How to Frame Unframed Prints Beautifully

A beautiful print can lose some of its presence when it is simply pinned to a wall or tucked away in a drawer. Learning how to frame unframed prints gives the artwork a proper place in your home, whether it is a bright kingfisher illustration, a delicate botanical study or a much-loved gift. The right frame does more than protect paper. It draws attention to colour, creates visual balance and helps the piece sit naturally within your room.

You do not need to approach framing as a complicated design project. Start with the print itself, then make a few considered choices about size, mount, frame finish and glazing. A simple black frame may suit one image perfectly, while a pale oak frame or a generous white mount may give another print the space it needs to shine.

Start by measuring the print carefully

Before choosing a frame, measure the printed artwork rather than guessing from the paper size. Use a metal ruler and note the width and height in millimetres or centimetres. If your print has a white border around the image, decide whether you would like that border to remain visible.

Keeping the printed border can give an illustration a relaxed, gallery-style finish. It is especially effective for detailed wildlife and floral prints, where a little breathing room prevents the composition from feeling crowded. If the paper edge is uneven, marked or not part of the intended design, a mount can cover it neatly.

Frames are generally sold by the size of the artwork or aperture they hold, so accurate measurements save frustration. Check whether the stated frame size refers to the image opening, the glass size or the outer edge of the frame. These measurements are not always the same.

Choose between a full-bleed frame and a mount

There are two classic ways to frame unframed prints. You can place the full sheet directly into a frame, or you can use a mount - the card surround that sits between the artwork and the frame.

A direct frame is clean, contemporary and often a good choice for larger graphic artwork, posters and prints with a carefully designed white border. It keeps the overall footprint compact and lets strong colour take centre stage. Choose this approach when the print already feels well balanced at its full paper size.

A mount creates more separation between the image and the frame. It can make a smaller print feel more substantial and gives finely detailed work a quieter, more considered presentation. A white or soft off-white mount is a versatile choice because it complements most interiors without competing with the artwork. Warm ivory can be lovely with botanical subjects and softer palettes, while bright white brings a crisp finish to contemporary illustration.

Avoid a mount that covers an important part of the artwork. The aperture should reveal the full intended image, with the mount slightly overlapping the paper at the edges to hold it securely in place. If you are unsure, position the print beneath the mount before fixing anything down.

How wide should the mount be?

There is no fixed rule, but proportion matters. A narrow mount can look smart on a larger, bold image, while a smaller artwork often benefits from a wider surround. For many standard prints, a mount of around 40 to 70 mm gives a balanced result.

If the frame is going on a large blank wall, a generous mount can add presence without needing a much bigger piece of art. On a busy gallery wall, a narrower mount may be more practical and keeps the collection from becoming too formal. It depends on the scale of the wall, the print and the surrounding pieces.

Pick a frame that supports the artwork

The best frame should feel like part of the display, not a distraction from it. Consider the dominant colours in the print, the style of the room and the finish of nearby furniture or fittings.

Black frames are wonderfully adaptable. They give colourful birds, architectural subjects and bold linework a sharp edge, and they work particularly well in modern rooms or alongside black picture lights and metal details. A slim black profile usually feels refined rather than heavy.

Natural wood frames bring warmth and texture. Oak, ash and light beech finishes suit nature-inspired artwork beautifully, especially when the room includes linen, rattan, pale timber or earthy paint colours. They can soften a bright illustration without reducing its impact.

White frames blend easily into pale walls and allow colourful artwork to stand forward. They are a strong choice for airy spaces, kitchens and rooms with a gentle botanical palette. For a more decorative look, consider a painted frame in a muted green, deep blue or warm neutral that echoes one small colour in the print. This works best when the colour is repeated elsewhere in the room, perhaps in cushions, ceramics or a lampshade.

Frame width makes a difference too. Delicate, detailed prints tend to look best in narrow to medium profiles. A very wide or ornate frame can overwhelm them. Larger pieces and simple graphic compositions can carry a little more visual weight. If the artwork is the star, keep the frame finish understated.

Select glazing that protects without distracting

Glass protects your print from dust, splashes and everyday handling, but it can also create reflections. This matters most if the artwork will hang opposite a window, near patio doors or beneath bright ceiling lights.

Standard glass is clear and affordable, making it suitable for many rooms. Acrylic glazing is lighter and less likely to shatter, so it is useful for large frames, children’s bedrooms or areas where safety is a concern. It can scratch more easily than glass, so clean it gently with a soft microfibre cloth.

For a print with rich dark areas, subtle pencil detail or a particularly special place in your home, anti-reflective glazing is worth considering. It costs more, but it allows the image to remain visible from more angles. UV-filtering glass or acrylic can also reduce fading caused by daylight. No print should sit in strong direct sunlight for long periods, but protective glazing offers worthwhile extra reassurance.

Prepare the print before framing

Handle unframed prints with clean, dry hands and work on a clear surface. If possible, place a sheet of clean paper beneath the artwork while you prepare the frame. Avoid resting a print directly on a kitchen table, carpet or textured worktop where grit could mark the surface.

Remove dust with a soft brush or a clean microfibre cloth, using a very light touch. Do not use water, cleaning sprays or adhesive tape on the front of the print. If the paper has arrived gently curled from posting, lay it face down on clean tissue paper and place a large, smooth book on top for a day or two. Do not force a crease flat.

When mounting the artwork, use acid-free photo corners or archival hinging tape along the top edge only. This lets the paper expand and contract naturally as humidity changes. Ordinary masking tape, sellotape and glue can yellow, stain or damage paper over time.

Keep the print away from the glass

A mount is the simplest way to stop an artwork touching the glazing. This small gap helps prevent moisture from causing the print to stick to the glass, particularly in older homes or rooms that become cool in winter.

If you prefer a frameless, full-bleed appearance, choose a frame with a spacer or use an archival backing board where possible. It is a worthwhile detail for giclée prints, limited editions and artwork you intend to keep for many years.

Hang your framed print with the room in mind

Once framed, give the artwork a little thought before making a hole in the wall. The centre of a single picture often looks best around eye level, roughly 145 to 155 cm from the floor. In rooms where people usually sit, such as a living room, you may prefer it slightly lower.

Above a sofa, sideboard or bed, leave enough space for the furniture and artwork to feel connected. A useful starting point is around 15 to 25 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. For a pair or group of prints, keep the gaps consistent so the arrangement reads as one display.

A wildlife print can look particularly striking where it catches the light naturally, but avoid placing it in direct sun. A floral print can bring softness to a hallway or bedroom, while a bright bird illustration can give a kitchen, home office or reading corner an immediate lift. Let the subject guide the location as much as the colours do.

When a professional framer is the better choice

Ready-made frames are excellent for standard-sized prints and make it easy to refresh your walls with the seasons. However, professional framing is a good investment for unusual dimensions, sentimental pieces, signed editions or artwork that needs conservation-grade materials.

A framer can create a custom mount, advise on glazing and ensure the print is supported correctly. This is also the simplest option if you want a very particular finish, such as a coloured mount, a deep box frame or a frame matched to existing artwork. For an original piece or a print with personal significance, the extra care is often worthwhile.

A thoughtfully framed print becomes more than decoration. It can bring a familiar bird, flower or favourite place into sharper focus every time you pass it. Choose a finish that lets the artwork feel at home in your space, then enjoy seeing it as it was meant to be seen.