How to Frame an Art Print: Size, Mat, and Color
For a paper art print, buy a frame that fits the sheet, not just the visible image. An 11 × 14-inch print needs a frame made for 11 × 14 paper if you're framing it without a mat. Add a mat and you'll need a larger frame, with an opening that holds the print without hiding details you want to see.
Every Home Art prints arrive unframed. Frames and hanging hardware are not included, so you can choose a finish and layout that work with your room.
The illustration above compares the same-sized sheet with and without a mat. The landscape is a schematic, not a product photograph; edge overlap is simplified.
Three measurements to check before buying a frame
Paper size is the width and height of the complete sheet. If the print has a white border, include it when measuring the sheet, then decide how much of that border you want visible.
Mat opening is the cutout through which you see the artwork. It is usually a little smaller than the area it holds, so the mat overlaps the edges. The amount varies between suppliers: do not assume the opening is identical to the size printed on the packaging.
Outside frame size includes the frame itself. Use this measurement for planning your wall, especially when hanging several prints side by side.
Here's where frame shopping gets confusing: the size on the label often describes the artwork it fits, not the space it will take up on your wall. The supplier's measurement diagram should show the difference.
What size frame do you need for an 11 × 14 print?
For an 11 × 14-inch paper print without a mat, look for a frame specified to fit an 11 × 14-inch sheet. A frame sold as “11 × 14 with an 8 × 10 mat” is a different arrangement: the supplied mat is intended for smaller artwork, so you would need to remove or replace it to display the larger print appropriately.
If you want a mat around an 11 × 14 print, a 16 × 20 frame with a mat made to fit 11 × 14 artwork is one option. It is not the only option, and the actual window will generally overlap the artwork slightly. Confirm that important details near the edges remain visible.
| Paper print size | Without a mat | With a mat |
|---|---|---|
| 11 × 14 inches | Frame specified to fit 11 × 14 paper | For example, a 16 × 20 frame with a mat made for 11 × 14 artwork |
| 16 × 20 inches | Frame specified to fit 16 × 20 paper | For example, a 20 × 24 frame with a mat made for 16 × 20 artwork |
| 18 × 24 inches | Frame specified to fit 18 × 24 paper | Choose the mat first, then match its outside dimensions to the frame |
| 24 × 36 inches | Frame specified to fit 24 × 36 paper | Check larger-frame availability and the final wall footprint before ordering |
The matted combinations are examples, not universal fitting specifications. Frame depth, mat opening, backing, and glazing also need to suit the assembled piece. Follow the frame maker's instructions rather than adding your own allowance to every measurement.
Should you use a mat or frame the print without one?
A mat creates a visible border between the picture and the frame. Try one when a detailed image feels crowded by the frame edge, or when you want a small print to occupy more of a wall without enlarging the image.
Without a mat, the picture sits visually closer to the frame. This can keep a set of three compact when the wall is narrow. It does not mean the paper should touch the glazing: ask the frame supplier how their system maintains separation, using a suitable mat or spacers where needed.
When comparing the two, keep the print size the same. A mat adds space around the picture; it doesn't make the print smaller. Allow for that extra width before choosing frames for a narrow wall.
Choose a frame color that relates to the picture and the room
The frame doesn't have to match every finish in the room. Pick up a color in the picture, or use a wood tone that sits comfortably beside the furniture below it.
For the Soft Coastline Trio, a light wood-toned frame is worth testing beside the sand and beige reeds. Put a sample next to your headboard or console: two wood finishes can feel related without being identical.
The Deep Green Lake Trio has dark forest bands and pale mountain reflections. A dark frame can repeat that contrast; a lighter frame can make the boundary less prominent against a pale wall. These are styling options, not finishes supplied with the prints.
If you choose white, compare it with the paper and the wall in the room's light. A cool white frame beside a warm off-white wall may be more noticeable than you expect. A physical sample is more useful than trying to judge small shade differences across screens.
Framing a pair or a set of three
Use the same frame profile and mat treatment across a coordinated set when you want the pictures to read as one composition. Check that every frame in the order has the same outside dimensions, even if different listings claim to fit the same paper size.
For three equal frames in a row, total width is three outside frame widths plus two gaps. Wider mats increase that total before you change the print size at all. Our guide to art above a bed shows how to test the arrangement against your furniture.
The size selected for an Every Home Art pair or trio applies to each individual print. Check the product's available sizes before ordering matching frames; not every set offers the same options.
Before you place the frame order
Confirm the paper dimensions, the intended visible image area, and the supplier's mat-opening measurements. Then check the outside frame dimensions against a paper template on your wall. For a set, confirm the quantity of frames as well as their size.
Avoid trimming the print simply to make an unsuitable frame fit. If a border, signature, or detail lies close to the edge, show the print to a framer and explain what you want to keep visible.
Common questions about framing prints
Is an 11 × 14 frame the same as a 16 × 20 frame matted to 11 × 14?
No. Both may be sold for 11 × 14 artwork, but the second includes room for a mat and occupies more wall space. Check the actual mat opening and outer frame measurements before buying.
Is a white border on the print the same as a mat?
No. A printed white border is part of the paper sheet; a mat is a separate board with a cutout. Do not assume one replaces the other's role in a framing system.
Can I use a standard frame for an Every Home Art print?
Use the product's size selector as your starting point, then confirm that the frame is specified to fit that paper size and your chosen mat treatment. Measure the received sheet before arranging custom framing.
Do I need three frames for a trio?
For a layout with each print framed separately, yes. A trio contains three unframed paper prints, and its selected size describes each print rather than the full group.
Measurement references
For supplier-specific fitting instructions, see American Frame's measuring guide, Frame It Easy's common frame-size examples, and its inside-versus-outside measurement guide. Their overlap specifications differ, which is why the frame you buy should determine the final fitting measurements.