Choosing the right frame color for a piece of art can really enhance and complement the artwork. The frame draws the viewer’s eye inwards to the art itself. Selecting a frame color that works with the colors in the artwork helps create a cohesive look. There are a few considerations when determining the best frame color for your art.
The Mood and Style of the Artwork
The overall style and mood of the artwork is important when selecting a frame. Certain frame colors tend to complement particular art styles better.
For traditional landscape paintings with warm, earthy tones like greens, blues, and browns, natural wood or metallic frames often look great. The natural, textured look of wood makes an organic pairing. Metallic frames in bronze, gold, and silver evoke a classic, timeless look.
For abstract or modern art with bold colors and geometric shapes, simple black or white frames keep the focus on the art. Black frames have a dramatic effect, making the art really stand out. White frames appear clean and modern.
Vintage art and photography printed on sepia or black and white color palettes tend to look best in antique gold or silver colored frames. The metallic sheen and soft patina mirror the nostalgic feel of the artwork.
Color Palette of the Artwork
Looking at the colors used in the artwork is one of the most important considerations when selecting an art frame. You generally want the frame to complement but not overpower the colors in the art itself.
Here are some popular art and frame color pairings:
| Art Color Palette | Frame Color |
| Warm – earth tones like peach, terra cotta, olive green | Wood tones, black, warm metallics like gold or bronze |
| Cool – blues, greens, purples, pinks | Silver, black, white |
| Monochromatic or muted – sepia, black and white, greys | Black, white, silver, metallic |
| Bold, primary colors – red, blue, yellow | Black, white, wood |
| Multicolor | Black, white or metallic |
As a general rule of thumb, black and white frames tend to work well with most styles and color schemes. The high contrast frames keep the focus on the artwork. Wood and metallic frames complement both warm and cool color palettes.
Size of the Artwork
The size of the artwork is another consideration for frame color. Large wall art pieces tend to look best with thick, solid colored frames like black, white or wood. The bold frames enhance the piece and give it more visual weight. Small and medium sized artworks can carry brighter, metallic hued frames or more delicate frame styles.
Very small art pieces should be framed with thin, simple frames to avoid overwhelming the artwork itself. When determining frame color for small pieces, neutral tones or colors drawn directly from the artwork are best.
The Room Where the Art Will Hang
Before deciding on a frame, take into account the room where it will be displayed. The frame should complement not only the art, but also the surrounding room decor.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the wall colors? Dramatic black frames pop against light walls but can overpower a dark wall.
- What color scheme is used in the room – warm tones like red and yellow or cool shades of blue and green?
- Does the room follow a certain style – modern, farmhouse, traditional?
- Will the art hang alone or alongside other pieces?
The frame should make sense within the context of the room. If the room uses lots of wood furniture, a natural wood frame is a great choice. In a modern, gray and white room, black or white frames fit right in.
Don’t be afraid to repeat frame colors in a single space with multiple pieces. The cohesive look is very pleasing. However, varying style and size can add nice contrast.
Factors That Impact Frame Color Perception
There are a few practical factors that affect how we perceive a frame’s color. Keep these in mind as you select your frame shade.
Lighting:
The room lighting impacts how colors appear. Natural daylight shows warmer and more accurate color tones. Incandescent bulbs cast a yellowish tint, while fluorescent lighting looks more blue and green. Where the art hangs and type of lighting is key. A wood frame will look quite different in daylight vs. indoors under lamplight in the evenings.
Sheen and Finish:
Matte, satin, and glossy finishes reflect light differently affecting color perception. Matte frames look muted and soft. Glossy frames intensify and deepen the color. A glossy black frame will look more dramatic than a matte black one.
Age and Patina:
Over time, some materials like wood, silver, and bronze darken or change color. This aging gives them a beautiful, mellow patina. Keep this in mind when selecting a frame that imitates an aged look, like a whitewashed or antique gold-hued frame. The frame color will deepen and enhance over time.
Most Popular Frame Color Choices
Now that we’ve covered how to select the ideal frame color, let’s take a look at popular options. The following colors are commonly used in both contemporary and classic art framing.
Black
Sleek, modern, and versatile, black frames work wonderfully with art of many styles. They provide sharp contrast with the art and really make the colors pop. Black frames fit right into contemporary, urban, or eclectic spaces. They also suit old master portrait reproductions and vintage botanical prints.
White
Like black frames, white also creates crisp contrast with art, but has a lighter, brighter feel. White frames give a clean, contemporary look, perfect for modern abstracts, photography, and prints. They help highlight cool color schemes of blues, greens, and grays.
Natural Wood
Wood frames lend a classic, organic feel with visual texture and natural variation in grain, knots, and color. Complementary with many art styles, natural wood looks particularly fitting with traditional landscapes, still life paintings, and botanical motifs.
Silver/Chrome
Silver and chrome frames have an elegant, sleek appearance. They pair nicely with black and white photographs or artworks with cool undertones. Their clean metallic sheen suits modern and contemporary styles.
Gold/Bronze
Warm gold and bronze colored frames complement artwork with earthy, autumnal color palettes. Their muted metallic shine fits well with traditional oil paintings, sepia toned photographs, and abstract mixed media pieces.
Antique Silver/Gold
For a vintage inspired look, antique silver and gold frames are perfect. Featuring a mottled, oxidized finish, they resemble naturally aged metal. Antique gold tones suit historical portrait paintings. Antique silver works well with classic botanical and bird illustrations.
Matching Multiple Frames
When framing a collection or set of artwork for one space, using matching or complementary frames gives a cohesive, curated look. Here are approaches for framing art sets:
- Uniform frames – use the exact same style and color frames for visual harmony
- Complimentary colors – use hues with the same undertones like two shades of wood or silver and gray
- Varying sizes – use same color but different sized frames for interest
- Mixed metals – blend metals in one color family like antique silver and pewter
- Add one focal frame – frame artworks in simple neutral metal frames with one wood focal frame for the main piece
Repeating elements like color, sheen, or style link the grouping. Varying the sizes and spacing keeps it from looking too rigid or matchy. For a bolder look, mixing entirely contrasting frames together adds striking diversity.
How Frame Width Impacts Color
The width of the frame itself impacts how strongly its color comes through. Thin 1-2 inch wide framing contains the color in a subtle way. Medium width frames around 3 inches make the color more prominent. Very wide 5 inch frames or more create a bold color statement.
Wider frames work well for large statement pieces of art. Smaller artworks can be overwhelmed by wide frames. Proportionately scale the frame widths to fit the size of each piece. Mix widths together for extra interest.
Use Color to Create a Focal Point
When grouping multiple pieces of art together, using a pop of color on one can create a focal point. For example, framing a series of black and white photographs in simple black frames with one image in a wood frame draws the eye. Or mix silver frames with one vivid red frame in the collection.
This technique helps create visual interest in the grouping and highlights the key piece. Don’t go overboard with bright colors though or it looks chaotic. Limit the focal color frame to just one or two pieces. The other frames should recede into the background.
Examples of Art and Frame Pairings
To get an idea of how frame color sets the tone for artwork, let’s look at some examples of paintings paired beautifully with the right frame:
Cool Toned Abstract – Silver Frame
The muted blues, grays, and greens in this modern abstract painting synergize beautifully with the slim silver metal frame. The cool tones of both the art and frame complement each other.
Impressionist Landscape – Gold Frame
Warm honey brown and deep gold hues are pulled right from the palette of this Impressionist landscape of wheat fields at sunset. The rich gold frame mirrors the painting’s colors and mood.
Botanical Print – White Frame
Crisp and fresh, this colorful botanical study of flowers pops against the bright white mat and frame. The clean white backdrop really lets the brilliant art shine.
Contemporary Portrait – Wood Frame
The organic texture and grounded feel of a natural wood frame gives warmth to balance vibrant streaks of color in this modern portrait. The wood grain patterns interplay with brushstrokes.
Geometric Abstract – Black Frame
The straight black frame outlines sections of geometric color blocks in this acrylic abstract composition. The dark frame unifies the segmented painting.
Tips for Selecting Frame Color
When determining frame color for your artwork, keep these tips in mind:
- Select 1-3 colors from the artwork’s palette
- Consider the art style – traditional, modern, abstract
- Factor in the room’s colors and decor style
- Black & white frames suit almost all art
- Metallics complement both warm and cool colors
- Wood tones fit outdoorsy and organic art
- Scale frame widths proportionately to the art size
- Use a bold focal color to highlight one piece in a collection
Trust your instincts when selecting a frame color. The frame should work cohesively with the art without overpowering it. Let the colors and textures of the frame bring out interesting aspects of the art.
Conclusion
Choosing the ideal art frame color can greatly enhance the look and impact of your artwork. Take the time to consider how frame colors complement the mood, style, and palette of each individual piece. Black, white, natural wood, and metallic frames offer classic choices that suit many different art types. Use color thoughtfully to create cohesion or make a statement. With so many options, you can find the perfect frame to showcase your art.