3 Ways to Choose the Right Mat for Your Framed Picture
Framing a picture that is special to you will not only protect it from damage but will also help to highlight it in your home. When you visit a custom framing studio, you'll want to give careful thought to choosing the right frame. Your framing professional will look at your picture, ask you some questions about what frame style you favor, and then show you several frame samples until you see one you love. You'll also need to choose the right mat for your framed piece. Here are three different ways that you can approach choosing the mat.
Match It to the Photo
One way to select a mat is to choose a color that ties into your photo. Not only will this create a unified look, but it can also help to accentuate one of the colors in the image. Of course, your photo will have several different colors in it, so you'll want to think about what particular hue you wish to highlight. For example, if the picture depicts a bride who is holding a bouquet, it will make sense to choose a mat in the same color as the blooms.
Consider the Wall Color
Your custom framing professional will likely ask you about the appearance of the wall on which you'll be hanging the framed piece. It's important to have an idea of where the picture will appear so that you can share the wall color. Many framing professionals recommend choosing a photo mat that provides a visual contrast to the wall. For example, if your wall is off-white and you choose an off-white mat, the mat will essentially disappear when you look at the piece from afar. It's much better to choose a mat color that offers a good contrast to the wall color to help the framed piece stand out.
Complement the Frame
Another way to approach choosing your mat is to select a color that complements the frame. You won't generally want the frame and the mat to be too close in color, as it's nice to see a visual difference between these two elements. For example, if you're choosing a silver or gray frame, you might favor a white mat — depending on the color of your wall, of course — because white works well with silver and gray. Visit local picture framing services to browse its selection of mats for your framed picture.