Art Tips: Frame Mats for Art

When viewing art, frame mats are largely unnoticed. They are usually cream colored, so what’s so special about them, you ask.

Common with frames, they serve to enhance the art aesthetically. It provides an area of neutral space between the art and frame, helping to separate the art from its surroundings.

Floating is the opposite of placing a mat. Drawings can be placed floating in a frame so that edges of art are visible. Save of matting costs when the artist has drawn all the way to the edge of the paper or if there’s some art elements along the edges to be displayed.

How to select the right mat color?

I find this much easier than selecting frames. Perhaps I’m more conservative, selecting mostly cream colored mats.

Of course I wouldn’t advise you to be the same. I’m told that you can also be creative with matting.

Here’s three simple guides

1. Mat color must be different from the frame. Otherwise it would look as if your art is surrounded by an oversized frame. No good.

2. Choose a color that is lighter than the art but darker than the wall (Given my white wall that’s why I choose cream only). If you have a dark wall, like black, go for a lighter colored matt.

3. If you are placing several framed art on the same wall, go for similar colored mats. It harmonizes the look. You can also opt for a more creative feel of alternating the colors – make sure it doesn’t clash.

If you have an idea or two about matting creatively, tell us!