Author: Sydney Piwowar
We all love our families (mostly) and it’s hard to tastefully show them off. Oversized canvas oil paintings hung over the fireplace aren’t style anymore… At the same time though, I do not think it is fair to cut all evidence of family in a home… it is after all what makes a house, a home. We were asked in a recent install how to do this successfully. Well, I am here to share with you all my secret: framed prints with oversized mattes. Yes, simple and understated. What makes this method unique is the color quality of the image and the placement of it. Here are the 5 steps to ensure your framed prints turn out perfect:
Curate Your Photos
Go through the old hard drive because you want to plan out your photos ahead of time. The photos don’t all have to contain the same colors or people — feel free to change it up. This is where you get to show off your family’s unique characteristics.
Print With HIGH Quality
The most common mistake that people make is framing pixelated photos. Make sure that you are printing high quality images and don’t be afraid to send them somewhere nice to print — don’t cheap out on this because you will get what you pay for. Something else to consider is if you want to print in color or black and white. For someone who wants to print in color, going to a good printer with high quality color is important.
Find Frames
Frames can be sourced from anywhere. Whether they are custom or ordered online from Ikea, you will notice a large gap in cost. The most influential decision you make will be upon the frame’s finish. This color and texture will be framing the image, literally and figuratively, in a way it is possible to influence your perception. For example, if your image has LOTS of texture and color, choosing a frame that does as well may only distract from the richness of the image. It would be better to choose a simple frame that allows all attention to be focused on the specialness of your image. The second factor to consider is whether you want a more unified or eclectic gallery. For a more unified approach, I would consider finding a store that sells the same profile in several sizes as you may need for your collection. For those that want a more mix-and-matched approach, I suggest shopping resale shops, garage sales, and local boutiques for an interesting combination.
Find Matte
There are several colors and finishes to matte. I prefer a stark white matte as it gives a certain freshness. Be careful though as they come in several shades of off-white, ivory, and cream — especially if you are trying to match to previously framed images.
Hang Art
It is hard to generalize for everyone when it depends on the size of the frame and the space… My best tip is to map out the wall with painters’ tape first though to ensure you are happy with your placement — you don’t want to see a dozen holes in the wall from where you moved hung them previously. Some key areas I think it is more peaceful to hang family photos include hallways, stairways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and basements. Try to stay away from the large print over the living room fireplace — it’s tacky.
For more tips on how to frame family portraits, see my Pinterest board HERE!
