Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
House Beautiful

This Is the Easiest Way to Frame Art Like a Pro

Kelly Allen
2 min read
Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Framed artwork can bring a room to life. Not only does it look more polished than unframed pieces, the pairing of colors and styles can be a sort of artwork in itself. And while you could outsource the labor and get it done professionally, picture framing is often costly and time-sucking. But it’s not hard to give your art an elevated look on a budget. Whether you want to frame an abstract charcoal drawing or original watercolor painting, you can easily do so by following this simple DIY process by production designer, scenic artist, and film-set decorator Kate Espada, who showed us how to frame an image from a book and ensure you have sleek art that’s ready to be put on display in no time.

What You’ll Need:

  • Frame

  • Mat

  • Ruler

  • Pencil

  • Cutting board

  • X-Acto knife

  • Tape

How to Frame Art Like a Pro:

  1. Select the art you want to frame. It could be a photograph, drawing, or even a page from a book or magazine.

  2. Buy a frame that matches the style of the art.

  3. If you're using an image or page from a book, use an X-Acto knife to cut it out.

  4. Use a ruler to cut the mat to the size of the frame.

  5. Make sure the mat fits in the notches inside the frame. Shave off more of the mat if necessary.

  6. Measure the art to see how large you want the mat opening to be.

  7. Use a pencil and ruler to outline the opening on the mat, then cut it using an X-Acto knife.

  8. Use low-adhesive tape to secure the picture to the mat.

  9. Place the mat in the frame and secure the frame’s backing.


You love finding new design tricks. So do we. Let us share the best of them.


Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

You Might Also Like

Advertisement
Advertisement