one of the predominant colors in the picture. If it is an original piece of art, cream-colored or white mats are a more correct choice. Black is also an appropriate choice of mat color for original art, depending on the subject.

If you want to highlight a brightly colored point of interest in the picture, you may want to choose a double mat with the undermat being the same color as the subject you wish to highlight. Generally though, you don't want the predominant mat color to be that bright color or it will distract from the picture instead of highlighting it.

The glass you choose depends on where you're going to be hanging the picture you're framing. If the picture will be getting a lot of direct sunlight then you will probably want to select something with a UV protection factor. If glare is going to be an issue, then you're probably going to want a non-glare glass. If glare is going to be a problem and you don't like the foggy surface of non-glare glass, you can buy museum glass, which is much more expensive but has a crisp look and doesn't reflect. In most cases, regular glass is just fine.

For those of you who would like to make your own picture frame check out this site where you can learn how to build your own wooden picture frames to fit any size picture.

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