Hanging a framed photo on the wall is one of the easiest and effective ways to personalise a private dwelling or office. You do not need training on interior design to put up framed images to display the people (or things!) who are most important to you.
A gallery wall is your collection of photos that are artfully displayed. Even if you ordered custom frames online, it will defeat the purpose of your investment if you put them up on the wall without rhyme and reason.
The choice of the custom frames will either magnify or drown out the impact that you are trying to create. You may have amazing photographs or art pieces, but if your frames do not match the quality of the images, it will minimise the impact of your gallery wall.
Here are some tips in choosing custom frames for your gallery wall:
Wood or metal?
Wood works well if you are going for that classy and timeless look. If you are trying to display a still life, landscape, or portrait, then you can choose the wood metal frame to hang it in place.
If you are going to display a black and white photograph, modern artwork, abstract painting, experimental art, or minimalistic painting, then you can go for metal. As an added advantage, metal does tend to last longer than wood. With today’s technology, however, you now have the option of choosing metal prints, which means that the dye is infused and melded right into the aluminium surface. It won’t fade, and the photographs or artwork will last a very long time.
The budget may also be a consideration, so you have to decide how much you are willing to spend.
Colour of the Frame
Now, you have to choose the tint of the frame for your photograph or art piece. One way to do this is to select a specific shade on the image and take inspiration from it. For example, if the dominant colour is red, you can choose a red frame for greater impact. However, it will only work on modern art pieces and not traditional art.
Another option is to go for the dramatic effect, and you can create it through contrast. For example, a black and white photo can be stunning, but you can enhance the impact by ordering loud and colourful custom frames online.
But if you want to create a more classic and elegant look, choose neutral colours like brown or the always timeless and elegant black colour.
Matte or Not?
A matte refers to the piece of cardboard or paper that separates your photograph from the frame. The extra layer will also provide a separation between the glass and the photograph. The decision is entirely up to you because it all boils down to what you think looks good or not.
However, as a general rule, if you have smaller photographs (e.g. 5 x 5 inches or less), you should add the matting to create dimension and size.
Putting up your gallery wall should be fun. It could be an excellent bonding moment for you and the entire family. Let each one pick their favourite photograph to be included in your gallery wall and then choose the custom frames online, along with it.