Finding frames for all of the art and photos in your home can be super overwhelming at first. It can feel like: how the heck am I going to get all of this up on my walls?? But don’t worry – I understand how frustrating it can be to frame everything, but I also know how satisfying it is to finally get it up on your walls. I’m here to help so that you have all of the information you need to make the process more enjoyable, and to have a result that you love.
Wall art has the ability to change how you feel in your space, so it’s very important to figure out how you want to frame your art and photos.
There are a few different ways that you can find the best frames for wall art for your home, and we are going to walk through all of the dos and don’ts together. We also will cover where you can go to shop for wall art picture frames.
This post is all about wall art picture frames. Let’s get into it!
These are my dos and don’ts when it comes to frames
- DO use frames.
- Using a frame can take one of your kid’s sketches from looking like an afternoon scribble to a work of modern art. I’m kind of kidding, but I’m also kind of not. Framing things completely elevates their look, and gives art and photos a finished feel. Frames are the finishing touch that you need to pull everything together, so that your wall art is something that you enjoy looking at every day.
- DO feel free to use inexpensive frames if that is what works best for you.
- It is very hard to tell the difference between an inexpensive frame and an expensive frame, especially if you stick to a simple style with your frames. I have a mix of more expensive frames and less expensive frames in my house, so you can too. There’s nothing wrong with a frame from Michael’s or Target.
- DO use a matte in most of your frames.
- Having a perfect fit for a picture or print in a frame can look good, but you do not want all of your frames to be a perfect fit with no room for a matte. The matte helps make whatever is inside the frame look more visually appealing.
- DO use matte that isn’t white if that’s your thing!
- White matte is so classic and beautiful, but having a dark matte or a colorful matte adds so much personality to a piece. If you’re curious about colorful or dark mattes, run don’t walk. This is your time to shine.
- DO mix and match frames throughout your home and even within the same room in your home.
- Switching up the frames in your spaces gives your home a more eclectic feel and adds character to your space. There are so many different types of frames, so you can have fun with this. Play with using different materials and colors and see where your imagination takes you.
- DON’T leave a frame empty.
- Sorry, but it’s not a look. Empty frames make your space look unfinished. There is room for things that look unfinished in the home – half sketches, line drawings, and more. But an empty frame does not have the same effect, in my opinion, and I would avoid hanging an empty frame.
- DON’T buy mass produced art.
- Sometimes when you’re looking for wall art picture frames it can be tempting to buy art at the same exact time, because they are often sold together. Resist the urge, my friend. Mass produced art is not only boring, it’s often extremely overpriced for what it is. Why spend on art at Target or Pottery Barn when you could get something for the same price that is a unique work of art from an artist you love? Unique art is what gives your home soul and tells your story, and it is so worth spending a little extra time to find it.
- DON’T feel like you need to frame everything.
- You can leave art frameless, but you can’t leave a frame artless (did that sound as good out loud as it did in my head?). What I mean by this is that unlike having an empty frame, having art without a frame is totally fine! It works really well in certain spots to create beautiful vignettes. Canvases can look especially nice without a frame.
- DON’T buy frames before you source the art and photos that you want to hang up.
- It’s always a good idea to have the measurements for the art and photos that you want to hang up ready to go, so that you can buy frames that fit them. In my experience, it would be so much harder to do it the other way around.
- DON’T only frame family photos and nothing else. You need art for character!
- If you’re here, you probably already know how much I love art. I am such a believer that art transforms how your home feels. Not only will your home look more soulful and full of character when you add art to your walls – you will also feel inspired and uplifted by the art in your home. It’s so important to fill your environment with things that bring joy to your day to day.
Where to shop for wall art picture frames
There are many different places that you can shop for wall art picture frames, and we’re going to cover my personal favorite places to shop in person and online. Hopefully this can help make your experience easier or introduce you to something new!
The best places to shop in person
- Local frame store
- Finding a local frame store where you can go in person and pick out the frames and mattes that you want, and leave your art and photos with the professionals to frame for you is such a great experience. It’s so convenient and looks extremely well done. If you’re a busy person and doing all of the shopping and framing is overwhelming for you or just not something you want to spend a huge amount of time on, this is a great option.
- Target
- I have purchased frames from Target and loved them! They have some really cute options. I would stick to the simple frames here because those are the ones that will have a more timeless look.
- Michael’s
- If you have a slightly more unique size of frame that you need, Michael’s is a great place to look. I also like to go to Michael’s for larger frames, since they tend to have a broader selection of large wall art frames than Target. The white frame that I used for a print in my bathroom is from Michael’s (photo below). I love it!
The best places to shop online
- Etsy
- Etsy has a lot of different options at many different price points. I get easily overwhelmed on Etsy, but I think that it would be a great idea to look there if you have a specific idea in mind of what you want.
- Art To Frames
- Art To Frames is an affordable online option that allows you to upload your own media and they will print it and frame it for you. If you have photos on your computer that you want to get framed, you can pick a size that works best for you and they do the rest! I have never used this option myself, but I heard about it from Janea @jnaydaily on YouTube. She’s one of my favorite influencers so I trust that it would be great.
- West Elm
- I really like West Elm’s frames because they do modern frames so well. If you have a more traditional interior design style, and you want to bring in some modern elements, look at West Elm. Or if you want to see what a more expensive frame looks like, look at West Elm. They have beautiful frames.
When it comes to finding the best frames for the art and photos in your home, it’s so helpful to have an idea of what you want to frame and where you are going to hang it before you get started. I have a blog post about art for bedroom walls that goes through the process of finding art from start to finish. It focuses mainly on bedrooms, but a lot of the tips could be used for any space.
Wall art framed makes your walls look so beautiful and fills your space with character and charm. Whether it’s photos of your family, art that tells a story you love, or both (if you love to combine the two like I do) there’s a priceless quality to what goes up on your walls that is unique to you.
I hope that this post helped you figure out what you need when it comes to wall art picture frames. Don’t forget to join our email list (scroll to the bottom of the page) so that you stay in the loop!
If you’re looking for more art and design inspiration, make sure you’re following @garlandcollections on Instagram and Pinterest.
