Framing is just as important as positioning your artwork. The goal is to get the most out of your investment as possible. Here, interior decorator Helena Stuart-Cloete gives her advice on how to properly frame an artwork.

1. Traditional or modern framing? Let the actual artwork dictate the framing style you choose.

2. Art framing trends have moved away from bright gold frames. For a contemporary look, consider re-colouring your frame.

3. Never compromise on the quality of the frame you choose when investing in original artworks. Framing can be costly, so it’s essential you prioritise what you’d like to frame.

4. You don’t need to frame everything. Some large canvases look great by themselves, especially if the stretcher is wider than normal.

5. Consider the profile of the frame, as well as the colour to best complement the tones and light used in a painting. For example, a custom hand-finished frame can capture subtle nuances in a piece.

6. When displaying artwork collectively, take into account the style and colour of each frame. Silver and gold frames close together don’t really work. Medium to dark wood frames complement silver, gold and bronze frames, as well as those with a whitewash finish. Light wood frames go well with silver and white. Black and silver frames together make a bold statement.

Read Helena’s top tips for decorating your home with art here.

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Decorating your home with art has the potential to elevate the style of your home to a new level. If sophistication and exclusivity is what you’re after in your personal space then hanging your favourite art pieces is the way to go. Here are some top tips from interior decorator Helena Stuart-Cloete.

1. Don’t match colours in art pieces to your decor colour, rather look at how busy your room is and choose an artwork that will complement the space. If you have a lot of busy patterns in your fabrics or colourful painted furniture, keep the artwork subdued.

2. Collage walls are notoriously tricky to get the scale and proportion correct, never mind matching colours of frames and subject matter. You could call in an art installation and picture hanging specialist to help. Otherwise plan your layout by putting all pictures and paintings on the floor. Try to create some form of symmetry (left and right at certain points). It doesn’t have to be exactly symmetrical everywhere, but I find it works well to start in the middle with a large piece and build outwards from there.

3. Group two or three pictures with similar subject matter or similar frame colours together.

4. A large single painting works very well above a bed. Make sure there is enough height to the ceiling and your headboard isn’t too high. I believe a bedroom should be a peaceful sanctuary therefore I suggest a serene and restful subject matter like an Andrew Cooper seascape.

5. Lighting is important to illuminate your painting. If you are planning to use down lighters in the ceiling choose the tilting kind to angle onto the wall area with a halogen bulb. It will provide maximum coverage (e.g. Osram Titan 60 degrees).

A promising artist’s work is a good investment. But when it comes to decor, always buy what you love and what speaks to you personally before thinking of how it will look on your wall. In this way, your art will bring you joy for a long time.

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