Just like there are good dupes for high-end cosmetics and designer clothing, there are also a few good ones to know when it comes to decorating your home. Custom framing is pricey and if you like to change things up as much as I do, it’s pretty much out of the question. I pieced together these frames and mats years ago for our last house and still get asked about them every time I post a picture. I’ve recycled them several times!
They’re actually plastic all-purpose frames I picked up at a craft store. They’re usually sold in multiples–because they’re so cheap! Mine are 16×20 and are almost identical to these. I just gave them a couple of light coats of a metallic gold spray paint. Once they’re hung, it’s almost impossible to tell that they’re plastic and not metal.
The key to making them look custom is the matting. I like to use an online shop like this one on Etsy that offers lots of sizes with almost any opening size in tons of colors.Mine are 16×20 mats with 5×7 openings. I’ve changed the art up in my frames from room to room and they make anything look better–even my own little abstract paintings.
Hi Emily! I love your style…and blog! I was looking at the seller on Etsy and was wondering what color you go with for the mats. I love how yours turned out but I saw there are different shades of white available. Thanks!
I’m partial to bright white :)
I was going to ask the same thing! I couldn’t decide between the bright or warm white. Thanks!
Great tip! They don’t look plastic at all.
Would you please be so kind as to share the source of the green botanical art above the piano?
Thank you.
Thanks! They’re from this old book: https://emilyaclark.com/2014/12/4-beautiful-books-to-gift-frame.html
Have you ever looked for the mats at a craft store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby?
Thanks so much for this info!😍
Hi Emily,
your art looks great and great tip about mats on Etsy. I am partial to making my own frames also but I go to any thrift shop and look for great wood frames with ugly art. The bigger the better and then cut them down to size. I prefer ones that have real glass and then take glass to local hardware store and they cut for free. You can also paint if color doesn’t suit you. I ‘ve got as many as 3 separate frames from one salvaged for $5.00.
Great tip, thanks!
Emily, thank you for continuing to post reasonable decorating ideas. It is easy to find beautiful, very expensive online ideas, that are out of reach, for the average family. Thank you! I love your taste and wonderful, helpful ideas!
I think you’re totally right about the mat being the detail that takes things up a notch. After reading your kitchen post from… whenever it was… and saw the mats on your gallery wall were mats people use to write messages on, I added one to a cheap frame I got at Michael’s and wow. I loved it. Thanks for that idea! And thanks for the Etsy shop info. I am definitely going to use them in the future.
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing your source for the mats too.
Your posts make me happy!
And your comment makes me happy! Thanks :)
This is a fabulous idea. I have been wanting to do something in my foyer for a while that would make a statement and this is just the tip I needed. I am more interested in the impact than the particular art but I also have a good idea to put architectural pictures from various places we have visited. I am always attracted tot eh details like doors, gates, garden decor, etc when we go places and pictures I take would look great but without the big price tag. Get tired of it, change it! I have long admired your gallery walls over the years. Love this idea! I am tickled pink!
So glad!
Love this idea and the specific pointers you shared!
I love hanging art in every room of my house! Thanks for the great frame/mat/art tips! I’ll share my latest tip- use 3M velcro strips to hang art work, then when you want to rearrange them there’s no nail holes in the walls :).
This is brilliant and so very doable. Thank you! Do you have any tips for what arg to choose over statement wallpaper? I have some lovely Osbourne Little paper in my entry, but so far, all but my
children’s black and white portraits have looked odd. Should I add more black and white, maybe historical group photos?
Yes–here’s a post that might help:
https://emilyaclark.com/2018/04/pairing-art-with-our-entryway-wallpaper.html
Thank you so much for sharing this information, Emily. Blessings on you and your family.