on June 04, 2026
Choosing a picture frame should be straightforward. In practice, it involves more decisions than most people expect — material, size, mat, finish, mounting style — and the wrong choice in any of these is immediately visible once the frame is on the wall.
This guide makes the decision straightforward.
Start with the Image
The frame's job is to serve the image, not compete with it. Before considering any other factor, look at the image you're framing: its colour temperature (warm or cool), its subject matter (portrait, landscape, abstract, document), its dominant tones (light, dark, saturated, muted), and its scale.
The frame should complement all of these qualities without imposing on them. A warm, earthy landscape print benefits from a warm wood frame. A cool, high-contrast black-and-white photograph benefits from a clean black or slim metal frame. A delicate botanical illustration benefits from a white or pale natural wood frame that doesn't compete with the line work.
Material
Solid wood brings warmth, texture, and material quality. ONE MAAY's solid wood frames are available in a range of species and finishes. Wood suits photography, art prints, documents, and paintings — it's the most versatile frame material for subject matter that benefits from warmth.
Aluminum alloy is precise, contemporary, and durable. ONE MAAY's aluminum frames suit architectural photography, contemporary prints, and any image where the frame should be clean and minimal. Aluminum ages better than most materials and holds its finish reliably.
Acrylic creates the floating, frameless effect — the image is contained without visible framing. ONE MAAY's acrylic frames work best for images you want to present without any interruption from the frame itself. Particularly effective for posters, contemporary prints, and photographs in spaces with a clean, contemporary aesthetic.
Size
The frame size must match the print size. Measure your print before buying a frame — not the paper it's on, but the image itself if you intend to mat it, or the paper if you're framing without a mat. See our frame measuring guide for detail.
Standard print sizes — A4, A3, 8x10 inches, 5x7 inches — have corresponding standard frame sizes. Non-standard sizes require custom framing or careful measurement before purchase.
Mat or No Mat
A mat creates a border between the image and the frame, adding visual space and preventing the image from touching the glass. It suits photography, fine art prints, and documents — anything where the image benefits from visual breathing room. See our mat guide for a fuller discussion.
No mat works well for posters, contemporary prints, and images where the full image area should be visible without border. Acrylic frames are inherently matless; wood and metal frames can be used with or without.
Finish
Frame finish should be consistent with the room it will occupy. In a room of warm natural materials, a warm wood or brushed metal frame. In a clean contemporary room, a slim black, white, or aluminum frame. In a gallery wall, consistent finish across all frames.
The one reliable principle: a frame that would require explanation doesn't belong in the room. If you find yourself justifying the frame finish, choose differently.
Browse ONE MAAY's full picture frame collection across all materials and finishes.
