Framing pictures

So you’re thinking about ordering a print - that’s great! Here are three options on how to display it in your home - these are ones that I’ve tried or explored extensively but there are many many more so feel free to go with your favorite option.

My number one general guideline would be to pick a frame that matches one of the more dominant colors of the image because it will make the image pop more. And number two is to pick one that goes well with your existing furniture. With that, let’s look at these frames.

IKEA frames - the budget friendly option

IKEA has a couple of good options when it comes to putting pictures in frames and they are very budget-friendly. The two frame types I would recommend are RIBBA and HOVSTA.

RIBBA comes in black and white and it’s a very simple option - you can’t really go wrong with this one.

HOVSTA comes in two colors, but I would recommend going with the very dark brown. It’s slightly more expensive than RIBBA and the main difference is that there will be a gap between your image and the plexi glass resulting in some extra depth to your print.

In both cases, for an 8”x10” picture, you’ll want to get the 12”x16” frame, while the 19 ¾”x27 ½” frame will be perfect for 16”x20” prints. If you don’t want to have a mat in your frame, then simply go with the appropriate size frame (i.e. 8x10 for an 8x10 and 16x20 for a 16x20).

None of these options should cost you more than $20 per frame and they’re very easy to put install. The only drawback is they use plexi in the frame instead of real glass which can result in some weird reflections from windows and other light sources.

CB2 - the mid-range option

If you want to spend a bit more money on frames, I’ve found CB2 to be a great option that balances affordability and high quality. These frames are made of proper metal/wood and have real glass to cover the artwork.

The Gallery Frames are a really good pick to house artwork in that makes it stand out. It comes in five colors: black, white, silver, brass, and walnut. When picking a size, the options on the website show the size of the picture and not the size of the frame so for an 8”x10” picture, just go with the 8”x10” frame, etc. Keep in mind though that these frames are more oversized than the IKEA ones so also take a look at the actual frame size to see if it would fit nicely on your wall. They cost $40-$80 with an extra $15-$20 for the walnut options.

These frames can really make the pictures pop but keep in mind that they still have regular glass in the front so you will still see some reflection depending on your lighting situation.

Custom framing - the YMMV extremely option

If you’re thinking about getting my photo custom framed, then you likely have a framing shop that you go to already and you know roughly what their price range is. In San Francisco, to get a 16”x20” picture framed, framing stores will likely charge around $60-80 for the frame, about $30-$40 for the mat, and $50 for the labor so you’re looking at $150 on average for a simple option that’s very similar to the CB2 frames. You can add non-reflective/UV-resistant glass, get a custom frame size, etc etc and these will all affect the price significantly. They usually also sell pre-made frames too for popular sizes that you can simply mount yourself and those will usually cost roughly the same as the CB2 frames (the color options of these are usually limited to white, black, and a light wood).

Amazon/Etsy/etc - the possibilities are endless

If you’re looking for more options, Amazon has a million different frames that you can check out. E.g. for 11”x17” frames, this modern or this minimalistic frame seem pretty good but I haven’t actually checked them out personally. Also, Etsy has a ton of great options and you can support small businesses and creative people if you buy a frame from Etsy. If you still haven’t found the best option, wellllllllll - there are a million different frames out there and I’m sure you’ll find the one. :)