3 ways to update picture frames for elevated displays of art and photos

Hanging artwork and photos is a crucial part of stamping a sense of character and personal touch to our homes. With the recent shift towards more playful interiors, even picture frames now come in all sorts of funky shapes and patterns, but you don’t necessarily need to buy brand new (and often pricey) frames with interesting designs. Instead, there are ways how to update picture frames you already own.

Making over one (or more!) of your plain old picture frames is the perfect way to take on an easy DIY project as truly anyone can do the upcycling ideas we’ve explained here, whether you’re a natural crafter or not.

As well as working as a creative outlet, this is a cheaper and a more sustainable way to embrace the new home decor trend of statement picture frames to elevate your artwork and photos alike. Truly a win-win.

How to update your picture frames

Whether you’re after some fresh gallery wall ideas for the staircase or new living room wall art ideas, you’ve come to the right place. As these techniques can make the simplest of pictures look all the more interesting.

1. The striped picture frame

Livening up your frame with a colourful pattern by painting it is an easy way of giving it an upgrade. And as stripes are both very much on trend while also being the easiest upcycling idea for beginners, it’s a win-win situation.

And we’ve seen several influencers all over social media trying out their hand at this hack, including DIY influencer Bradley Dreha at @bradleydreha both on TikTok and Instagram.

‘From looking online for “funky picture frames” in the size I wanted, the starting price was £85. And I thought I could definitely get the look for less with a simple DIY hack,’ Bradley says.

‘I revamped a plain picture frame I already had using masking tape and a paint sample pot in a calming blue, placing in my own artwork. I would recommend this easy and effective DIY hack, as it adds a playful, colourful pattern feature in a room, you can pick any paint colours you’d like to match or clash in your space which is always fun too.’

What you’ll need

• Plain picture frame like this one from Dunelm
• Masking tape like this one at Amazon
• Paint sample pot like the Farrow & Ball Estate Lulworth blue Emulsion paint, 100ml at B&Q
• Small paint brush like the Harris Trade Emulsion & Gloss ½" Fine tip Paint brush at B&Q

2. The fabric-covered frame

Another way of easily adding pattern with the addition of texture to your picture frame is by wrapping it in a printed fabric. You can use fabric scraps or a piece of clothing you no longer wear or have found in a charity shop for as little as £2 – just like DIY Instagram influencer and author Francesca Stone of @fallfordiy did in her reel showing the technique.

In the video caption, she wrote, ‘I try to keep my clothes for as long as possible but even then what do we do with items that don’t fit/are too worn but no one else wants? I want to try to find ways to use scrap fabric to make something that I will use and treasure without just wanting to scrap once I’m bored of it.’

Cutting up the piece of clothing and glueing it onto a picture frame is certainly a good way to go about it if you ask us.

What you’ll need

• Plain picture frame like this one from Dunelm
• Any patterned fabric
• Glue like this one at Amazon
• Small paint brush like the Harris Trade Emulsion & Gloss ½" Fine tip Paint brush at B&Q
• Scissors

3. The bobbin frame

The bobbin home decor trend has been going strong of late and while you can buy bobbin-trimmed frames, like this £7 one from Dunelm, giving an existing frame a makeover will still work out cheaper. Not to mention the fun you’re bound to have from the creative endeavour, as Bradley did when crafting his bobbin frames.

‘The bobbin picture frame idea all started with it being an online trend, at the time you couldn’t buy them in the shops, so I jumped on the trend deciding to get the hot glue gun out and create my own,' says Bradley.

'This hack is an opportunity to add colour and texture in a room, you can always glue any size/shape picture frame you’d like with the bobbins, it’s all about the little details as this does emphasise personality in a space.'

What you’ll need

• Plain picture frame like this one from Dunelm
• Wooden bobbins like these at Amazon
• Glue gun like the Loctite 110-240V Corded Glue gun at B&Q
• Paint sample pot like the Farrow & Ball Estate Lulworth blue Emulsion paint, 100ml at B&Q
• Small paint brush like the Harris Trade Emulsion & Gloss ½" Fine tip Paint brush at B&Q

So which one will you be giving a try this weekend?