Don't Judge a Frame by its Artwork

Twelve DIYs of Christmas

Day 9: Don't Judge a Frame by its Artwork

I wasn't always this way, but I now primarily buy secondhand when shopping for clothes and household items. This isn't an oath I've taken, exactly, but I one item I never by new is picture frames. There are just too many good frames already existing in the world, hiding in plain sight at Goodwill or garage sales. I think we simply miss the potential of these frames because of something that's glaring: bad artwork.

Take Exhibit A below. Is this picture supposed to be a charming Victorian house? Why is it creepy? How did it get so excessively sun bleached? Why does it become even creepier the longer I look at it? I don't know the answer to any of these questions. At first glance, if I saw this picture, I'd walk away.

But that's just because of the artwork. The frame itself is solid — literally. It's solid wood, with precisely mitered edges and nice detailing. If buying frame this new, it might be around $20 to $30. When I purchased it at a garage sale, I paid $2. Beyond a good cleaning, the frame needed no additional touch-up.

As a pro tip, if you don't like the color of the original mat (which was a sad, muted dusty blue with this particular frame), you always can paint it. A few swipes of a small roller will give you a base coat without leaving any brush strokes. Once dry, repeat the process unto the coverage is complete. Why cut a custom mat when you can repurpose what's already there?

I cast away any lingering shadows of that scary Victorian house print by adding the coolest artwork. This is a one-of-a-kind homage to the work of Saul Steinberg, an artist whose illustrations appeared in the New Yorker, that was created to show an expressive map of State College, PA. I bought it at an estate sale for $10. I love it.

I especially love how the black and white looks when balanced by the warmer wood tones of the frame. To illustrate one design rule as an equation, even though math isn't my thing, just follow this formula:

White + Black + Wood + Plants = a foolproof attractive decor combination

We all know the adage don't judge a book by its cover. I think this one principle is equally true: don't judge a frame by its artwork. The art in any frame is temporary. It's waiting to be swapped out with anything you love. Look past art you don't like to find frames that you do.

May your DIYs be merry and bright!
Keep visiting for all Twelve DIYs of Christmas