How to Frame Your Art Without Spending a Fortune

A bad frame can ruin a good piece. A great frame doesn't have to cost more than the art.

The Rules

Match the tone, not the colour. A minimal modern painting wants a thin, simple frame — black or natural wood. A classical oil portrait can handle an ornate gold frame. Contrast in style almost never works.

Mat boards matter. A mat adds breathing room between art and frame. Use white or off-white — coloured mats date quickly.

Glass options: Standard glass is fine. Non-reflective glass is better for rooms with strong lighting. Museum glass (UV-blocking, non-reflective) is worth it for anything you care about preserving.

Where to Save

• IKEA RIBBA and YLLEVAD frames are legitimately good for prints and works on paper.
• Local frame shops often have offcuts — useful for non-standard sizes.
• Online custom framers (Framebridge, etc.) are competitive on price for larger pieces.

Where Not to Save

Don't cheap out on the mat board. Acidic mats yellow over time and damage the art. Ask for acid-free or archival matting — it's rarely much more expensive.

For Canvases

Stretched canvases don't need a frame to hang well. If you want a frame, a floater frame (where the canvas sits inside with a visible gap) looks clean and modern.