Choosing the right wood for your Custom Picture Frame

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At Orms Print Room & Framing, we know that natural wood framing is something that will hold its beauty for many years to come. A natural frame is, essentially, timeless. Natural wood frames do not date, since they’ve been around for centuries, and suit many different styles and framing variations. Here are some things to consider when selecting a natural wood frame.

Colour

Natural woods come in a variety of different colours. It’s important to note that there are tonal variations in the wood tones depending on which type of wood is selected. When considering which one to choose, a safe choice is always to match light coloured wood (Ash / Oak / Beech / Maple / Obeche) to a lighter artwork and a dark colour wood (Walnut / Kiaat) to a darker artwork.

Composition

Study the composition of your image/art. There is no right or wrong in custom picture framing and it all boils down to personal preference. A visually busy artwork normally pairs well with a simplified, minimal frame, etc. Try to match a colour in the wood to segments of your artwork – this will help unify and simplify the work. Alternatively, select a bold hardwood to create a strong contrast between the frame and the work – this helps to visually encase the work.

In comparison, a Beech hardwood frame is very even-toned, whereas Kiaat hardwood features twisting warm tones ranging from light to dark brown with slivers of warm and rich reds.

Subject

Nature is framed well by nature. If your subject contains natural elements like a landscape or biological elements, natural wood is an excellent pairing. To create contrast, a more industrial, cold and modern work can also be paired with a natural wood frame to ground the work or create a contrasting visual idea.

Variety

Natural wood frames are generally categorized into softwood and hardwood. Soft woods offer consistent colour range and grain formations and are used in their natural form or as a base for other finishes such as stains or spray finishes. Hard woods offer greater grain and colour variation and are also considered to be stronger – which makes them perfect for larger size works. Natural woods form the basis of most moulding shapes and sizes available so there are very little limitations when it comes to choosing your shape and size.

Final resting place

Probably the most important point to consider is where the frame will live. This is where your interior design skills will need to shine through!

The great thing about natural wood is that it tends to melt into different styles and placements very well. The only consideration to make is whether your custom picture frame will clash with other wood types you have around your space. All light-to-medium tone woods generally work well together but some darker woods like Mahogany, Teak and Walnut have very strong tones which can sometimes fight with some lighter woods in the same space. In saying that, there are no rules to good design – anything can be matched with the right eye.

Kiaat wood, also known as African Teak, is a definite favourite in South Africa – amongst framers, artists and designers alike. What we love about Kiaat is that every piece has a unique identity because of the tonal variations and grain patterns of the wood. This unique feature also helps it to tone into different spaces because of its vast tonal range. It picks up colours around your space – from light and natural tones to deep and warm browns. This makes Kiaat an easy choice if you need something to compliment your existing collection.

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Our expert team of print and framing consultants at Orms Print Room & Framing will advise on the best pairing for your work. We have multiples of beautiful hard and soft wood samples on our showroom floor. You can find more information about our custom finishes here