What is a picture mount? The ultimate guide
It doesn’t matter if it’s a happy family portrait, an unforgettable photo or a treasured piece of artwork, your favourite pictures should be displayed in the perfect frames.
While you might be tempted to just stick them in any old frames, you know deep down that your pictures deserve something more unique. After all, you want your pictures to stand out on the wall, so “ordinary” frames just won’t do.
By designing your own made-to-measure picture frames, you can choose everything from specific frame sizes to distinctive mouldings and, of course, the picture mount.
Since picture mounts have such a big impact, this ultimate guide explains what they are, when to use them, and how they can totally transform your framed pictures.
What is a picture mount?
A picture mount is the border that surrounds your picture in a frame. This adds breathing space between your picture and the frame, draws the eye into the artwork and protects the piece by keeping it away from the glazing.
Picture mounts are typically made from thin pieces of paper or cardboard, but also come in various materials, colours and thicknesses for you to choose from. Your choice will often depend on the aesthetic you’re going for and how much protection your picture needs.
Why do I need a picture mount?
Picture mounts are an entirely optional addition to your custom picture frames, but they offer a few huge benefits you’ll certainly want to consider.
1. Visual impact
Picture mounts create a beautiful window into your artwork and help draw the eye into the picture. They essentially act as a decorative border that adds some real depth and dimension to your picture, which makes your framed artwork look more polished and professional - and is also a little gentler on the eye.
2. Extra protection
The main purpose of a mount is to protect the picture inside your frame. Picture mounts create a barrier between your art and the glazing, which ultimately reduces the risk of any smudging, discolouration or other damage over time. This is particularly important for paintings that could stick to the glazing.
3. Sizing flexibility
When you use a picture mount, this will obviously increase the size of the frame you need. Since picture mounts come in various sizes, you can play around with proportions to display small pictures inside much larger frames and better fill the space on your wall.
When should I avoid picture mounts?
Picture mounts will always have a huge impact on the appearance of your artwork, but sometimes that impact can actually be negative. It all comes down to personal preference, but these are the drawbacks you need to consider.
1. Artwork style
Some pictures simply look better in a frame without a mount. Artwork which already has a border, for example, would look a little strange with a picture mount, since this would basically create an odd “double-border” effect.
In some cases, you might feel a picture mount will distract from your art, and it’d be far more impactful if your picture filled the full size of the frame instead.
2. Limited space
Since picture mounts increase the size of your frame, this obviously isn’t a great option if you’re working with limited display space. If your frame needs to squeeze into a specific space, then make sure you take the size of your mount into account!
3. Lower budget
Picture mounts usually come at an additional cost, so you’d need to decide whether they actually fit into your framing budget. For example, adding a picture mount costs an extra £20 when shopping online with us, so this additional expense might impact your decision on going mounted or mount-less.
What size picture mount do I need?
The perfect picture mount size will always depend on your desired aesthetic. When creating custom picture frames in our shops, you can adjust the mount sizes however you like, but you might need a little guidance here - which is why we’ve done this separate guide on photo frame sizes for you.
The most common picture mount size is around 35mm on each side, which increases your frame’s total height and width by 70mm (this is currently the only mount size we offer online). This size usually offers a nice balance between the size of your artwork and the size of your frame, offering plenty of “breathing space” without dominating the frame.
However, there’s nothing wrong with choosing thinner or wider mounts, as this can create all kinds of dramatic and jaw-dropping effects. It all comes down to the style you prefer, so there is no right or wrong answer here.
How to choose the perfect picture mount
Picture mounts come in all shapes and sizes. From multi-aperture mounts to bright colours and decorative designs, finding the perfect match for your picture isn’t always easy. The main rule is: to enhance the look of your artwork and not distract people from it.
Since picture mounts are usually available in a huge range of colours, this is normally the main decision you have to make. Traditional black and white mounts will subtly accentuate your picture, while reds, greens and other bright colours offer a more creative aesthetic that can make your art really pop.
In short, your picture mount should match both the style of your picture and your home’s decor. For example, colourful pieces of art will work better with a simple white or silver mount, while red and other vibrant mounts can add a splash of colour to plainer, lighter pictures (such as black and white photos).
There aren’t really any rules for this, so we recommend experimenting a bit by placing different coloured swatches, samples or even tape next to your artwork to see what works best!
