Money Saving Ideas For Framing My Arts

dannydav07

I’ve recently started collecting a few art prints and photos that I’d love to frame and display at home, but custom framing seems quite expensive. I’m looking for some practical, money-saving ideas for framing my artwork without losing that clean, stylish look. Are there any affordable frame options or DIY tricks you’d recommend for someone on a budget?

Emmia

dannydav07 said:

I’ve recently started collecting a few art prints and photos that I’d love to frame and display at home, but custom framing seems quite expensive. I’m looking for some practical, money-saving ideas for framing my artwork without losing that clean, stylish look. Are there any affordable frame options or DIY tricks you’d recommend for someone on a budget?

I generally buy frames in John Lewis - as long as the pictures are standard sizes that works well.

Avoid frames with plastic at the front, it tends to just look cheap, buy glass only

FrugaiMacDugal

Check out the charity shops for old pictures, and photo frames.

ButterCheese

As above, charity shops and FB marketplace (and possibly Gumtree if anyone still uses it) might have some bargains where it's well worth the money just for the frame.

The only other option is to make them yourself as I have done.  You need a bit of space in a shed or garage or somewhere you can hoover up dust easily.  Any sort of wood will do (even pallet wood) as long as it doesn't have holes or rot.  A good sanding and something like Briwax light oak, makes it look weathered and classy.  You don't need a whole lot of woodworking experience, just the tools to cut the wood to length, cut the corners and glue (and clamp) them together.  Glass is the thing that will add a lot of expense if you buy at retail prices.  You can get acrylic picture frame "glass", e.g. a 3mm thick piece of 10" x 8" is about £6.  

But second hand frames is definitely the way to go if you can find them

silvercar

I'll move this to the DIY board. @dannydav07

Brie

I pick up a lot of frames off Freegle.  Some are good, some are not.  Because I'm painting things I want to frame a keep a supply of the varied better ones and things that are excess to my requirements I offer to my art group and if no one there wants them they get passed to a charity shop.  

CliveOfIndia

Our local branch of The Range has got about 6 million frames in stock in various sizes and styles, none of which are very expensive.  If you're just looking for something basic, it would be well worth a look if you've got a branch near you.

twopenny

What is you're clean stylish look?
Can you describe?

I've picked up some classy ones from the cheapie shops. I've got some shabby chic ones from charity shops and plain white square frame from the factory shop so perhaps look around.
I like the plain white for art prints as it focuses on the print.

If you can get them with the mount included that's economical as custom made mounts aren't cheap but it's important to get the right size so may be unavoidable for artwork.