Framing your prints - a how to guide

How often do you buy a print and then it sits in your bedroom or rolled up in a tube waiting to be placed into a frame and hung proudly on the wall. I can hold my hands up here, I am totally guilty! I bought a beautiful screen print of a tractor earlier this year and it requires a bespoke frame so it's been on my to do list for a while now. 

Framing is both a finishing touch, whilst also being very personal to both your tastes and room decor. As my business grows, it's something I will look to offering alongside the prints, but for now, where I'm fulfilling everything myself I've decided to stick with the prints. 

To help make things easier though, I've pulled together this guide of where you can purchase affordable and quality frames from in both common sizes, or bespoke. I'll walk you through the different types of frames available and creative ways to customise them.

Why Framing Matters

A good frame doesn’t just hold your image in place, it complements the subject, provides contrast, and adds aesthetic value to your space. Choosing the right frame is about balance: between your art and its surroundings, between protection and presentation.

Types of Frames to Consider

With Mount
Mounts add a border between your image and the frame. This extra space helps draw attention to the image, prevents it from touching the glass, and gives a gallery-style feel. It’s really a personal taste, but on the whole I tend to prefer adding a mount.

Without Mount
Frameless or no-mount options offer a sleek, minimal look that works well for posters, modern prints, or bold designs. These frames often let the image speak for itself and can save on space.

Colourful frames
If you know anything about me you will know I LOVE colourful frames, especially for the kids bedroom. Bright, bold, or pastel-coloured frames can bring so much joy to a space. I normally pick either a colour within the image for the frame, or go bold on contrasting colours.

Raw or natural wood frames
These frames have a timeless appeal and pair especially well with nature photography, rustic or Scandinavian interiors, and botanical prints. Some of the more affordable natural frames are actually made out of plastic, with little texture so double check before purchasing if it's real wood if you want a more realistic effect.

Paint-your-own frames
My favourite! Get creative with DIY frames. Unfinished wood frames can be sanded, painted, stained, or decorated however you like. This is a budget-friendly option that adds a personal, handmade touch to your display. I'll be pulling together some tutorials in the coming weeks for you but go stripey, scallops, wavy or just one block colour. 

                   

Six great places to buy affordable frames

Whether you're looking for budget options or stylish steals, these shops are known for offering a range of frames at accessible prices. Beware that when ordering most frames through the post you will get an acrylic / plastic cover instead of glass. There's nothing wrong with this, but IMO pictures tend to look and last better when behind glass:

Dunlem
Dunelm has a huge range of picture frames, and they are easier to work out the sizing than IKEA if you want common sizes like A4 and A3. There's an essentials range that comes in five different colours. Some Sophie Robinson two tone frames and if you want some texture some bobbin frames that come in six different colours. 

IKEA
Classic, minimal, and super affordable. IKEA’s RIBBA and LOMVIKEN frames come in multiple sizes and colours, with or without mounts. If you're going for A4 you'll want the 21cm x 30cm. The sizing here is a little more confusing though so just be sure you've got the right size print for the frame / mount. 

Etsy
The variety here is endless. If you're wanting a colourful frame then this is one of the best places to go. Take a look here for starters...

Easyframe
Easyframe have got pretty much everything on their website so if you know what size you're after, and what frame you want, especially if it's a bespoke size, this company is a good option. 

Your local framer
I regularly take a trip to my local framer (full disclaimer I go to one back in Suffolk where it's quite a lot cheaper than London!) to frame my pictures. This is great for bespoke sizes and also you get exactly what you want, they can help on frame and mount size and you're supporting a local business. Perhaps less affordable but still a great option. 

Charity Shops
An absolute hidden gem. These are excellent for finding unique or vintage frames that you can repurpose or paint. You might find it harder to find the right size so buy the frame first and then choose the print size!

Lastly a few tips for framing success

Measure twice. Always check the artwork’s dimensions and consider whether you want a mount or not before ordering.

Mind the glass. Choose between standard glass, anti-glare, or acrylic depending on lighting and location. 

Go DIY. Painting your own frame? Use primer and acrylic paint, and seal with a matte or glossy finish. Or I often use left over paint samples from our walls for the frames, which helps tie everything together. 

Create a gallery wall. Mix different frame types for a curated, lived-in look. Consistency in colour or spacing can still tie it all together.

I hope this all helps. If you ever need an image mocking up before purchasing I'm always happy to help with that as well. Enjoy getting all those pictures up on your walls.