Framing is more than just protection for your artworks, it’s an art in itself that can make or break a piece. Done right, framing will enhance your work of art without distraction, and it will create a cohesive piece that will flow beautifully with your interiors. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right frame and hang your art with the attention to detail it deserves.

Frames today are available in seemingly endless materials, colors, and finishes, it can be a little overwhelming trying to choose just one. Whether you go for classic wood or something more intricate or gilded, choose a frame material and style that suits your artwork and ties it together with your decor. It doesn’t have to be plain or boring, just remember that your frame should complement the style and color palette of the artwork, not overpower it.

When choosing a frame, you’ll also need to consider how you want your art to sit within the border of the frame. You can opt for a frame with or without matting, which is a thick piece of paper or board that sits between your artwork and the framing glass. Matting creates a border around the artwork, which can be as large as you’d like. It also creates a gap between your artwork and the framing glass, creating airflow that will protect delicate artworks from mold and mildew.

There are also what’s known as ‘floating’ frames, which suspend your artwork within the frame without any matting, giving the appearance that the artwork is floating in space. This is a dramatic effect that works well for modern and contemporary pieces in particular.

If you do go for a frame with matting, you’ll have more decisions to make! The color and thickness of your matting material will affect how the finished framed artwork looks. You can go for a classic white, gray, or black matting, or choose something colorful that makes the artwork pop.

The quality of your matting material should reflect the quality of the artwork you are framing. Mats are often made with a mix of paper and cotton, but museum-quality (archival) matting will be made with 100% cotton and will last much longer.

Mats can also be acidic or acid-free. Acidic matting is fine for cheaper posters and prints, but it will cause some discoloration over long periods of time. Acid-free matting is a higher-end option that won’t discolor your artworks, and is the best choice for more valuable pieces.

Your framing glass may be made from glass or acrylic, or you could choose a frame without any glass at all. Framing glass is essential to protect more delicate works on paper such as watercolor paintings or charcoal drawings. Oil paintings, on the other hand, tend to look best without glass, where their rich textures can be appreciated without any glare.

When hanging your framed artworks, consider their environment carefully. Avoid placing delicate paper artworks in a full sun area, as they may be prone to fading over time. Try to hang your artworks where they won’t suffer from too much glare, either. Choose gentle lighting that will enhance the art on display, like wall sconces or soft lamps. Once your artworks are framed, hung, and lit properly, they’ll really make a space feel special!