Congratulations, you’ve just bought a piece of beautiful original art…but wait! Should you frame it or not?

And if yes, what style frame? What colour? What do you need to know?

Here is a handy guide to help you in your framing journey (please note, the following guide is for framing canvases):

1. Not all canvases need framing! Canvases that are on a stretched frame can be hung without framing and often look beautiful as the artist has painted it. However, if you would like to frame a canvas, the best option is a floating frame.

2. Consider if you want a shadow gap. This is the space between the edging of the frame and the canvas; a small shadow gap of 5 mm looks really nice but with a thicker frame, a bigger shadow gap might look better. It’s really dependant on taste.

3. Online or professional? There are some great options for online framing at very reasonable prices. (I use floating frames from easyframe and have had great success with them.) One drawback however, is that most floating frames are custom built so you can’t return them, therefore if you make a mistake in measuring then it’s going to cost you. Also it can be a bit complicated to get it looking completely secure and centred, but it remains a good option for those who are good at a bit of handiwork. Otherwise, take your painting to a professional framer and make sure it’s done to a high standard.

4. Choosing a colour and style. I believe that the frame colour should complement the artwork rather than your home décor, but that being said, the whole piece should then match your interiors scheme. If you have a contemporary home for example, then choose something simple; if you have a more traditional home, maybe opt for a different finish or something more classical.

See examples below of some of my framed pieces and some that look great without frames!