4 Easy Steps to Choosing a Frame Online with Frame Warehouse

Frames-Available-Online

You’ve just had the most beautiful family portraits taken complete with gorgeous lighting and backgrounds and you can’t wait to display them in your home! Now comes the fun part – choosing a frame online! Frame Warehouse is here to help you with 4 steps that will make it easy to order the perfect frame online at an affordable price!

Step 1 – Determine where you will place your portrait or artwork. Will it reside in a common space like a living room or be placed in a bedroom or bath area? Making this decision early will help guide you as you select frame materials and color to match your décor.

Step 2 – Measure your piece! Is it a standard size (8 x 10, 11 x 14, 12 x 16, 16 x 20, etc) or a size that will require a custom-built frame (13.5 x 7.25)? At Frame Warehouse, we offer both standard-size frames and custom frames online at an affordable price. Best of all, we offer $5 shipping for standard frames and $10 for custom frames no matter the size!

Step 3 – Choose your material. Use the subject matter of the portrait of art to determine the color and style of the frame. If you are framing a family portrait, consider using a wood frame that adds to the feeling of warmth from the photo. Our Barnwood and Mahogany frames are excellent choices! Wood frames are also excellent choices if artwork is being placed in a “soft” space like a bedroom. However, if your artwork is clean, minimalist, and uncluttered, consider going to an opposite extreme by choosing an ornate frame in gold or even black.

Step 4 – Choose whether you want only the frame or if you would like the frame package. In the case of frame only, some artwork is best displayed without acrylic and backing – fiber art and art created from natural paper are good examples. However, if you want to frame a photo or print, you may consider choosing the frame package which comes complete with acrylic, backing, and hangers. Our frame packages are available for our standard frames at this time.

If you follow the 4 easy steps, all you have to do is click checkout and your perfect frame will be on its way from our frame store to your home in no time! You can place your order online at www.framewarehouse.net.

Framing Tips For The 3 Most Popular Design Styles

Framing Tips For The 3 Most Popular Design Styles | Frame Warehouse

Design Styles that Fit the Frame!

Whether you are freshening up your décor or changing your entire design aesthetic, it is important to know some key elements of popular design styles. Accessories, including framed artwork, can make or break your style – but how do you know what frame to choose for your décor? Check out our tips for the 3 most popular design styles below:

Farmhouse Chic – Also referred to as rustic and refined, this design style is characterized by layering old with new, texture, and weathered wood. When choosing a frame for this design style, consider using wood frames like Frame Warehouse’s Light Brown Barnwood or Brown/Grey Barnwood. Mix in black frames to achieve the old with new and be sure to hang and lean your frames to achieve that layered look.

Minimalism – A minimalist design aesthetic emphasizes the notion that less is more and pays attention to function over form. For this reason, clean lines and grid patterns are essential and a gallery wall is a must. Some key elements to think about when choosing a frame for this style are quality, simplicity, white space, light wood, and some metallics. Frame Warehouse’s Blonde Maple is perfect for the organic feel of minimalist design, while the Stainless Silver is ideal for reflecting natural light. Customize your artwork with a white matte for that extra white space!

Maximalism – In complete contrast to minimalism, maximalism embraces the sentiment that more is more. Characterized by bright colors, patterns, eclectic furniture and textures, maximalism allows for everything that minimalism doesn’t. Often you will find colorful artwork framed in gold metallic next to an heirloom portrait framed in a chunky blue frame. When choosing frames for this style, think bold, colorful, and metallic. Frame Warehouse has several frames to choose from for this style including the 3 ½” Gold Ornate, Gold with Mahogany Panel, and frames in colors like blue, orange, and yellow.

No matter what your style, the trend in 2020 is quality. Invest in a custom frame that will preserve your artwork or family photo for a lifetime. Let the experts at Frame Warehouse help you choose just the right frame for your project and your design style! Already know what you need? Visit our online framing shop and get just the right frame sent to you in just a few clicks! Order now and get $5 shipping on all-ready-made frames and $10 shipping on custom framing!

Do I Really Need A Custom Frame?

Do I Really Need A Custom Frame? | Frame Warehouse | Charlotte, NC

Do I really need a custom frame? This is a question we hear a lot at Frame Warehouse. Honestly, the answer to that question is another question! What would you like to frame?

Ready-Made vs. Custom Framing

In order to determine whether custom framing is right for you, it’s beneficial to know the difference between ready-made and custom frames.

Ready-made frames are manufactured en masse, in standard sizes and come with basic frame, glass or acrylic, and backing. These can be a great solution for inexpensive prints, color-pops, or items you know you will change out regularly. We carry a great selection of high-quality, ready-made frames at Frame Warehouse, simply ask our experts and we can help you determine what’s right for you!

Custom framing is an option that is customized to your art piece, your décor, even size! From framing that treasured autographed jersey or military uniform to priceless works of art or your child’s handprint, we can (and have) frame it all. Custom framing involves choosing the frame, molding, matte, glass, and backing. With thousands of choices and combinations, our experts can advise you as to what will work best for your piece. For instance, will you be hanging your watercolor painting in a sunny area? You may want to choose UV protected glass to prevent fading. Are you framing an odd-sized, multi-dimensional sculpture? We can select a frame that will lend itself well to a shadow-box and build it according to your measurements. Best of all, we can turn most items around in under a week! While it’s true that custom framing can cost a little more when it comes to expensive artwork or unique memorabilia the value that custom framing provides lasts a lifetime.

Do you have a photo or piece of artwork you would like to preserve but are unsure of the best way to frame it? Drop by one of Frame Warehouse’s 12 framing locations in North and South Carolina and let our experts guide you!

Should I Hang or Should I Lean?

Should I Lean or Should I Hang? | Frame Warehouse | Charlotte NC

So, you received a fun print as a gift over the holidays and the pressure is on to find the right spot to display it in your home. Should you make the commitment and hang it up? Should you perch it on a shelf so it will “lean into” your décor? While there is no cut-and-dry answer, we have come up with a few tips that will help you decide!

Keeping it casual?
Is your home décor bohemian in nature or really casual? If so, leaning your artwork may be ideal for your aesthetic. Leaning your artwork provides great design opportunities for layering art with object and texture. Here are a few additional benefits to leaning:

– Leaning artwork lends to a casual, effortless look and is Instagram-chic
– Your artwork can be placed virtually anywhere there is a flat surface and a wall
– Requires no tools, or picture hanging strips and leaves your walls damage-free
– Can’t commit? No problem! Artwork can be changed around easily allowing you to refresh your look with ease
– Easily conceal unsightly vents, outlets, or dings in your home

Things to watch out for when leaning:

– Leaning can look cluttered or unfinished. Beware of leaning and layering art and objects of the same size as this can lead to a disorganized look rather than an art moment
– While you will not make holes in your wall, leaning an item in a high-traffic area can lead to marks on the wall or accidents. Choose your placement wisely!

Keeping it classy?
Do you prefer a cleaner look or have small children or pets? If so, forgo the leaning and hang it up! Hanging your artwork can elevate (pun intended!) your piece and adds to a clean, organized design style. Here are a few things to think about when deciding to hang artwork:

– Hanging your artwork is a commitment. You know you will be making a hole in the wall, so a great deal of planning is required. Your guests will appreciate the special moment a hung piece adds to your décor.
– Love gallery walls? Hanging is the only way to get the desired effect. Whether your style is formal or casual, a gallery wall is a beautiful way to display your treasured pieces.
– Use your tools! Plan where you want to hang your piece and measure twice! Use a level to ensure your artwork is straight. This is particularly important when creating a gallery wall!

Whether you are “leaning into” the lean or you are “hanging out” with the thought of hanging, Frame Warehouse can help you from frame to hang (or lean!) with custom framing, hanging tips and even the proper tools to display your artwork. Be sure to follow us on social media, and share how you have displayed your artwork! As always, stop by one of our 12 locations in North or South Carolina and get a custom frame for next to nothing!

Summer Memories

Frame Warehouse | Summer Memories | Charlotte NC

The early morning sunrise, the squeak of the brakes from the school bus and children squealing with excitement as they don just the right backpack for school…these are the sounds of summer fading into autumn. But, before you say goodbye, be sure to remember the days between the last bell and the first bell! Here at Frame Warehouse, we have a few ideas to keep you basking in the glow of summer memories!

First, curate moments. You know, the ones where the first barbeque of the season left everyone a little messy or the time the water balloon toss became a neighborhood event? What about the first time your child went down the waterslide or you traveled to some exotic land? Whatever the moment, save it for savoring.

Next, once you have identified your moments, print them out in black and white. Black and white photos evoke nostalgia, wistfulness, and emotion. They also happen to look great when hung next to one another!

Lastly, frame these beauties to last a lifetime. Preserve the moments in minimalist or floating frames so that the focal point is the memory. Create a collection of 4, 6, or 9 for maximum visual impact. An up and coming trend is chrome frames which are striking when paired with black and white photography.

Regardless of the images you choose, you can count on Frame Warehouse to help you every step of the way! Whether you need help choosing just the right photo or selecting the perfect frame and glass to preserve it behind, we are here to help you pick just the thing!

Visit us at www.framewarehouse.net or drop by one of our 12 locations for expert help today!

Home Decorating Trends Using Picture Frames

Picture-Frame-Trends

When you’re looking for ways to spruce up your home, there are several fun ways to do so with the use of picture frames. Whether you want to display photos in these frames or leave them empty, keep the following decorating ideas in mind for your home.

Wall Collage

Dress up a plain wall with a collage made of picture frames. Use frames of all different sizes to make an eye-catching arrangement on your wall. If you’re leaving them empty, you can put smaller frames inside larger ones for an even more visually interesting effect.

Oversized Frames

Oversized picture frames that are left empty can be a great way to draw attention to large vases or other oversized decor items in your home. Lean the frame against the wall around the item as a way to highlight it. You can also accentuate a smaller frame, painting or other work of art on walls by placing an oversized empty photo frame around it.

Color-Themed Frames

Choose frames in a specific color theme, such as frames that are different shades of a certain color or frames in warm or cool color tones. You can also do a black and white theme or a gold and silver one. Whether you leave the frames empty or put photos in them, you’ll add instant visual appeal to this part of your home.

Art Gallery 

Turn a plain hallway in your home into an art gallery with some carefully placed photo frames. Fill these frames with art pieces rather than photos, and hang them in a row along the walls of your hallway.

Need help finding the perfect picture frame?  The Frame Warehouse has years of experience and frame experts to help you with your framing needs.  Shop our high quality frames online or visit one of our 12 locations in North and South Carolina.

What You Should Know About Hanging Picture Frames

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You’ve got a big, blank expanse of plastered wall and a picture frame that would look perfect there. But everyone knows what a hassle it is to hang art, so that poor wall might stay empty.

Fortunately, hanging picture frames is easier than it looks. Start by answering these basic questions.

What’s your creative strategy? Are you simply trying to find a place for a solo picture frame? Or do you have several decorative or thematic pieces you’d like to work into a grouping?

If hanging a single picture frame, its center should be positioned about 57 inches off the ground, on eye level with many. But if you’ve got a grouping in mind, get creative with formation. Use butcher paper or newspaper pages cut to the dimensions of your art and lay them on the floor or tape them to the wall until you like what you see.

How heavy is your artwork? Generally, you can get by with a nail or picture hanger if your art only weighs a few pounds. If it weights over 20 lbs, you’ll need a threaded anchor for extra wall grip.

What fasteners are you using. Most picture frames will come with a wire hanger attached horizontally to the back. Use picture hangers or a lone nail with this approach. Other frames might have saw tooth hangers for use with nails.

How are your math skills? Have a tape measure handy for finding the horizontal center point on your artwork to catch the nail or picture hanger in the right place. Or cheat with a tube of gel toothpaste. Dab a little on the back of your artwork where the wire will be extended or where you saw tooth hangers are affixed. Then press your picture frame against the wall and the smudges will indicate nail positions.

Keep in mind, it can be a perfectly legit design solution to prop your art against a wall or on a shelf and leave your wall unmarked.

Find the frame that will accent your blank wall perfectly here at Frame Warehouse.

Mirrors as a Decorating Piece, What to Consider

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Mirrors have been a timeless decorating piece found in almost any area of a home. If placed properly within a room, a mirror can make rooms brighter and feel larger. Read some ideas and placement tips from Frame Warehouse before you purchase the perfect mirror.

Creating Light

We all know mirrors reflect, so placed properly they can help reflect light in the room. Place your mirror on an adjacent wall from windows or on the wall across from a window or windows. Make sure your mirror is not covered by large furniture or décor.

Balancing Size

When deciding on your mirror selection decide if the mirror will be a focal point or accent piece in the room. If the mirror is a focal point, the larger the better. When being used as a focal point a framed mirror also helps achieve this. If you are looking for an accent piece a smaller mirror in comparison to your largest wall hangings is recommended or the use of several small mirrors.

Mirrors can be used in almost every style of home and when placed correctly with appropriate sizing can help bring in light to a dark room and even bring the illusion of a much larger room.

Need assistance with finding the perfect mirror? Browse our selection of mirrors and frames at any of our 12 locations in North and South Carolina with Frame Warehouse. We like to think of mirrors as art and certainly believe they look great in the perfect frame.

Should I Use A Mat When Framing My Art or Photos?

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Should you use a mat when deciding to frame your art or photos? This is one of our most frequently asked questions and though there isn’t a yes or no answer there are things to consider when making your choice.

The size of your piece of art

A small piece of art or photo can pop when framed using a mat. When the art is bright and colorful, pairing with a white mat helps bring the eye to the art while balancing a clean look. On the other side, a large photograph without a mat looks more like art rather than a photograph.

How will you place the piece

A mix of matted pieces and full bleed framed art can be used to create many looks while small matted pieces can be used to frame a larger piece of art or even a large mirror. Don’t forget sizing of your piece. If you are confined by spacing remember adding a mat will change the size of your final piece of art.

Looking for inspiration, follow the Frame Warehouse on social media to see our framed pieces in everyday places. With 12 locations and the option to purchase your frame online you can trust the Frame Warehouse with your framing services.