Framing a Poster: Which Frame Fits Which Print

A frame is not decoration around a picture. It is the thing that tells the eye where the picture ends and the room begins. Three decisions cover almost every case.

1. Frame colour

Black sharpens. It suits high-contrast motifs, photography, graphic work and anything with strong lines – street art, typography, black-and-white photography.

Natural wood – oak, ash, birch warms. It works with muted palettes, nature motifs and botanical prints. It is also the most forgiving choice in a room that already has a lot going on.

White disappears. Use it when the print should carry the wall on its own, or on a dark wall where a white frame becomes a deliberate border.

Gold or brass belongs with historical material – our old masters and vintage posters can take it. Everywhere else it tends to overpower.

2. Mount or no mount

A mount – the cardboard border between print and frame – does two things: it gives the motif breathing room, and it makes the whole piece noticeably larger. A 5 cm mount turns an M print into something that occupies an L-sized area of wall.

Rule of thumb: use a mount for anything detailed or historical. Skip it for bold graphic work that is meant to fill its own edge. If you use one, white or off-white is almost always right – coloured mounts date fast.

3. Glass or acrylic

Standard glass is cheap and clear. Anti-reflective glass costs more and is worth it opposite a window. Acrylic is lighter and does not shatter – the sensible choice for large formats, stairwells and kids' rooms.

One thing glass does not do: protect against fading. That is a question of ink and paper, not of the pane in front of it.

When to skip the frame

Not everything needs framing. A heavy print clipped to a wooden poster hanger, or leaning against a wall on a shelf, can look more considered than a bad frame. Our posters are printed on 255 gsm or 229 gsm paper, which is stiff enough to hang unframed without curling.

Sizing the frame

Order the frame to the print, not the other way round. Our sizes run from S (longest side 23–32 cm) to 3XL (88–123 cm), and each product page lists the exact dimensions of the size you select. Measure before ordering the frame – standard frame sizes and print sizes do not always align.

What we print on

Every poster is produced in a large-format gallery process with archival pigment inks, on Lustrous Metallic (255 gsm) or Matte (229 gsm) paper. Metallic has a pearlescent sheen that suits photography; matte is reflection-free and better behind glass. Both carry our 200-year guarantee against colour fading.