How to Choose Frames for a Gallery Wall

The past few months of transforming our hallway have been dedicated to artwork, and frame selection for the hallway.

After deciding to use large scale images in the hallway, I had to decide on frames. When picking frames you want to think about three things:

1. Style of Frame
2. Color of Frame
3. Width of Outer Frame Border

Style:

Style of frames can vary from very ornate to simple and plain. Look at your space and decide which type of frame would complement the furniture and style of the room. You can also mix decorative and simple frames together depending on the size and number of frames on the wall.

Color:

Black, white, wood toned, and gold are the most common colors of frames. Other colors are also great for adding in pops of color. They can emphasize a specific color in the room. I suggest picking a frame color that will complement the room. Keep in mind hardware, furniture color, and decor colors in the room.

Width of Frame Border

Although I don’t think this is a design rule, it’s something I keep in mind when looking at frames. How large is the frame border is it a small edge that gives more emphasis to the mat and photo? Or a larger edge that frames the mat more and takes up space in the viewing area? I prefer larger border frames, so I usually opt out of selecting thinner frame borders.

I considered all of the above. When shopping for frames for the hallway, I found 24×20 inch frames at the At Home store. Although they are the size and style I want in the hallway, they are not the right color.

In my next blog post, I’ll share how I changed the color of these frames from black to gold.