My small apartment is brimming with artwork I’ve collected over the years, and I’ve never let living in a rental stop me from showcasing my favorite pieces.
In my opinion, art is truly an essential component of any home. Whether I’m walking through a flea market or craft fair or spending a cozy weekend morning scrolling through my favorite home decor websites, it’s difficult for me to say no to just one more pretty print or painting. Though the bulk of my wall space is already claimed, I’m a huge proponent of leaning pieces on my nightstand, dresser top, or mantel, too.
When I was younger, I’d pop most of my prints into simple frames from big-box stores, but these days, I try to invest in professional framing whenever possible. I’m generally happy to spend a bit more in this area to ensure that my pieces will appear elegant within my current space and be well-preserved under high-quality glass for decades to come.
That said, it’s no secret that going the professional framing route—particularly when you’re bringing in multiple pieces at a time—can be costly. This is especially true for for more ornate or unique-looking frames.
Recently, I came up with a hack that combines quality framing and gorgeous antiques. While shopping at the local flea markets during recent trips to Paris, I’ve sourced some beautiful vintage and antique frames for no more than $50 each. These frames didn’t include glass, but I’m glad I didn’t have to worry about transporting them back in my suitcase and breaking in transit.
Once I found a few appropriately-sized pieces of art to display in them, I brought them into my neighborhood frame shop for the pro to complete assembly.
A beautiful print of one of my favorite hotels, The Carlyle, by an artist friend of mine, Clare Spooner, went into a small black and gold frame on my dresser. In a gold ribbed frame leaning on my mantel, I’ve displayed a cheerful print from the website Artfully Walls, which has thousands of museum-quality works from different artists.
The fees at the framing shop were a small percentage of what they’d normally be for an entirely new frame. All they had to do was cut my artwork to size and attach a paper backing.
I couldn’t be happier with how both pieces look, and I appreciate that they’re extra personal—I’ll always have fond memories of sourcing the frames in Paris and certainly plan to embrace this hack again in the future.
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Country Living. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.
