A frame does much more than just enhance the artwork you have chosen. A good quality frame also protects your print, preserving it from moisture and UV damage. All of our prints on the website are displayed in a classic black frame with a white border but this style is not for everyone and does not suit all homes or styles of décor. Picking exactly what pieces to hang in those vacant voids can be tricky. Mainly because art, and photographs, are such objects of individual taste. There’s no one-size-fits-all guide to what you should buy but this guide gives some pointers to help along the way.
Choosing a complementary frame colour
Once you’ve selected a beautiful photo for print, the next step is to choose the right frame, one that enhances your photo and transforms it into a complete piece of artwork. A wide range of frame sizes and types are available and a few of them are especially popular. These styles, when used right, accentuate the overall presentation of your artwork.
Black or white frames
Placing your print in a black or white frame can truly accentuate the beauty when used appropriately. Both black or white frames offer an elegant, timeless, minimalist look that often fits any style of home decor. Both black and white frames carry a modern feel and streamlined appearance. A black frame will highlight the darker features in your photo and act as a contrast to lighter ones. That’s why it’s best to use a photo with some light and dark tones in a black frame, in order to create a balanced look. As a result black frames are a classic choice for photography (especially black and white photography!) and graphic art prints.
White frames generate a similar vibe. They tend to make the darkness in photos stand out, and the light hues to blend into the background. White frames work best for contemporary art, photography and prints with a neutral colour palette. Some people also choose to place black and white photos in these solid-coloured frames. It often fosters an artistic, stylish feel, especially when creating a gallery wall.
Wood Picture Frames
As a natural material, wood offers a warm and classic feel and range in colour from light to dark depending on the wood and finish used. In terms of artwork, prints with warmer tones look best with darker frames made of woods like mahogany and walnut. Cooler tones in an image, such as coastal blues, pair better with lighter wood frames made of oak. Oak provides a beautiful surrounding for bright contemporary prints, giving modern pieces a timeless appeal.
For all our available frame options, click here
Choosing whether to use a mount
Often part of the framing process that can complicate choosing the right print size is the decision on whether or not to choose a mount. However it is a good thing to consider as it can have a real impact on the finished artwork. A mount draws the eye to the image and can enhance its appearance. However some prints arguably do look better without a mount, for example, vintage travel posters and photographic prints have a slick finish when placed directly in a black or white frame. This also applies if you have chosen a graphic or typographic print and want a minimalist and contemporary finish.
Frames available online will sometimes come with or without a mount with an opening for a print. If choosing frames with a mount, select the print sizes that fits within the advertised opening. With this, it is best to choose borderless as the print option on most of our photography/design. There usually will be some overlap but this is often better than having to exactly align a border within the mount.
If buying a frame without a mount, or if you wanted to make full use of the frame size, we offer all of our photography and most of our graphic designs with a white border. In this case a print in A2 size with a white border will fit snugly inside a A2 frame, with the image taking up ~85% of the frame as opposed to 50% with an A3 print within the typical mount included for that frame size.
Final tips for choosing a frame
- Don’t overemphasize matching specific colours in your chosen photo or design to the frame colour. Instead, consider the overall tone of the print when selecting a frame.
- Select a lighter frame for casual or simple art—and choose a darker frame for more elegant or formal pieces such as black and white photography prints
- Matching a frame to your existing room decor is more important than matching a colour in your image to the frame itself. Choose a frame that complements your home décor.
- To help your artwork stand out, ensure your frame colour isn’t too similar to your wall colour.
For all our available frame options, click here
Alternatives to frames
Canvas Prints
Canvas prints are designed with your image printed onto canvas using a specially-made inkjet printer. In other words, a photograph is transformed into a lasting piece of art. We offer any one of our designs or photography on canvas ready to hang. All canvases are made with FSC certified wood and come with wall mounting kit. Our canvas options/sizes can be viewed here
Metal Prints
Metal prints are durable, high-definition photos displayed in a frameless design. The image is layered onto 3mm aluminium dibond and comes professionally finished. Metal prints are sleek, modern art pieces that bring photographs to life. Our metal prints come with a secure hanger attached for easy wall mounting and the print is matte and glare-free, with white and bright areas having a faint silky gloss. Our aluminium print options/sizes can be viewed here
Wall Hangings
The minimal design allows your art to shine, and uses 90% less materials than traditional frames, making them more environmentally friendly. This framing option also makes swapping out prints easier too - if you’re like us, you have more prints than places to hang them. Keep your rotation constant and give them all a chance in the spotlight. This often proves the quickest and most efficient method to frame any art. Each hanger includes four wooden sticks, two that clamp the top of your print and two that clamp the bottom and a premium leather cord that matches the hanger colour. Strong magnets securely grip your print.
Our poster and wall hanger options/sizes can be viewed here