The Best Picture Frames for Your Home
Even if we slowly transitioned to having most of our pictures kept on digital support, there’s something about having regular printed pictures that makes a house warmer and more welcoming. Nothing can really compare to seeing pictures of yourself or your loved one everywhere you look, so we like to think that regular photographs will never run out of style. And when you learn how to pair each photo with the right picture frame, you get both a sweet memory and a beautiful decoration.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
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#1 | 
AmazonBasics Photo Picture Frame |
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#2 | 
MELANNCO Customizable Letter Board Photo Collage |
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#3 | 
Q.Hou Picture Frame |
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#4 | 
Umbra Prisma Picture Frame |
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#5 |  Upsimples Photo Frame Set |
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#6 |  Skyzoo Digital Photo Frame |
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Choosing a Picture Frame
Back in the day, your options in terms of picture frames were very limited. Today, you can find so many different types of picture frame, in a variety of colors and carvings, and you can even make your own frames and decorate them however you want. Here are some shopping considerations for all our readers who want to know more about these types of products:
- Picture frames are made from different kinds of materials, with the most popular ones being made from wood or metal.
- Wooden frames will offer that traditional feel and they are often the easier ones to match with most room decors. As for the shades, you can find wooden frames in light to dark colors. For instance, if your living room furniture is in wenge color, you can choose to buy wenge wooden frames as well to have more color consistency across the room. There are also people who like to pick their frames depending on the colors in the picture, so they can create a nice contrast. For example, if you want to frame photos where predominant colors are orange, red, brown, or other such warmer tones, you can create a beautiful contrast if you choose frames made from dark wood, just as walnut or mahogany. Alternatively, you can pair pictures with cooler tones (like lavender, green, or blue) with light wooden frames (like those made from pine or oak).
- Metal picture frames are typically heavier, but you can also find plastic frames that actually have a metallic finish, and these aren’t just lightweight, but they are also cheaper. You should opt for metallic frames when you want the room to have a modern vibe. They are best paired with photos of landscapes, but go really well with portraits too. A lot of people chose metallic picture frames for their family portraits or wedding photos.
- For the most part, it’s more important for the frame to match the existing room decor rather than the colors inside the picture. It’s up to you whether you want a frame that adds contrast to the room or one that complements the current decor.
- Also, consider the fact that not all picture frames are traditional, and you can actually buy digital picture frames as well. These are actually technologically-advanced picture frames that allow you to insert a memory card with multiple pictures and create a slideshow of them to be displayed on the screen of the device. Think of this as a special tablet just for pictures.
Alternatives to Picture Frames
If for some reason, you don’t want to frame your picture but still want to have them to decorate your bedroom, there are actually some pretty nice alternatives. There are plenty of printing shops that are now capable of transferring images onto a canvas surface. This will basically make your photo look more like a painting, but the image transfer is actually done using an inkjet printer. Canvas prints are generally chosen for gallery walls and they can be either framed or frameless.
Another alternative to regular printed pictures in frames is metal prints. These are actually pictures that are printed on a 0.45-inch metal panel and have a beautiful and professional finish. Even if it sounds weird for those of you who have never seen how a metal-printed picture looks, the colors are amazingly vivid and the finish is astonishing.
However, one of the most popular alternatives is wood wall art. This is basically having your picture printed on a quality piece of wood, giving it a rustic look. It’s clear that vintage decoration lovers are going to adore this type of photo printing, but there is always the traditional wooden frame to consider if you’re into this kind of stuff.
Best Picture Frames
Let’s move on to some really cool picture frames that we felt we had to show you, and maybe you can find some product examples that you can actually visualize somewhere in your house. If not, at least we’ll be giving you some inspiration to help you sort out what it is that you need exactly.
1. Editor’s Choice: AmazonBasics Photo Picture Frame
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 4 x 6 inches
- Available colors: 1
- Material: nickel
The AmazonBasics is a 4 x 6-inch photo frame available in a beautiful silver finish. It’s a product designed for people who want a metallic photo frame, as this one is made from nickel. It can be placed on whatever flat surface you choose to place it on, but you can also hang it on the wall if that’s what you want.
It comes with a protective glass front panel so that your pictures will be safe from dust, fingerprints, and potential other stains and stuff that could ruin the picture for good. You can also choose the orientation of the frame to either portrait or landscape, whichever suits you best.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Buy This?
The AmazonBasics photo frame is a budget-oriented product for people looking to save money. It is also a great product to buy if you’re interested in frames with a simple silver finish.
2. Runner Up: MELANNCO Customizable Letter Board Photo Collage
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 19.17 x 0.94 x 16.81 inches overall
- Available colors: 1
- Material: plastic
The reason why we wanted to include this frame into our review round-up isn’t just because of the fact that it looks amazing, but also because it gives you a chance to create a story. With it, you can group together important memories from your past and have a photo collage that tells a story at a glance.
The frame is designed to house 8 pictures at once, and it comes with a letter board in the middle that can recreate a quote you like or whatever it is that you want to be written. That means that together with the frame itself, you will receive 144 additional pieces for the letterboard, which includes 110 letters, 22 numbers, and 12 symbols.
As for the photo spaces, you can put four 4 x 6-inch pictures, two 6 x 4-inch ones, and two 4 x 4-inches. The frame itself is made from plastic and it has a brushed finish that replicates a vintage wood look.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Buy This?
The MELANNCO photo frame is designed for people who want to make picture collages and have a product that can hold multiple photos at once. It’s designed for people who love personalized decoration items, as this one even allows you to create your own message in the center of the frame.
3. Best Vintage: Q.Hou Picture Frame
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 4 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches, 8 x 10 inches
- Available colors: 2
- Material: MDF wood
Next up, we have a vintage-looking frame that’s made from quality MDF wood with brown accents. This is actually a set of four identical frames that are available in three different size options: 4 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches, and 8 x 10 inches. However, you will actually receive six frames instead of four if you order now, as two of them are included as a gift.
It is your choice whether you want to hang up the photos on your walla or you want to place them on a flat surface, as the frames are equipped with what it takes for both of these options. Each frame has its very own protective glass panels that keep dust and stains away from the photo itself, and they allow you to clean the picture with a cloth.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Buy This?
If you like the look of a vintage wooden frame or if you want to take advantage of a really good pricing offer and buy a pack with multiple frames, Q.Hou might have something in store for you.
4. Best Unique: Umbra Prisma Picture Frame
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 4 x 4 inches, 4 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches, 8 x 10 inches
- Available colors: 6
- Material: copper
We know that you’re going to love this minimalistic photo frame which is available in six different colors, each one more beautiful than the last. Because of the construction of the frame, the pictures placed inside appear to be floating, which creates rather unique visuals. This frame can easily find its way into a modern house or apartment, especially in homes where industrial and steampunk elements are present.
Thanks to its geometric backing, this is a unique-looking photo frame with a design that you won’t see in just about any household. The frame can be either wall-mounted or placed on a flat surface, and it also includes all the hardware needed to hang it on the wall.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Buy This?
If you have a more modern and contemporary set up in your home and you’d like picture frames that can fit with this specific type of decor, the Umbra Prisma picture frame is surely worth checking out.
5. Best Set: Upsimples Photo Frame Set
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 9 size options
- Available colors: 9
- Material: plastic
This is a set of 5 picture frames made from plastic and available in a rectangular shape. There are 9 size options to choose from but each set comes with frames that are identical in size. The covers are also made of plastic instead of glass, with each being covered by a protective film. These frames are wall mountable and can be hung both horizontally and vertically.
Who Should Buy This?
If you’re looking to add family photos or perhaps some interesting pictures you took up on that empty wall, this set will provide you with 5 frames to hang your memories.
6. Best Digital: Skyzoo Digital Photo Frame
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 10.1-inch display
- Available colors: 1
- Material: N/A
In this digital world, it makes sense to have a digital photo frame. Why? Because you can showcase multiple pictures in a single frame using transition effects and without having frames occupy that much space around the house. With a 10.1-inch display and 1280 x 800-pixel resolution, you get to enjoy your most recent vacation photos without having to visit the print shop first.
The way these frames work is pretty simple: much like phones and cameras, they are equipped with slots that support memory cards. This one is compatible with SD cards that you can literally load with pictures, put them in the frame, and choose between transition effects as if you were creating a slideshow.
Who Should Buy This?
If you want to showcase some photos without taking up too much space, you can take advantage of digital photo frames that show hundreds of pictures in a single product. The Skyzoo meets those requirements and has many other surprising features for people who love technology.
Bottom Line
We love the fact that so many people are still interested in printing their pictures taken in digital format because there’s something about old-fashioned photos that makes a house feel like home. Sure, it’s easy to pull out your phone or your laptop and just look at the collection of pictures that you’ve gathered throughout the years, but it also warms your heart to see pictures from last Christmas hanging above the fireplace.
When you’re out shopping for a new picture frame, take into account how this is going to blend in with the existing home decor. You have multiple options in terms of materials used to make the frame, and you should always look for products that have a glass or a plastic front panel to keep the photo in pristine condition for as long as possible.