There’s more style and creativity when it comes to picture framing than just walking over to your nearest big box craft store and picking out something that might fit your artwork.
To best serve your home, it’s especially important to look at all of your picture frame options and choose which one works best for your home aesthetic, framing abilities, and art style.
Framing 4 Yourself put together a quick checklist of ideas to consider when choosing a picture frame to guarantee everything looks great on your wall.
How to Choose a Picture Frame
The first step is determining what medium will be framed – canvas and prints will require different considerations when choosing the frame. Your picture frame should optimize the look and feel of your art.
There are a couple big choices you need to make before purchasing a frame. The first is to decide whether or not you want a wood, imitation wood or metal picture frame.
Next, consider how much work you’d like to put into constructing the frame. Framing 4 Yourself features cut-to-size frames as well as mouldings in lengths. Depending on your skill level and tools, both offer a lot of options.
After that, the final decisions include frame color and the style of the picture frame.

Wood or Metal
Wood or metal is your first choice when deciding what kind of picture frame you want to purchase. There are noticeable stylistic differences between the two types but also construction differences.
Wood Frames
Let’s start with wood frames. Wood frames have been around since the 12th century and are the premier material for museum-quality framing.
The variety available from classical to modern makes wood frames all the more appealing – there is a style to suit your unique preferences.
Framing 4 Yourself offers four main categories of wood frames – all are available in custom cut or length moulding options:
- Unfinished wood frames
- Traditional wood frames
- Floater Frames
- Shadowbox and Canvas Picture frames
No matter your framing skill level, there is a wood picture frame type for you.
Wood picture frames also differ from metal in that they offer a richer texture and grain, even imitation wood products. The rabbet depth is critical when framing artwork that has a depth to it such as wood mediums, canvas, float mounts and shadow boxes.
Wood frames are also versatile – both modern art and classical art can be enhanced by a wood frame.
Metal Frames
The ability to customize your picture frame is somewhat limited with metal frames in that there is not a wide variety of textures or depths. Like wood, metal frames are available as custom cut frames or as moulding in lengths.
The two key advantages to metal frames are as follows:
- This style of frame is often available in bolder colors than wood.
- This style of frame is typically more economical than wood.
Metal frames pair well with more modern art pieces or modern interiors, and are great for photographs and illustrations.
Frame Color

Picking the right frame color is just as important as choosing the right style.
The color options are endless if you choose an unfinished wood picture frame. You can choose to finish the frame in a traditional finish, or if you want something bolder, paint it any color you’d like.
Framing 4 Yourself sells a wide range of cut-to-size wood picture frame mouldings with many color options, including traditional wood finishes and bolder colors.
Our cut-to-size metal picture frames are also available in various color choices.
Now that you’re aware of the available color options at Framing 4 Yourself, let’s dive in to figure out which frame colors work best for your artwork, photographs, and prints.
The simple answer is that what color frame you choose greatly depends on the type of art, your room’s aesthetic, and your framing goal.
The experts at the Eden Gallery suggest, “Lighter frame colors often work well for more casual pieces, while darker frames add a feeling of formality…To help your artwork stand out, choose a frame color different from your wall color.”
As for metal picture frame options, “metallic frames in silver, gold, or rose gold are popular choices for modern art such as prints and art photographs.”
Another piece of advice from the experts at Living Etc proposes, “take the dominant colors in your artwork that stand out and consider tying those tones to your frame or mat choice. Black or white photographs look both classic and contemporary in black and white frames, while colored artwork works well when the standout colors match the frame.”
If you’re unsure or want some advice on choosing the right color frame, contact us online or give us a call, and one of our framing experts can help you.
Find the Perfect Picture Frame for Your Home
Framing 4 Yourself prides ourselves on our selection and variety of custom picture frames. Want a wood picture frame with the ability to assemble and finish yourself? We’ve got it. Or what about a metal picture frame that requires just a couple of screws to complete? We’ve got that too.
Framing 4 Yourself has the perfect picture frame for your home, no matter your skill level or framing ability.
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