5 Steps to Decorating Your Home
1. Inventory all the photographs and
memorabilia you have. Separate groups of photos and memento's into categories.
Some ideas include vacation shots, weddings, birthdays, children etc.
2. Survey your home. Take some time out to decide what walls and areas of the
home you would like to display your pictures in. Stairwells are a popular
choice for displaying photographs. You can also use wall space in the living
room, dining room and bedrooms. Hallways are also a great area for displaying
pictures and frames, as are foyers.
3. Don't forget, you won't have to mount all frames, like digital picture
frames. These picture frames look great as stand-alones. You can decorate your
office, bedroom and den with them.
4. Assess the number of frames you need relative to the photos you have.
5. Decide the style frames you want in each area of the house. Try to match the
style of the frame to the theme of the photograph and then to the decor of the
room.
Choosing Your Moulding
Consider these questions when choosing your frame moulding.
What is the overall size of the art? The wider the piece of artwork, the wider the mat margins and moulding width.
What is the size of space where the art will be displayed? If the space is tight, you might have to adjust your plans to incorporate a smaller moulding or mat. Artwork should be framed to suit itself, not to the room where it will be displayed. Always choose the frame moulding and mats to compliment the artwork taking into consideration where the art will be displayed.
Is the artwork a single piece or part of a group setting? A single piece of artwork will look great in a wide frame. This is also true for a pair of pictures. But when you start framing multiple pictures in a group setting, wider frames take over, appearing to dominate the wall.
Can depth be used to enhance the design? Deeper frame mouldings can add drama to the finished presentation of the artwork. A deeper moulding can either project the artwork out from the wall, making it appear more prominent, or the artwork may be recessed deeper into the frame giving it a more three-dimensional perspective.
What is the color scheme of the art?
Ø Warm colors (pinks, oranges, reds, yellows) tend to look good with gold frames, wood tones such as mahogany or other warm colors.
Ø Cool tones (blues, greens, purples) look good with silver frames, grayer wood tones and cool colors.
Is the art casual or formal?
An ornate gold frame probably wouldn’t be the best piece for a casual piece of art.
What is the mood of the art?
What is the era of the art?
Is the art light or dark?
What are the predominant colors of the art?
What is the focal point?
Tips:
Ø Choose a moulding color that coordinates well with the art it surrounds, without competing for attention with the art.
Ø Select moulding finishes that relate to the era of the item being framed to create a look of period authenticity.
Ø Use a moulding the same color as the area in the art that is the center of interest. This helps to tie the moulding to the most vivid part of the art.
Ø Know that gold, silver, and some wood tones are used so much that they are often considered neutral.
Framed Art Hanging Tips
Get creative with a photo gift collage
Get kids involved!
Spooky Halloween Photo Tip
Capture the theme of autumn.
Let your pictures tell a story by creating the perfect photo story