Not every picture needs a bespoke frame. Knowing where the line sits saves money on the easy pieces and protects the ones that matter.
When ready-made is enough
- Standard-size posters and prints you may change in a year or two.
- Casual photographs for a shelf or desk.
- Pieces with no financial or sentimental value, kept out of direct sun.
Size and proportion
Ready-made frames come in fixed sizes, so artwork is often trimmed, padded or left floating awkwardly. A custom frame is cut to the work, with a mount sized to give it the right breathing room rather than whatever the stock size allows.
Materials that touch the art
Many off-the-shelf frames use acidic backing board and mounts that yellow paper over time. Custom framing lets you choose acid-free mounts, conservation backing and reversible hinging, so the work can be removed later without damage.
Glazing
Stock frames usually come with basic glass or thin plastic. For original works, photographs and anything near a window, UV-filtering or anti-reflective museum glass makes a visible difference to both protection and how the work reads in the room.
Design and the room
A custom frame is chosen for the piece: profile, width, finish and mount colour working together. For statement walls, hotel suites or a collection hung as a group, that consistency is what makes the result look considered rather than assembled.
Canvas, objects and odd formats
Stretched canvases, shadow boxes for medals or keepsakes, textiles and oversized work have no real ready-made option. These need a frame built around the object.
A simple test
If the piece is valuable, irreplaceable, an unusual size or meant to be looked at for years, frame it properly. Bring it to our Jumeirah Centre showroom or request a quote and we will advise what it needs and what it does not.