Picture Framing 101 - an idiots guide to framing Art and Pictures for your home

[ChateauRouge]

Could someone please help with this?

Do you choose a frame to match the colours in the room, or the colours in the picture? [dim]

umm, not sure I'd do either really. I like frames to be black or white oe wood or silver or gold or random painted wood.

sorry shite answer.

arf- any old colour then really?

pms larfing here

I am an ex-picture framer, did it professionally for many years.

It used to drive me MENTAL when people came in to the shop with samples of their carpet and curtains

ALWAYS match the mount and frame to the picture.

What are you framing?

I have 2 Rob Ryan prints to frame- very dark colours. One is v dark navy, the other is a very dark olive green and bronze (sounds vile, it isn;t!)

Do you want them both to have the same frame?

What background colour do they have? His stuff is usually silhouette on white isn't it?

No- not at all necessary to have the same frame- they are likely to hang in different rooms.

Yes- background is white.
Will try to find the actual prints...

How big are they?

I would keep to a white mount of at least 3" and have a white or navy/olive green box frame.

Bronze could also work.

I would avoid black.

okay- first one is 'I can't Forget' 68x51cm

second is 'Look Closer' 112x79 and is navy blue.

So you would always co-ordinate frame to the colours in the picture?

I shall not tell you what colour my sofas are...

No, not always... having seen the prints I think a silver or brushed metal frame would work well on Look closer.

On I can't forget, I stand by my original advice- although off white mount may be better to match the paper, I think a wooden box frame stained dark olive green would look beautiful.

Are you doing them yourself?

Goodness- no! I don't have the time, space, or skills required I'm afraid.

I have had a couple of framers recommended to me though, so at least have a starting point.

Thanks for your help!

Good luck... they'll probably tell you different to me, but every framer has their own style

I hope they look nice

Thank you

Most framers have loads of little samples which they'll put against the picture. You'll find one of them will just "leap out" at you as being perfect.

I agree with Tethers, though - always match the picture.

But don't go mad - I have an oil painting of a stormy sky, in "stripes" of grey and cream. The frame was similarly striped - it was all so busy and garish it made your eyes hurt. I replaced it with a very plain gunmetal frame, and you can actually focus on the painting now.

arf- nope, definitely plain for me!