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Which Is Right for You?

A Helpful Guide to the Many Types of Picture Frames

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Woman hanging photo of newborn child on wall after choosing from different types of picture frame

When it comes to decorating your walls, choosing the most fitting types of picture frames for your space can seem a bit overwhelming. Between varying frame finishes, display styles, and materials, how do you know what will look best in your home? That’s where we come in. In this guide, we’ll break down different types of photo frames, explore what makes each one unique, and share some of our favorite ways to display them. Consider your walls covered.


Gallery Frame

Artifact Uprising Gallery Frame with black and white photo of the city hung in a minimalist setting

Why We Love It

Gallery frames use a mat to create an elevated frame-in-frame effect that you might often see in a museum photography installation. Our real hardwood Gallery Frames bring this same aesthetic, plus a touch of mid-century modern design, to any room in your home.

Perfect For..

Use this frame style as a home for your most prized prints, and pull a few of them together to create the gallery wall you've always wanted. Our Gallery Frames include a premium giclée print — pairing rich, true-to-life color with archival-quality paper — for a museum-worthy collection, right in your own home.

Display Tips

There’s strength in numbers. Try putting together a collection of four or more frames for an impactful look, and don't be afraid to mix and match frame finishes along the way — it creates variation and visual interest. Plus, it's a simple shortcut to the type of subtle yet sophisticated color scheme that ties pieces of the room together.


Modern Frame

Three different sizes of modern metal frames forming an art wall

Why We Love It

The thin profile of modern frame styles allow your photos to take center stage, for a minimalist look that puts the emphasis on the print. Our Modern Metal Frame is a premium-quality option for any space, ready to hang as a centerpiece or in tandem with other pieces in a gallery wall.

Perfect For..

The Modern Metal Frame is tailor-made to add sophistication and modern appeal to minimalist decor themes — but it's at its best in urban-industrial spaces.

Display Tips

Pair two large frames together for a display that wows, or mix and match different sizes of smaller frames, as in the image above. Remember: Simply because you have other metal finishes in your space doesn't mean that your frames have to match them exactly — a little variation goes a long way. (Just take a cue from the example display in our Guide to Wall Art.)


Floating Frame

Artifact Uprising Floating Frame hung above a bed.

Why We Love It

The name says it all: Floating frames use clear glass or acrylic in place of a mat to give your print the effect of floating on the wall. Our Floating Frame uses frame-grade acrylic to add UV protection and subtract weight, and features contemporary brass-coated hardware — understated, one-of-a-kind accents that give it surprising depth and dimension.

Perfect For..

The Floating Frame is for displaying "the one." It gives that unforgettable photo the effect of standing on its own, drawing all the attention exactly where it should be.

Display Tips

Let this statement piece speak for itself as a strong centerpiece — the 30 x 42” frame is our favorite size for turning a blank wall into a work of art.


Deep-Set Frames

Artifact Uprising Deep-Set frames staggered decoratively on a mantle

Why We Love It

Deep-set frames take a page out the book of a shadow box, using a thicker mat and deep frame to draw the eye inward toward the image. This unique profile creates a subtle shadow within, adding dimension where once there was none.

Perfect For..

Our Deep-Set Frame is ideal for showcasing landscape or travel photos that welcome pause. The play between layers draws the viewer into the image, providing momentary escape to far-away settings and stories past.

Display Tips

Try setting this frame style along a mantle or shelf for a layered look. Stagger the positioning of your other decor to enhance the visual effect of the deep-set image. Even better: Since they're not hung on the wall, swapping photos and frames becomes much simpler. Consider doing so seasonally to refresh the feeling of the room.


Canvas Prints

Framed Canvas Print of a wedding photo printed by Artifact Uprising

Why We Love It

When it comes to dimension, these prints take things a step further, stretching canvas onto an internal frame that brings the image out from the wall. Our Framed Canvas Print is a tasteful departure from the traditional, featuring a high-quality cotton blend that touts beautiful color and exceptional reproduction of detail. The slight float between the canvas and deep frame makes for a unique visual effect unlike anything else available.

Perfect For..

Use a canvas print for the photos you want to jump out at first glance. It's ideal for documenting the portraits you’ll want pass down for generations – wedding photos, baby photos, and beyond.

Display Tips

Whether hanging on its own or with other types of frames, the canvas print should always be the focal point. If adding it to a gallery wall, hang it in a central position for balanced interplay between your collection of frames.


Tabletop Frames

Artifact Uprising tabletop frame set on side table in front of a dark red wall.

Why We Love It

It's all in the little details — and tabletop frames go a long way in making a house feel like home. Our Wooden Tabletop Frame pairs a timeless design with a uniquely modern take on functionality: Simply use the detachable metal stand to take your frame from the table to the wall and back again.

Perfect For..

Place a tabletop frame in areas that need a little something extra to infuse personality into the space. These versatile frames are right at home on tables, mantles, shelving, or as the finishing piece in your dream art wall.

Display Tips

Use one frame in tight spaces so as to avoid a cluttered look. However, when you have the space, stagger tabletop frames of different sizes and orientations to create a mini-display that makes the room.


Photo Holders

Brass easel photo holder with wedding print on bedroom side table

Why We Love It

Frames aren't the only solution for an elevated photo display: Photo holders are a versatile, functional way to bring a new look to the photos you love. Our family of frame-free Photo Holders combines the best of both storage and display, allowing you to easily interchange your favorite prints.

Perfect For..

Smaller photo holders like our Brass Easel, Walnut Print Stand, and Brass & Wood Display Box are ideal for small spaces such as desks, tables, and mantles. For walls, the Wooden Photo Ledge can bring a welcome twist to any wall, complimenting frames or even filling their void.

Display Tips

Whether hanging on its own or with other types of frames, the canvas print should always be the focal point. If adding it to a gallery wall, hang it in a central position for balanced interplay between your collection of frames.


photo frame comparison chart


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