It’s always fascinating to see different people’s attitudes to the importance of the picture frame. There are those who visit our store with a photograph, print, or piece of artwork and request that we find a simple frame for it. For them, the picture is the main feature, and the frame is just there to hold it on the wall.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this attitude and opinion. What is often interesting to see is how some people’s mindset starts to change once they are provided with a few different frame options to consider.
“Wow… that actually looks completely different.”
And it really can.
A picture or photo frame isn’t simply a border around a picture, photo, print or piece of artwork. It is way more than that. It can completely change the way people view the image. Things like the width, texture, colour and the picture mount can all influence how the piece looks when hanging on the wall.
Take, as an example, a rather large print that has been housed in a very thin frame. It may well come across as looking and feeling somewhat lost. Changing the frame to something more robust, substantial, and wider can have a massive positive impact. The large print now looks way more impressive and like it belongs on whichever wall it has been placed.
The colour of the picture frame can also make a massive difference to the overall look of whatever is housed inside it.
Black frames are very popular, and this is due to their simplicity and the fact that they look great in virtually every room. They can give photographs a clean, modern look, particularly black and white images. But sometimes a softer colour frame – something like oak, white, or even a subtle grey – can bring out tones in the picture that you might not notice straight away.
Picture mounts can make a big difference as well.
Adding a picture mount around a photograph creates space between the image and the frame. It helps the picture breathe a little and often draws your attention more directly to the image itself. A mount can also make a modest-sized photo look more impressive once it’s framed.
Quite a few people bring in holiday photographs that they’re particularly fond of. Maybe it’s a beach sunset, a favourite city skyline, or a family photo that captures a great memory. On a phone screen, it might look nice enough, but once it’s printed properly and framed with a mount, it can suddenly feel much more special.
That’s one of the things we enjoy most about framing.
People often arrive unsure about what they want, but once they start seeing the options laid out in front of them, the picture begins to take shape. Sometimes the frame they originally had in mind isn’t the one they leave with at all.
And that’s completely normal.
Choosing a frame isn’t really about following strict rules. It’s more about finding the combination that feels right for the picture and the space where it will hang. A piece of artwork in a hallway might suit something quite simple, while a large feature photograph in a living room might benefit from a frame that has a bit more presence.
Either way, framing is the final step that turns a picture into something you’ll enjoy seeing every day.
Because at the end of the day, a good photograph deserves more than being left on a phone or tucked away in a drawer. With the right frame, it becomes part of your home.