Decorate and design photo frames

Designing and decorating picture frames yourself is not only fun, but also offers countless opportunities to let off steam creatively. Individually decorated, the frame turns the memories it contains into something very special. It is also a wonderful gift.

Designing picture frames yourself is not only a great craft idea for children, but also lets adults get creative. Simple, untreated wooden frames are ideal for individual decoration. Pressed flowers, leaves or wood are particularly popular materials.

Tip: adapt the decoration to the framed picture. So a picture of a beach vacation comes into its own in a frame decorated with shells.

Another example of how to design a picture frame.

Photo: Bine Brändle

What you need for the design

• untreated wooden picture frames (for example from Rayher)
• Acrylic paint or wood stain
• Sandpaper
• brush
• pressed flowers (leaves, wood, shells)
• Clear coat

Design a picture frame step by step

1. Paint the frame

Before painting your picture frame, think about which color suits your picture and the related topic, such as a birthday or wedding. The best way to prime your untreated wooden frame with undiluted acrylic paint is to preserve the wood grain. If you prefer to achieve a natural result, wood stain is suitable, which is available in any hardware store. Important: Let the freshly painted frame dry well before you start designing it.

At the beginning, you should consider which color best suits your picture. Then undiluted acrylic paint and wood stain are ideal for painting the wooden frame.

Photo: Bine Brändle

2. Sand the edges

If you want to give your picture frame an antique look, you can work on the edges with sandpaper. Black and white images are particularly wonderful.

Tip: Coat your picture frame with Kreul chalk paint and then work on the frame with sandpaper to create the popular "shabby-chic" look.

Sand the edges of the picture frame to create an antique look.

Photo: Bine Brändle

3. Stick on decoration

If you choose a picture frame adorned with flowers, be on the lookout for daisies or pansies, because small flowers are best for decorating. However, before you stick the flowers or leaves on, they must first be pressed. Simply let the picked flowers dry and place them on kitchen paper that absorbs the moisture. Then cover the flower on both sides with paper and place in a thick book. Now it is time to wait. After a few days, the flowers are ready for further processing.

Then brush your frame with clear varnish and gently press the flowers onto the frame. If you don't want to wait until the flowers have dried, you can remedy this with pre-pressed and packaged material (for example from Rayher).

When it comes to decorating, you can let your creativity run free. Whether pressed flowers, leaves or shells, there are countless ways to make a picture frame something very individual.

Photo: Bine Brändle

4. Apply protective coating

So that the decoration of the picture frame lasts as long as possible, it is important to coat it with clear varnish at the end. It is worth applying several layers to the delicate flowers. However, make sure that the paint layer dries well between each coat.

Brush clear varnish over your decorations so that they last as long as possible.

Photo: Bine Brändle

Further design examples for picture frames

Of course there are many different ways to decorate a picture frame. There are no limits to creativity. For example, branches, willow branches or seed pods can be easily attached with double-sided adhesive tape. In contrast, working with a hot glue gun is less noticeable. But you can also achieve great patterns with stencils, and with a metallic effect film you set special accents.