A wood frame gives a paper print a warmer edge. It can echo a cabinet, a chair or the other frames on the wall, and it softens pale, quiet artworks. Four finishes let you match the picture or contrast with it.

250 gsm paper in a wood frame

The image is printed on 250 gsm matte paper in a natural white, a little softer than a bright white sheet. It sits inside a wood frame behind shatterproof plexiglass. Whites in the artwork read as warm and calm.

A hanging kit comes with it, so it's ready to go on the wall. Matte paper means the print itself has no shine, so any glare comes from the plexiglass front. The heavier paper gives soft colour fields an even look.

Picking the finish

Frames come in white, wood, dark wood and black. A light finish melts into pale areas of the print, while a dark one gives a firm outline. Check the edge colours of the artwork first, then choose.

A white frame suits a bright room. Black or dark wood suits a picture with deep tones at its edges. If two finishes look close, choose the one that matches the larger piece of furniture nearby.

Matching the room

The frame doesn't need to match your furniture exactly. Pick the same warmth or depth as a table, shelf or chair nearby and it will sit comfortably. A pale wood frame next to an oak table is an easy pairing.

If you already have frames on the wall, repeat one of their finishes. Two finishes can look deliberate, but three or four start to feel busy. Black frames in a wood room stand out sharply.

Reflections and light

The front is plexiglass, which can show a window or lamp even with matte paper behind it. Check the wall from your usual seat, in daylight and in the evening. A small move of the lamp often clears it.

A side wall beside a window often gives a clearer view than the wall opposite it. If a reflection is still strong, move the picture a hand's width and look again. Closing the curtains for a minute shows how much of the glare comes from the window.

Frame around paper, or wood as the surface

Here the wood is the frame and the image is on paper. For the image printed on plywood itself, see wood prints. There the grain shows through the colour, and no frame is needed.

Choose the plywood panel if you want the surface to be wood, and the framed print if you want a clean paper image. For metal edges, try metal framed prints. Wood suits warmer rooms, and black metal suits cooler ones.

Sizing

Sizes run up to A1 on some artworks, and each piece lists its own. The frame adds to the outside measurements, so tape up the full outline and look at it from your usual seat. A1 is a large piece, so check the wall width first.

Keep it indoors and dry, and dust the front with a soft, dry cloth. Hang it where nothing will knock the corners. A tall frame suits a narrow wall, and a wide one suits the space above a console.

Using it in a group

Frames in one finish make a group look settled, even when the artworks differ. Mark each outline on the wall with tape, then step back and move them until the gaps feel even. Choose one frame size for the group, or step up one size at a time.

Start from the middle frame and work outwards. A row over a sofa often looks right when it is a little narrower than the sofa. Leave a similar gap between frames and between the lowest frame and the furniture.