How to Choose the Right Frame for Your Wall Art
How to Choose the Right Frame for Your Wall Art
The frame is not just packaging — it's the final creative decision in presenting your art. The right frame makes the art feel considered and complete. The wrong frame can make even a considered print feel off. This guide covers every frame decision you'll face: colour, material, width, and how to match frame style to both your art and your interior.
At Olive et Oriel, all our framed art prints come in three frame colours: black, white and oak finish. These three options are deliberately chosen to cover the broadest range of Australian interiors — and this guide explains exactly which works where.
The Three Frame Colours and Where They Work
Black frames are the most graphic and versatile. They create strong visual definition around any print — the contrast between a dark frame and a white wall is one of the most powerful presentations in interior design. Black works across contemporary, modern, industrial, Japandi and eclectic spaces. When in doubt, black is almost always the safe choice.
Oak frames feel warm and organic. They suit Scandinavian, coastal, relaxed contemporary and natural-material interiors where timber and organic textures are already present. On warm white or cream walls, oak frames feel completely at home. In very contemporary or sleek modern spaces, oak can feel too rustic.
White frames are the most neutral — they blend into white walls and let the art take complete focus. White frames work particularly well for botanical prints, photography and fine-line illustrations where the paper border and breathing room around the image are part of the composition.
Frame Width and Profile: The Detail That Matters
Frame width — the depth of the border around the artwork — changes the feel significantly. Thin frames (10–15mm profile) feel contemporary and minimal, very similar to how art hangs in commercial galleries. They let the artwork dominate completely. Thin frames suit photography, abstract art and prints with bold imagery.
Wider frames (25–40mm) add visual weight and a more traditional, substantial feel. They work well for botanical illustrations, figurative art and any print where a sense of considered presentation is desired. Wider frames also help smaller prints hold their presence on larger walls.
For gallery walls with mixed frames, keeping frame width consistent (even if colours vary slightly) helps the arrangement feel more cohesive. Wildly different frame widths in the same arrangement draw the eye to the frames rather than the art.
Matching Frame Style to Your Interior
Modern/contemporary interiors: Black frames in thin profiles. Bold contrast, clean lines, gallery-quality presentation.
Scandinavian/Japandi: Oak frames with minimal profiles. Natural material, warm neutrals, organic quality.
Coastal/relaxed Australian: Oak or white frames. Natural, unpretentious, works well with linen and rattan.
Traditional/classic: White or black frames in medium-width profiles. Slightly more substantial, considered presentation.
Eclectic/maximalist: Mix of black and oak in 70/30 ratio. Deliberate contrast adds to the layered feel. See our frame mixing guide for more detail.
Every piece is produced at our two manufacturing facilities on of NSW — crafting Australian wall art since 2015. We deliver to over 40 countries worldwide, with custom sizing available on all prints. Over a decade of experience, every order ships within 24 hours with our satisfaction guarantee.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right frame for my art?
Start with frame colour: black frames suit contemporary, modern and industrial interiors; oak frames suit warm, Scandinavian, coastal and eclectic spaces; white frames are the most neutral and work in almost any room. Then consider frame width — thinner frames (10–15mm) feel more gallery-like and modern; wider frames (25–40mm) add visual weight and traditional character.
Should the frame match the art or the room?
Both matter, but the room comes first. A frame that clashes with your furniture or wall colour will always look wrong, even if it's technically correct for the artwork. Choose a frame colour that works with your room first, then consider how it complements the art's colours and mood.
What frame colour goes with everything?
Black is the most versatile frame colour — it works across contemporary, industrial, Japandi, coastal and eclectic interiors. On white walls it creates maximum contrast; on coloured walls it sits back and lets the art lead. White frames are the second most versatile. Oak is the most specific — it's excellent in warm, natural and relaxed interiors but can feel out of place in very contemporary or industrial spaces.
Should all frames in a room match?
Frames in a gallery wall arrangement benefit from matching colour (even if sizes vary). Across a whole room, you don't need to match perfectly — but a consistent 'palette' of one or two frame styles prevents the room from feeling visually chaotic. Two frame styles max per room is a good rule of thumb.
What is the difference between a deep frame and a standard frame?
A standard frame has a relatively shallow profile — the frame sits flat against the wall. A deep frame (also called a shadow-box or float frame) has a raised inner section that creates visual depth between the artwork and the frame edge. Deep frames suit canvases and larger artworks; standard frames suit most framed prints.
Find Your Perfect Frame
Shop framed art prints in black, white and oak finish — all made in Australia, shipped next business day, ready to hang.
