Creative Framing Ideas To Tackle Your Pile of Art

Stop letting art gather dust in storage—these clever framing ideas will help you curate and display your collection like a pro.

Some say framing is as important as the art that’s being framed. In fact, the wrong frame can really distract from a piece, and likewise a frame that’s beautifully paired with the art can make it sing. No pressure. That being said, when you have a grasp of different styles, and start to see examples of them in use, I think you start to get a feel for what works. So, that’s what this post is here to do!

Everyone seems to have a pile of art (and other items) lying around to frame that they never quite get around to. For starters, framing can be intimidating. While professional framing is the easiest solution, it’s also the costliest. Navigating framing on your own, there are so many options, it might be overwhelming to select the right frame (and mat) or even know where to source it. 

It’s true that there are so many styles of frames and mats. Framing is all about choosing the best elements to compliment the art. But, there’s also room for individual preference. So, I’m going to lay out the options to help familiarize you, then I’ll provide framing ideas for specific types of art, so you can start to see how to apply them.

And if you’re also looking for things to frame, I’ve created a Guide to Affordable Art for Your Home over on my Substack.

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sense of spen• cer 

noun [sɛns, əv, ˈspɛnsər]

1. Reflecting one’s identity through their interiors

2. A home with character and soul

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General Framing Ideas

There are two main components of framing: the frame and the mat, which is optional depending on what you’re framing and the look you're going for. Occasionally, art (or whatever you’re framing) may need to be mounted on a background before it can be framed.

Frame Options

• Professional - Take your piece to a local professional framer who will give you advice and offer options to choose from. This is a good choice for high quality pieces that you want to properly frame and protect, and if you want a very custom look.

• Custom framing online (and in-store) - Framebridge is the best known online framing brand – you can take your art to select stores or send it to them, and select a frame and mat, and they handle the framing. I recently used it for the first time, and it’s more reasonably priced than I was expecting with decent customization options. Another option I’m eager to try is Frame It Easy – you choose a frame and send them the dimensions, then they send the elements to you to frame yourself.

• Paint one color - Paint a thrifted or cheap store bought frame with a lick of paint to completely transform the look. I like using sample pots from Farrow & Ball for this purpose. 

• Paint stripes - For a fun twist, paint the frame (or leave plain) then after it’s dried, use painters tape to create stripes. Paint around the tape, then remove it when it’s still wet. 

• Paint a design - For something a little more advance, paint the frame with a design. I recommend these decorative paint brushes for detail. 

• Cover with decorative paper - Cover the frame in spray adhesive and carefully cover it with decorative paper. Option to do the same with the mat.

[Images clockwise from top left: Sense of Spencer; Susan Deliss; Sense of Spencer; Logan Taylor Antiques]

Matting Options

• Custom matboard - Matboards & More allows you to create custom matboards choosing the dimensions of the board/opening and the color of the matboard (and optional double mat). Sometimes it can be fun to go for a colored mat or do a double mat with a contrasting color. 

• Paint stripes - Draw evenly spaced lines on a matboard, then go over them in watercolor or regular paint thinned out with water to create a slightly imperfect wobbly line. 

• Cover with decorative paper - Like above, but only cover the mat with decorative paper. 

Mounting Options

With items that are less traditional like a botanical specimen or a letter, you have the option to glue or tape it onto paper, and either frame the whole thing or put a mat around it.

• Use plain or decorative paper - Depending on the look you’re going for, affix the item to plain sketch paper or something more decorative, like marbled paper. 

• Paint background - Similar to the striped mat above, use the same technique on paper, glue the item down, then frame the whole thing.

Framing Ideas for Specific Types of Art

Scarf / Tea Towel / Napkin

These ornate designs look best with simple frames that don’t compete too much with them.

Design by Lonika Chande via House & Garden UK

Cath Kidson

Stamp or other small item

A large mat around a small item helps make the entire piece more substantial and actually helps draw your eye to that item.

Petri Print

M Goods

Dried flower or other specimen

You can elevate a simple plant specimen into a true work of art with a more ornate mat/frame combo – eg: cover mat/frame in the same decorative paper or use a boldly colored frame and double mat.

Sense of Spencer

Kristin Ellen Hockman

Small prints / cards (option 1)

A series of small prints (whether greeting cards or a vintage print cut into sections) can be quite effective framed with no mat and displayed in an interesting way.

Overdale House

Small framed prints at my mom’s house

Small prints / cards (option 2)

Alternatively, if you have a larger space to fill, you can make the small prints bigger by using a mat or mounting them on a piece of paper.

Framed cards in my son’s room

Design by Juniper Tedhams