Creative Ways to Mix Framed and Unframed Prints
There’s something special about walking into a room where every wall tells a story—and not just with perfectly matching frames. Mixing framed and unframed pieces can bring texture, contrast, and a little rebellion into your space. And here’s the best part: there’s no one “right” way to do it. You can keep things clean and curated, or break the rules for bold, unexpected style.
But like any good mash-up, balance is everything.
Let’s Start at Home
In our house, Estelle’s the curator. She has a natural eye for how our world comes together on the walls. Right now, we’re in a season where collages dominate—family adventures, milestones, and the chaos that makes life full.
We’ve chosen to frame all flat and printed works, while 3D art and textured pieces live unframed. Why? Not just for style, but function too. Some pieces just aren’t suited to frames—and in letting them breathe, they’ve become natural attention magnets.
Why Mix It Up?
Here’s what happens when you let frames and frameless pieces live side by side:
• Contrast: A clean, framed print highlights the raw edge of an unframed photo or canvas.
• Texture: Mixing materials—wood frames, raw canvas, photo paper—adds dimension.
• Freedom: Unframed pieces feel lighter, informal, almost like an artist’s studio in progress.
• Intentionality: Ironically, when done right, “mixed” feels more thought out than “matching.”
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The Minimalist Frame Philosophy
My personal taste? Simple frames. No fuss.
Just flat, narrow borders—20 to 30mm wide, in solid black or white. The kind of frame that whispers, not shouts. It’s not about dressing the art up—it’s about giving it just enough space to speak clearly.
Sometimes, restraint is what makes a piece loudest.
So How Do You Pull It Off?
Here’s a simple formula:
1. Choose a unifying element
If you’re mixing formats, make sure something ties them together—like a consistent colour palette, theme, or spacing between pieces.
2. Anchor with frames, accent with unframed
Let the framed pieces set the structure of your wall, then break the grid with a few float-mounted canvases or even unframed photo strips.
3. Think dimension
Unframed doesn’t mean flat. Use ledges, clipboards, or even binder clips for a casual, curated look. Layer against shelves or lean pieces on furniture for depth.
4. Make the art the focus, not the method
Factory-made frames can do the job just fine. But when you don’t frame something, it naturally draws attention. Sometimes, letting a piece stand raw and honest makes it all the more powerful.
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Final Thoughts
We live in a world that loves symmetry and order, but your wall doesn’t have to play by those rules. In fact, the best displays often don’t. A photo of your child next to a travel memory. A fine art print beside a pinned Polaroid. A clean black frame anchoring a soft-edge canvas.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence.
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Ready to mix things up?
Browse our Print & Frame Gallery and other frameless formats to create a wall that’s truly yours.