Easy Picture Frame Makeover

My husband’s company moved offices about a year ago. One of the items they were discarding was an old painting of New York.

Joel kept mentioning this “huge painting” and how much he liked it, but I wasn’t sure where we’d put it, or if I’d even like it. Well, one day I came home and there it was!

After some rearranging of art, we hung the painting over our couch (pretty much the only wall large enough). It’s been hanging there for a while, and as much as I liked it, the painting always seemed very dark.

I finally decided to brighten it up with an easy picture frame makeover!

Since my apartment is so small, I’ve tried to keep my furniture and accessories light and bright. The dark wood frame didn’t really work with the rest of my furniture. Here’s a before shot:

All it took was a little craft paint to makeover the frame and brighten up the painting in the process. I’m so happy with how this easy picture frame makeover turned out!

If you’ve ever picked up second hand artwork, a frame makeover is an easy way to update the piece without destroying it. Here’s what you’ll need to makeover your own frame:

• painter’s tape
• craft paint (I used FolkArt Vintage White.)
• foam paint brush

I’d been putting off this project for months, thinking it was going to take too long and be expensive. It ended up being cheap and only took a few hours though, and this frame is huge!

Start by taping off the frame with painter’s tape. Make sure the edges are pressed firmly to avoid paint seeping through.

After you’ve applied the tape, apply a thin coat of paint with a foam brush. Let dry, then continue applying coats of paint until the frame is completely covered.

Once you’ve added your last coat of paint, peel off the tape. Let the paint dry completely before hanging up the picture.

A few Tips:

• Be careful about applying the tape directly to the painting. If your painting is old, the paint may peel off along with the tape. My frame had an inner gold edge that I wanted to keep, so I applied the tape over that instead of directly to the painting.
• If your frame has a glossy finish, sand it lightly before you begin. Otherwise, your paint won’t last as long and may even peel off.
• Craft paint dries quickly, making it perfect for this project. Plus, it’s cheap and comes in a million colors!
• If your paint bubbles or you have visible brushstrokes, lightly sand the dried paint before adding the next coat.
• Don’t forget the sides of the frame! Cover anything that will be visible once the painting is hung.

I’m not sure about this painting’s origins. It’s signed Matano, but I haven’t been able to track down any artist information. I’m guessing it was painted sometime in the 1950’s or 1960’s. The frame has mid-century modern vibe.

Who knows though, maybe it came from one of those airport sales (1000’s of paintings … in all sizes … at rock bottom prices)!

In any case, I love how this easy picture frame makeover wakes up the whole painting! It works much better with my couch and accessories.

Have you ever attempted to revamp aging artwork?

I’m linking up with I Heart Naptime.

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