via Peterson Picture Co.A great frame can take any piece of art, whether it's a photo you shot yourself or even your three-year-old's finger painting, and make it look infinitely more expensive. Now for the bad news, custom framing can run hundreds of dollars. But I've found a few tricks for achieving a custom-framed look for less.
Tip #1: Know where to shop
If you like the look of old frames than antique malls, thrift shops and flea markets are the way to go. Over the course of the past year I've picked up a half dozen gold frames, all for under $12, some as low as $3.
Via BrownstonerTip #2: Use your imagination
Look past the bad finish on a frame. Spray paint or silver or gold leafing can update the look of a frame in no time. If you like the detail on a frame and it's well made, grab it and don't look back.
What a difference a little white paint can make! Can you imagine the same frame painted hot pink or a soothing yellow
Bad art is often housed in well made frames, ditch the art when you get home and replace it with your own art or have a piece of mirror cut to fit inside.
Tip #3: Make friends with frame shop employees
The best way I've found to learn money saving tips about framing is simply to ask a lot of questions. Don't be afraid to ask for suggestions for saving money on your framing needs. Even a simple, "Will this be going on sale soon?" could save you a load of green.
The vintage poster in my kitchen dining area cost just $48 for the frame, glass and finishing.
I found the 24" X 36" frame for $12 on clearance at a local frame shop. It had been a custom order but it was never picked up. After 120 days the frame shop placed it on clearance. Lucky me, it was the exact size I needed. It never hurts to ask if your local frame shop has any value priced frames available.
Tip #4 Recycle whenever you can
Having a piece of glass cut to fit an open back frame adds to your bottom line. When you are shopping for old frames don't hesitate to buy an less-than-appealing frame if it has a piece of flawless glass inside. You can recycle the glass to fit a standard size backless frame of your choosing or take it to a glass and mirror shop to have it cut to size.
To save money on the cost of framing the poster pictured above, I asked if the back of an old cheapie plexiglass poster frame slated to go to Goodwill could be used. The glass cost $35, the rest of the finishing, including the necessary hardware for hanging and adding a paper backing, was $1. Tip: Call several frame shops for estimates. I found that in my area Hobby Lobby was the most reasonable.
My $48 custom framed piece prior to hanging
#5 Add interest with mats
Eddie Ross used a black Magic Marker and ruler to create stripes on a plain white mat. See more here.
Eddie Ross used a black Magic Marker and ruler to create stripes on a plain white mat. See more here.
Having a mat custom cut for your piece is an easy and fairly wallet-friendly way to make it appear as though you spent more on your framing. Again, ask for suggestions from the frame shop employees, they know their merchandise and can assist you in choosing a mat that will make the most of your art and the frame you chose. There is a wide array of options available in matting including metallics, fabric-covered and textured mats.
If money is especially tight, recycle an old mat by covering it in the fabric of your choice or simply brushing on a new color with inexpensive acrylic paint. A metallic linen fabric would be a nice choice to freshen up the look of an plain mat. For those of you who like to follow the latest color trends, painting an old mat can update your look for just pennies and doesn't force you to commit to the trend. Tip: A coat of Pantone's color of the year, honeysuckle, brushed on a plain white mat would give a modern touch to even a simple framed black and white photograph.
The use of both white and pink mats is unexpected and adds a lot of interest to this dining space.
Check out this post on spicing up your picture mats for more suggestions.
If money is especially tight, recycle an old mat by covering it in the fabric of your choice or simply brushing on a new color with inexpensive acrylic paint. A metallic linen fabric would be a nice choice to freshen up the look of an plain mat. For those of you who like to follow the latest color trends, painting an old mat can update your look for just pennies and doesn't force you to commit to the trend. Tip: A coat of Pantone's color of the year, honeysuckle, brushed on a plain white mat would give a modern touch to even a simple framed black and white photograph.
The use of both white and pink mats is unexpected and adds a lot of interest to this dining space.
Amy of Delightful Distractions offers a tutorial on covering a picture mat in fabric.
Check out this post on spicing up your picture mats for more suggestions.
Have you picked up any tips for framing on the cheap?
I have spent so much money in the past on custom framing and now that I'm a certified thrifter I could kick myself. Custom is sooo expensive and like you point out, there are so many ways to keep the costs down. Good tips Karen,
ReplyDeleteSuch good advice!! One thing I've learned is to have custom mattes cut at places like Michaels since they always have a 40 - 50% coupon on framing which also apply to mattes :)
ReplyDeleteSome times the custom matte makes the art, love the diy ideas on mattes too
This was such a great post. I am bookmarking it. Plus sending it to my son who collects vintage posters and is always framing something and I swear could have bought a house with the ridiculous amounts of money he has spent on framing!!!!!!!!!!! He needs to read this more than anyone! Thanks so very much!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Karen! I'm always on the lookout for frames. There is so much you can do with them. And mirrors don't have to be mirrors if you love the frame!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant ideas, Karen. I am in need of so much art for my house and really need to hit some flea markets, not just to save money but to find some pieces with some personality! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for mentioning me! How fun!
ReplyDeleteGood post! I'm about to be on the look out for a gallery wall.
ReplyDelete