Help your customers reclaim the old and reframe to renew

Nowadays, people want fresh, individual dècor that reflects their personal style. The newest trend, eclectic home dècor, allows people to explore and create a unique style, one that combines older items with modern pieces. This trend brings a great opportunity for custom framers to be creative with customers when designing their art pieces.

Here are some custom framing tips to help your clients create the eclectic look:

 • Reuse and Rework: Reuse old frames and add new
   matboard for interest. To modernize artwork and blend
   home dècor trends, use a thick, chunky, gilt frame with a
   large, four inch mat to make the artwork fresh and the
   frame seem less heavy. A simple ivory mat such as
   RagMat's Cream (2555) with an ornate frame will give the
   piece a contemporary edge. Remember to frame with
   RagMat matboard, which preserves the artwork.

 • Mix and Match Trends: Combine different trends such
   as Asian-inspired pieces with traditional or modern
   furniture to create an eclectic mix. True to Asian style,
   start with a red mat from the Moorman line, such as
   Chinese Red (7116), to add texture and interest. Mix
   this with a taupe or light tan mat like Crescent Select's
   Mummy (9512) and any Crescent black mat for a modern,
   zen look. Pair with a bamboo or simple, thin black frame
   and you have created an Asian piece of art that will blend
   with the style of your client's home.

 • Add a Touch of Trendy Color: Encourage your
   customers to think about small changes, such as wall
   dècor, to update their room with trendy colors. An easy
   way to give your clients a fresh look that will blend in with
   their neutral-colored dècor is to frame a piece of art with
   a "hot" color that is earthy and has brown tones. Right
   now, Moroccan-inspired colors are very on-trend. Try
   RagMat's Tandoori (1526) paired with a classic neutral,
   such as RagMat's Olde Ecru (1103), and a simple frame.

 • Lost and Found: Encourage your customers to go
   treasure hunting at their homes to find unusual pieces
   from vacation to frame. Or, re-frame old pieces for a
   fresh, new look. Those art pieces or memorabilia have
   unique meaning to your customer, and they also have
   personality and specific framing needs.

Remember, nothing says "designer" better than a unique, custom framed art piece. By working with the pieces your customer already has, you are helping them create valuable keepsakes for the future.