Photo frames are more than just a way to display your favourite pictures, they can also be an incredibly versatile way to add personality and style to your home using various other objects. Whether you're looking to showcase cherished family portraits, capture the magic of your travels, or display important mementoes, photo frames can be used in a variety of ways to instantly elevate any space. Whether you're a minimalist or a maximalist, we have many unique DIY ideas to help you unlock the full potential of your photo frames and inspire you to breathe new life into every corner of your space.
What can I frame instead of pictures?
Whether you’re looking to create a unique feature wall or make a statement with your home décor, using picture frames to display things other than photographs is a simple yet effective way to uplift your interior design. Allowing you a space to get creative and experiment with decorative ideas, below we have listed five different ways you can use photo frames to add a unique, personal touch to your home.
Frame artwork and illustrations
One way to make use of an empty picture frame is to add illustrations or artwork. This could range anywhere from children’s drawings usually displayed on the fridge to prints from independent artists, or artwork you have produced yourself that you want to display. Not only does this idea add character to a space, but it is a great way to keep these pieces safe so you can enjoy them for years to come.
Tired of framing ordinary photographs? Want to add some depth to your gallery wall? Have a read of our five ways to utilise your photo frames for something other than photographs.
Symphony Classic Silver Plated Photo Frames
A simple frame, such as this Symphony Classic Silver Plated photo frame, is a great option for displaying artwork and illustrations, as the minimalist frame keeps the artwork as the focal point. Available in many frame colours and sizes, this collection of frames comes with the option to hold multiple images, giving you the option to display a variety of pieces that complement each other in one place.
Frame keepsakes and mementoes
Empty photo frames also welcome the opportunity to frame important keepsakes and mementoes, such as concert tickets, postcards from your travels, maps or even currency from places you have travelled to. Typically, these items are left in a memory box to gather dust and end up forgotten about. However, if you add them into a frame, you can display these keepsakes to look back on these fond memories regularly and create a one-of-a-kind decor piece in your home. Framing sentimental objects such as old letters, cards, or jewellery pieces can also make for an interesting use of a photo frame and can also make a great gift.
These Frisco photo frames are a simple, stylish and affordable option to frame everything from your favourite artwork to keepsakes and vinyl records. Available in a variety of colours including white, gold, red, blue and black, these frames have hardboard backs and can be displayed both freestanding and as a wall hanging. No matter what you want to frame, this is the perfect option to suit a variety of decor preferences.
Frame texts or typography
From poems to handwritten letters, inspirational quotes and recipes, adding typography into a photo frame can be a great way to create a personalised décor piece. This idea is great for those looking to make a gallery wall of various framed images, as the inclusion of text helps to break up the framed images and artwork, creating an eye-catching and intriguing feature for your space. Framing your favourite family recipes to display in the kitchen can also be a great décor choice as well as a useful tool.
Freestanding Tabletop Acrylic Photo Frames
This freestanding tabletop acrylic frame is the perfect option for framing things like recipes, handwritten notes or a collage of images and cut-outs. Perfect for displaying unconventional items around your home, these lightweight, durable acrylic frames stand up on their own with an L-shaped base and have a simple slip-in system to make it quick and easy to load your images.
Frame pressed flowers or mixed textiles
Similarly, adding varying textures such as pressed flowers, feathers or mixed textiles into a frame can help create visual intrigue and dimension to your décor. This is also a great way to frame any meaningful materials, like fabrics from items of clothing or wrapping paper that you may want to preserve for memories. Dried and pressed flowers, in particular, have become a popular item to frame and are incredibly simple to DIY.
To create a stunning pressed flower display in a photo frame, follow these three simple steps:
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Step one: Simply take cuttings of your favourite flowers and place them on greaseproof paper
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Step two: Put these pieces of greaseproof paper with flowers in between two heavy books and leave for 2-4 weeks
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Step three: After a few weeks, these flowers should be pressed and dried enough to then add into a frame.
Solitaire Style Floating Photo Frames
These solitaire style floating photo frames are great for framing pressed flowers or fabric with two panes of glass and a clear space around the outside, keeping the items secure in the frame. The sleek, minimal style of these frames makes them great for those with a more contemporary style, and helps to create a unique, artsy addition to any table, shelf or mantelpiece in your home or office.
Create a vision board
An empty photo frame is the perfect blank canvas to display a vision board to help inspire you day to day. Pick out a frame that best suits your space and get creative with adding various images, quotes and textiles together in a collage to create a vision board that best represents what you want to achieve or how you would like your life to look. This would make for great decor in an office space to keep you on track with your goals.
Clothesline Series Picture Frames
This Clothesline series picture frame is perfect for creating a vision board, with the string and pegs providing a simple way to hold various images, typography and textiles in one place. Perfect for making personalised displays in your office for inspiration or in your bedroom for a visual reminder of your goals, simply gather various images and texts that reflect your future vision and collate them together in a frame to create the perfect vision board.
Find the right frame for your home at Kenro
No matter what you choose to put in a photo frame, choosing the right type of frame can make all the difference to how the display looks. Whether you’re creating a gallery wall for your hallway or adding artwork to brighten up your living space, there are many different photo frame options to choose from here at Kenro. Browse through our full collection of photo frames available here at Kenro, from classic wooden frames to modern silver plated frames, we’ve got a style to suit any décor needs.
