Multi Photo Frames

How multi photo frames work

A multi photo frame holds several photos in one frame, usually in separate windows called apertures, and most of ours are made like this. It looks tidier than a cluster of single frames, because the spacing stays even and the whole group moves together when you rearrange a room.

A collage photo frame is a looser take on the same idea, with openings of different sizes set in a less regular pattern. You will also find a few collage photo frames in our range, and some frames that mix aperture sizes, so a wide group shot can sit beside smaller portraits.

Matching the frame to your prints

Start with the photos rather than the frame, and check a frame's listed aperture sizes against your prints. Some of ours take 6 x 4in (15 x 10cm) photos, a common print size, and a few take 7 x 5in (18 x 13cm). Shape matters too: portrait frames suit a narrow spot and landscape frames a wide one. Some of ours are portrait, a few are landscape and some can be set either way.

A mount is the flat border that sits around a photo inside the frame, giving it breathing space and a more finished look. A few of ours come with one, and you will also find frames without a mount, where the photos fill the openings.

Arranging photos so they sit well together

A group of photos looks considered when something links them: one holiday, the same faces over the years, or black and white prints throughout. Put your favourite in the centre or largest aperture and balance busy shots with quieter ones. We suggest laying the prints out on a table first, so you can swap them around before they go in.

On a shelf, a desk or a hallway wall

Some of our frames are freestanding, made to sit on a sideboard, desk, mantelpiece or bedside table, and a few have a strut, the leg at the back that props the frame up. Some can either hang on a wall or stand, so they can move from a shelf to a landing as your rooms change. When hanging one, use a fixing suited to your wall and the frame's weight, and set the centre roughly at eye level.

Finishes to suit the room

Some of our frames have a silver finish, and some of those are real silver plate, with a warm, bright shine that suits a dressing table or a formal sitting room. You will also find a few in wood, MDF or metal alloy, and a few with white, matt or printed finishes that sit softly in a child's room. Pick a finish that echoes something already in the room, such as a lamp base, door handles or a mirror, so the frame looks as if it belongs.

A frame as a gift

A frame filled with photos is a gift that feels personal without being fussy. Some of ours are engravable, so a name, a date or a few words can be added as a lasting touch; they come plain, ready for your own engraver, because we do not engrave. A few are made to mark an anniversary, and some are meant for a baby's first years, as a keepsake for a child's room. If you are giving one, fit the photos before you wrap it so it can go straight on display.

Looking after the frame and the photos inside

Dust the frame with a soft, dry cloth. If the front needs more, wipe it with a barely damp cloth rather than spraying cleaner onto it, as liquid can creep in and mark the photos. Silver plate is a thin layer of silver over another metal, so it tarnishes with time; polish it gently with a silver cloth and skip harsh pastes and dips, which can wear through the plating. Keep wood and MDF away from damp, and keep frames out of strong direct sunlight to slow fading.