The Right Custom Frame Lets You Display Your Art Beautifully and Safely

Do you have a favorite photo that you’ve been meaning to have framed for a long time? Or perhaps you have some treasured mementos such as a collection of your father’s pipes that you’d like to display. Perhaps your two-year-old just painted you his first abstract. In all these cases, inspiration -- and a beautiful finished piece of art -- is as close as the nearest frame shop.
If you’ve been putting off getting a favorite piece of art framed because you’re intimated by all the options (and perhaps by the cost), read on. While the selections of frames and mats are almost limitless, there are ways to narrow down your choices and get the look you want for a price that fits your budget.

The first step is to find a reputable framing shop. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, or simply check the yellow pages. “You should trust your framer and feel that you have a rapport,” says Kimberly Ahern, executive director of the Art & Framing Council. Visit a couple of shops to get a feel for the staff and their work. “Seeing pieces they have framed will help give you an idea of what the shop can do,” says Ahern. Whether you’re framing your child’s first masterpiece or an expensive original painting, you should expect the same level of quality and service.

An experienced professional framer will explain the options available, and ask you plenty of questions in order to find a frame that fits your budget, your taste and your décor. For example, where will the finished piece be displayed? If it will be in a kid’s room, the framer may suggest a durable, easy-to-clean frame. Since the main function of a professional framing job is to accentuate the artwork, the mats and frame should first and foremost highlight the art itself. However, it’s a good idea to bring color swatches from the room where you will display the art so the framer can use them as a reference.

If the framer doesn’t ask, be sure you state your budget parameters up front. “There is a wide range of prices when you’re having something custom framed,” says Ahern. “The framing components, molding, matting and glazing, come in a wide rang of prices,” she says. You will save a lot of time and frustration if your framer knows your price range from the start.

Rather than being intimidated by all the terminology involved, allow the framer to educate you. Here are some basics to get you started: Molding is simply another word for frame. Molding is available in hundreds of widths, styles and colors as well as in various patterns and finishes. Matboard, which provides a sturdy background for the artwork, also comes in many colors and textures to feature your artwork, including leather, suede and glass; it can even be etched. Conservation grade mats also help preserve your art. Glazing is the protective surface made from glass or acrylic that shields the front of the artwork; some glazing also offers ultraviolet protection to reduce fading.

Think about framing collections and 3-D objects as well as traditional artwork. “Shadow boxes are extremely popular right now,” says Ahern. Looking for a wedding gift that will become a family heirloom? Create a shadow box that includes the couples’ wedding invitation as well as other mementos to remind them of their special day. Ahern tells of one such shadow box created to commemorate a couple’s engagement. It included a menu from the restaurant where the groom popped the question, the cork from the champagne they celebrated with, the rose he presented to the bride-to-be and the card he used to ask “will you marry me?”

The same idea can be applied to vacation memories. If you headed to New York for a whirlwind of theater performances, your shadow box could include ticket stubs and playbills. If you spent time at the ocean, you could incorporate some of your favorite beach finds. Capture the excitement of your daughter’s first ballet recital with a shadow box that includes photos, maybe her ballet shoes, and the program from the big night. Shadow boxes can be hung on the wall, or they can be displayed on a tabletop.

“The possibilities really are endless once you find the right framer,” says Ahern.