Framing Tips
A well-chosen frame adds completeness to a piece of art, highlights subtle details, and complements it. The most important thing is to choose the right one. How to do that?
The most important factors are your personal taste, your vision of how the framed work should look, and the style and color of the piece.
Typically, the frame is matched with the style and color palette of the painting. For example, you won't go wrong framing a traditional still life in a classic style frame. For posters and abstractions, modern frames are recommended.
It's also worth considering the space where the painting will hang. If your home has many vintage or antique furniture pieces, ornate Baroque-style frames are worth considering.
Often, opposites can be complementary. Modern works are framed in heavy, ornate gold frames – such contrast looks very striking and stylish, especially in a modern interior. Moreover, don't forget that the most important thing is that the result is beautiful to you.
When choosing the width of the frame, a simple rule applies: if the work is large, the frame should be wide; if small, it should be narrow. If you want something more interesting, you can place a small piece in a wide frame – the picture will look original, stylish, and luxurious.
Probably the most challenging aspect is the color of the frame. The frame color should match the artwork itself, but it’s also worth considering the surrounding interior. This does not mean that the frame should blend in – it should highlight and complement the painting. For example, the frame color can match the accents of the painting or be close to the overall color scheme. If you don't want to experiment, you can follow the rule: for dark paintings – dark frames, for light ones – light; for warm colors – warm shades of frames, for cool – cool. Various shades of gold are especially popular as they add vibrancy.
Matting
When framing a work not done on canvas, such as a poster, photo, watercolor, or tempera piece, it is popular to add a mat. A mat is the space that separates the artwork from the frame.
A mat can help harmonize the painting with the frame, focus attention on certain details of the artwork, or simply give it more space. This is very important for works that depict movement. A special effect is achieved by choosing a wide mat for a small painting, where the area is several times larger than the object being framed.
The color of the mat should also match the color scheme of the painting. It should not overshadow the artwork, so pastel-colored mats are usually chosen, which do not draw additional attention. An exception is bright children's drawings, posters, and graphic works, which often pair well with bright mats. A more interesting solution is a layered mat made of several related shades, which can create a sense of space and depth.
Framing Mirrors
A separate topic is framing mirrors. Interior designers have liberated mirrors from bathrooms and hallways and increasingly use them as interior elements. One of their greatest advantages is the sense of space, which is especially valued in small areas.
By hanging a mirror opposite a window, you can bring brightness even to the darkest corner. The key is not to hang the mirror next to a painting and, if possible, ensure that it reflects interesting objects or your favorite interior accents, such as vases with flowers or figurines.
Framing mirrors is much more flexible than framing paintings. The main thing is that the frame matches the interior – in color, style, or both. Also, keep in mind that the frame must be strong enough to hold the mirror. Don't forget that the top edge of the mirror should be 170–180 cm from the floor, and the width should be at least 50 cm. On our website, you will find a separate collection dedicated to mirror framing.