How to Choose a Frame and Mount for an Illustrated Print

The same print can look cheap or expensive depending on the frame around it. If you’ve ever stood in a shop unsure between black and oak, mount or no mount, this guide is for you.

The quick answer

For illustrated prints, a thin frame with a white mount is the safest choice almost everywhere. Choose the frame colour to match something in the room, and the mount to give the artwork space.

Frame colour: what each one does

Black: crisp and graphic. Picks up black line work and makes colours pop.
White: fresh and light. Lets the print blend into pale walls.
Natural oak or light wood: warm and soft. Great for Scandinavian, Japandi and plant-filled rooms.
Dark wood: rich and traditional. Works with deep colours and moodier prints.
Metal (brass, silver): a little more formal; best in small doses.

Should you use a mount?

A mount (also called a passe-partout) is the card border between the frame and the print. It gives the illustration breathing room and makes even a small print look considered.

Use a mount for small and medium prints, detailed illustrations, and prints with lots of white space.
Skip it for large posters, bold full-bleed designs, or when you want a modern, edge-to-edge look.
Mount width: about 5–8 cm on medium frames looks balanced. Wider mounts feel more gallery-like.

Remember that a mount changes the size you need to print. Measure the mount’s window, not the frame. Our size guide explains how.

Glass or acrylic?

Glass is clearer and scratch-resistant, but heavier and breakable.
Acrylic is lighter and safer for children’s rooms and kitchens, but scratches more easily.

Matching frames to prints

Product images are room mockups: they show how a print could look on a wall, not photos of a finished print.

Minimal line drawings like Coffee Club look sharp in thin black frames.
Dark, moody prints like the Floral Leopard suit dark wood or black.
Soft colours like Tiny Swimmers in Blush Pink pair beautifully with light oak or white.