Wall Art & Frames

Choosing between wall art and frames

Most of what we stock here is wall art, and photo frames make up the rest. Wall art is the main section, with framed prints, canvases and metal pieces in a wide spread of colours. Large wall art narrows it down to bigger pieces that can fill a wide wall on their own.

For a long stretch of wall above a sofa, bed or sideboard, start with large wall art. For a smaller space, or to build a group, wall art gives you the widest choice. If the picture is yours, head to photo frames.

Wall art styles and colours

Most pieces have a modern look. Many take a more classic line, and we stock rustic designs in natural and brown tones for a softer feel. Some designs draw on African art and pattern. A few pieces have LED lighting built in.

Let colour settle the choice. Black, white and grey keep a wall calm, gold and silver add a little shine, and we stock many blue, green and multicoloured designs for a bolder wall. If you are unsure, pick a colour already in the room, from a cushion or rug, and let the art repeat it.

When to choose large wall art

Large wall art earns its place on a wide wall that smaller frames would leave looking bare. Measure the wall, then compare it with the width and height on the product page. A portrait piece suits a narrow wall or the gap between windows, while a landscape piece follows the line of a sofa or sideboard.

Some pieces come as a set of separate parts that hang together as a single design. A few are textured in relief and stand proud of the wall, so side light brings out their shape. Big pieces can be heavy, so check the weight on the product page and choose fixings rated for it.

Photo frames for your own pictures

With photo frames, go by the photo size: it tells you the print a frame will hold. The frame itself measures more, and more again with a mount, the card border that gives a small print room to breathe. A glass front keeps dust and fingerprints off the picture.

Check the orientation too, so the frame suits the shape of your picture, and look at the back to see whether it hangs on a wall or stands on a shelf. Some of our photo frames come as sets, which makes a matching group easy. Frame finishes run from natural wood to gold, silver and black.

Canvas, glass, wood or metal wall art

Most pieces include wood, which brings warmth to a room. Plain canvas reflects little light, so it stays easy to see on a bright wall. Glass makes colour look crisp and wipes down easily, but hang it where light comes from the side so a lamp is not mirrored in it. Metal pieces add shine in gold or silver, or a sharp outline in black.

Then match the frame to the room around it: natural wood beside wooden furniture, black on a pale wall, and gold or silver where there is already metal nearby.

Hanging and cleaning wall art and frames

Hang a single piece with its centre at about eye level, and treat a group as a whole, with its middle at that height. Above a sofa or headboard, leave roughly a hand's width between the furniture and the frame. Check the fixing on the back before you drill, so you pick the right hook, screw or plug for your wall. To plan a group, cut paper to the size of your frames and tape the shapes up to test the layout.

Dust canvas with a soft, dry brush, and wipe glass with a barely damp cloth rather than spraying cleaner near the frame.