We offer every print in three frame finishes: white, black, and oak — plus an unframed option. Same image, same paper, same printing — but the frame you pick changes the whole feel of the piece. Some people know instantly. Others stand in front of the picker for ten minutes.
Here’s a short guide to help.
White frames — clean, calm, gallery feel
White frames are the most neutral choice we offer. They almost disappear, letting the print be the only thing your eye sees. Great for:
- Light, airy interiors (Scandi-inspired, modern minimalist, coastal)
- Walls that are already busy with shelving, plants, or other art — white doesn’t add visual weight
- Prints with strong colour you want to foreground (our Kusama range looks particularly good in white)
- Bathrooms and bedrooms where you want the wall to feel quiet
The frame is fine and contemporary, painted satin white. It works in modern flats and Victorian houses alike.
Black frames — bold, contemporary, anchoring
Black is the most graphic of our frames. It commands attention and gives the print weight. Great for:
- Dark or dramatic interiors (deep painted walls, exposed brick, industrial spaces)
- Black-and-white photography or high-contrast prints
- Creating a focal point above a sofa, fireplace, or dining table
- Gallery walls where you want every piece to have presence
If you’re hanging a single print as the hero of a room, black often does the most work.
Oak frames — warm, soft, mid-century
Oak is the warmest of the three. It introduces texture and a natural tone that softens any wall. Great for:
- Mid-century, Japandi, or natural-material interiors
- Off-white or cream walls (the oak gives the print something to “land on”)
- Botanical, landscape, or earthy-toned prints (our William Morris and dandelion series in particular)
- Rooms with wood floors, leather sofas, or other natural finishes
Oak has personality the other two don’t — and that personality reads quietly rather than loudly.
What about no frame at all?
Unframed prints are the lightest option, in every sense. You can:
- Frame them yourself with whatever you already have
- Mount them on foam board for a flush, frameless look
- Sit them on a shelf or mantle, leaning against the wall
- Bulldog-clip them onto a picture rail for an editorial feel
Some people prefer this — total control over the framing, and a lower price point. We package unframed prints flat between rigid card so they arrive ready to handle.
A few rules of thumb
A few quick suggestions that work more often than not:
- Cream or white walls? Oak or black. White-on-white can look uncertain.
- Dark walls? White or oak. Black-on-dark can disappear.
- Mixed media gallery wall? Pick one frame and stick to it across all your Abode pieces — consistency creates the gallery feel.
- Single statement piece? Black, almost every time.
Still stuck?
If you’re hovering between two and can’t decide, drop us an email with a photo of the wall and we’ll tell you what we’d hang. We do this all the time and we genuinely enjoy it.