A complete guide to framing art
Whether you are a seasoned collector or just have one or two pieces in your home, you will know that framing art, and framing it right, can add a stunning new dimension. Everything from the type, size, and colour of the frame to the way it’s mounted can change the look and feel of a piece entirely, thus altering the mood of the room in which it is hung. If you’ve just ordered your next piece of original art from our hand-picked gallery, here is our complete guide to framing it to ensure that you showcase it perfectly.
Choosing your frame
The frame you choose is incredibly important, and it can define the mood of the picture. Choosing a contemporary frame in a matt, block colour can add drama to a piece. Going for an elegant, thin frame in metallic gold or silver gives a much more delicate look. There are many fantastic frames available to buy online in our picture frame collection in standard sizes. If your original art is in an unusual size, you can also use our bespoke framing service and get a custom frame handmade by us to fit its dimensions exactly.
Matting
Beyond simply framing your piece of original art, matting can provide an additional border. The mat is a piece of board which acts as a ‘window’ to display your artwork. The mat board can be cut to any thickness, and can be any colour you choose. This is particularly useful for highlighting a certain tone in a piece of artwork, helping it to suit the room where it is going to be placed.
At Abstract House, we use a classic white mount which we have sourced to perfectly compliment our artworks and showcase the true colours of the picture.
If you want to add matting to your new piece of contemporary art, you will need:
- Mat board in your chosen colour
- A box cutter or similar blade
- A ruler
- A protective cutting surface or mat
- A pencil
- A specialist mat cutter
- Your chosen frame
First, cut your mat board so that it is the same size as the frame you want to use. Most shop bought frames come with a backing – use this as a template to help you cut the correct dimensions.
You then must measure the window or opening that your artwork will show through. How big or small this window should be depends on the look you are wanting to achieve. Be careful, this requires a steady hand and good use of a ruler!
Once you have marked, in pencil, the lines where you want to cut, use the mat cutter to carefully cut the mat board. After cutting four straight lines, push the rest of the mat board through to create a gap.
Place the newly cut mat board on top of your art, print or fine art photograph and secure in place using your frame.
Trusted framing experts
Of course, if a piece is particularly valuable or if you simply would rather leave the framing process down to the experts, here at Abstract House our professional framers can make your new piece of art look stunning, and perfect for its environment. Discover our ready made wooden picture frames or get in touch to find out about our bespoke framing service.
