We have all had the same feeling of frustration at one time or another. You go out and purchase something you absolutely love at the store and when you put it up in your home, it does not fit.

Although custom wood frames can be used very effectively in many settings, getting the right match for your decor requires a bit more thought than choosing the one that catches your eye. Here is how to do it.

Start With the Wood Tones Already in the Room

But before you start thinking of anything else, consider first the wood tones you have in your room. Your furniture, floorboards, shelves, even any frames you already have are part of the light-to-dark continuum.

The best approach for custom frames is when they complement one of the wood tones already in the space, or if they contrast with them; what doesn’t usually work is if they fall somewhere in between. Say you have walnut furniture in your room – a light ash frame will just look like a “clash” against it.

Knowing Warm from Cool Undertones

Undertones in woods are real, just like in paints. That’s where most people make their mistakes. In pictures, two frames can both be considered as medium browns. But when seen, one could be warm with golden undertone while the other is cool with gray undertone.

Check out the undertones of your flooring and furniture as well. Rooms with warm undertones will suit frames with honey, amber, and reddish brown colors. In case your room is cool and has gray, ash, and blue-green undertones, then your best option will be light wood frames.

Art to Frames' custom wood frames are available in a huge range of finishes with clear, detailed swatches, which makes comparing these undertones much easier than trying to guess from a description.

Consider the Style of the Wood, Not Just the Color

Not only the tone, but also the texture and the shape of the frame should be taken into account. The heavily distressed, rustic wood frame would fit perfectly into a farmhouse style interior but may look odd in the crisp mid-century modern one. At the same time, the smooth, clean wood frame would work great in the modern or Scandinavian interior but may appear somewhat too harsh in the maximalist one.

Consider the visual texture of the interior. If you have a lot of rough, natural textures around you, the expressive frame would suit perfectly; on the contrary, when dealing with the minimalist, sleek interior, choose a frame that will not add extra visual clutter.

When in Doubt, Go Lighter

If there are two styles which really appeal to you and you find yourself unable to choose between the two, then a lighter frame should always be chosen. A darkly customized wooden frame is an impressive piece of art, but it does not allow much room for change in the future.

Test Before You Commit

If you’re ordering multiple custom wood frames for a gallery wall, consider ordering one piece first to "test drive" it for a week. See how it looks in your home’s natural morning light, under your evening lamps, and right next to your favorite furniture.

Art to Frames makes custom framing easy, and it is the best time to get a second opinion from our team before you finalize your order.

At the end of the day, a great custom wood frame should look like it’s been there all along. That’s the goal.