Custom Picture Frames in Perth: The Ultimate 2026 Buying Guide
Buying a frame should be simple. Then you see hundreds of mouldings, several types of glass, different matboards and a quote that changes with every choice. Suddenly, “just frame it” is not quite so simple.
With Framous Picture Framing, you do not need to become a framing expert. You only need to understand which decisions affect appearance, protection and price. Whether you are framing a watercolour, wedding photograph, signed jumper, military medals or loose canvas, this guide will help you compare custom framing Perth services with confidence.
What Should You Look for in a Custom Picture Frame?
A quality custom frame should fit the item precisely, present it without overpowering it and use materials suitable for its value and condition. For valuable pieces, ask about conservation matboard, UV-protective glazing, reversible mounting and stable backing. For oversized art, canvas or memorabilia, structural support and safe hanging are just as important as colour.
There is no universal “best” frame. The right specification provides the protection your piece genuinely needs, the appearance you want and a price you are comfortable paying.
Start with What You Are Framing
Do not select the moulding first. Begin with the item, its condition and why it matters. A replaceable poster can be treated differently from a signed limited edition. A service medal, vintage textile or original pastel needs a method designed around its materials.
| Item | Recommended framing approach | Mistake to avoid |
| Watercolours, drawings and prints | Conservation matboard or a spacer, suitable mounting and UV-protective glazing for valued pieces | Letting the artwork touch the glass or using acidic backing |
| Photographs | Photo-safe mounting, clean spacing and glazing selected for the display location | Hanging an important photograph opposite a sunny window |
| Oil and acrylic canvas | Professional stretching with an optional conventional or floating outer frame | Using weak stretcher bars or applying uneven tension |
| Pastels and charcoal | Deep spacing and careful handling; anti-static glazing may suit sensitive media | Placing ordinary acrylic too close to loose pigment |
| Textiles and stitch work | Supported or stitched mounting inside a frame with sufficient depth | Gluing or permanently attaching the fabric |
| Medals and sporting memorabilia | Custom shadow-box framing with secure, object-specific supports | Compressing the item or using irreversible adhesives |
| Posters and certificates | A mat or spacer, stable backing and protection matched to the item’s value | Over-specifying replaceable décor or under-protecting an original |
If the item is stained, torn, warped or already in a damaged frame, mention this before the design begins. Framing can protect its present condition, while restoration may be needed to address existing damage.
What Goes Inside a Custom Picture Frame?
Custom picture frames are complete systems. The moulding is only the visible outer edge; much of the protection comes from components hidden inside.
Moulding
Moulding determines the outer style and provides structural strength. Timber can appear warm, traditional or contemporary depending on its finish. Aluminium offers a clean, narrow profile that often suits photographs, certificates and modern interiors. Large glazed frames need mouldings strong enough to support their finished weight.
Matboard and Spacing
Matboard creates visual breathing room and usually keeps paper artwork away from the glazing. For valuable pieces, request conservation-quality, acid-free and lignin-free board rather than ordinary decorative cardboard.
A spacer can provide separation without a visible mat border. It works well for contemporary photographs, float-mounted artwork and pieces where the full edge should remain visible.
Mounting, Backing and Hanging Hardware
Mounting holds the item in place. Valuable works on paper generally benefit from methods that can be reversed without permanently changing the original. Textiles, medals and memorabilia require purpose-built supports rather than glue.
Backing helps shield the contents from dust and minor environmental changes. Hanging hardware must also be rated for the complete frame. Large glazing, mirrors and deep shadow boxes can become surprisingly heavy.
Which Picture-Framing Glass Should You Choose?
“Clear”, “non-glare”, “UV” and “museum” do not mean the same thing. A higher price does not automatically make a glazing product necessary for every project.
| Glazing option | Best suited to | Main benefit | Consideration |
| Standard clear glass | Replaceable prints, everyday photographs and budget framing | Affordable with good basic clarity | Limited UV protection and visible reflections |
| Conservation or UV-protective glass | Original art, certificates, photographs and sentimental pieces | Some products block up to 99% of UV rays | Direct sunlight can still cause deterioration |
| Anti-reflective or museum glass | Detailed art, bright rooms and high-value presentation | Excellent clarity with greatly reduced reflections | Higher cost and careful handling required |
| Conservation acrylic | Oversized frames, children’s rooms, public spaces and safer displays | Lighter and shatter-resistant, with UV options available | Standard acrylic may scratch and create static |
Specifications vary, so ask what level of protection the quoted product provides. Tru Vue states that its conservation-grade glazing offers at least 97% UV protection, with selected products blocking up to 99%. The National Archives of Australia has also used UV-filtering acrylic and archival board when preserving historically important framed photographs.
Even high-performance glazing does not make a sunlit wall safe forever. UV protection slows one form of damage; it does not eliminate the effects of visible light, heat or poor display conditions.
Choose a Frame for the Artwork Then the Room
A common mistake is matching the frame to the sofa while barely considering the artwork. Interiors change, but the relationship between the frame and the piece remains.
Begin with the item’s period, subject, tones, texture and visual weight. Slim black frames can sharpen graphic art or black-and-white photography. Natural timber often softens landscapes, portraits and warm-toned artwork. Wider traditional profiles give many oil paintings suitable presence, while floating frames allow contemporary canvases to breathe.
Matboard does not have to match the wall. A quiet neutral taken from a small area of the artwork often creates a more balanced result. The frame can still relate to the room, but it should never compete for attention.
An in-person consultation is valuable because phone photographs can distort colour and scale. Framous Picture Framing offers guidance on colour, character, style and budget from a qualified colour theorist and character assessor.
Why Perth’s Climate Matters
Perth receives abundant natural light. Bureau of Meteorology averages for Perth Airport record up to 11.6 hours of daily sunshine in January and December, along with seasonal changes in temperature and relative humidity.
The National Archives of Australia explains that light and UV exposure can fade paper and inks. Acidic contact materials, humidity and temperature fluctuations may also contribute to staining, brittleness, mould or distortion.
Keep valuable work away from direct sunlight, bathrooms, heaters, fireplaces, damp walls and air-conditioning outlets. UV-protective glazing is a sensible upgrade for photographs, watercolours, certificates and valuable prints, but careful placement remains essential.
Ready-Made or Custom: Which Is Better?
A ready-made frame is practical when an item is replaceable, flat and already matches a standard size. It is affordable and perfectly adequate for many everyday prints.
Custom framing becomes worthwhile when the item is valuable, sentimental, unusually sized, three-dimensional or difficult to mount. It also gives you control over proportions, mat openings, glazing, frame depth and hanging strength.
Think about risk rather than price alone. An inexpensive poster in a dim hallway probably does not need museum-grade materials. An irreplaceable family photograph, original artwork or signed jumper deserves a specification that will not create avoidable damage.
How Much Do Custom Picture Frames Cost in Perth?
Custom framing Perth prices depend on the outside dimensions, moulding, glazing, mat layers, mounting method, condition and labour involved. Deep shadow boxes, oversized glazing and conservation work cost more because they require additional materials and handling.
Framous Picture Framing’s published cost guide gives an indicative range of $190–$230 for a small print or photograph with standard timber moulding and clear glass. Large artwork with premium moulding and conservation glazing may reach $700–$900 or more. Final prices require an individual quote.
If the budget is firm, say so immediately. A skilled framer can explain where to save without compromising essential protection. A simpler moulding or single mat may reduce the price, while protective materials remain prioritised for an heirloom or original.
What to Check When Buying Canvas Framing in Perth
Canvas framing begins with the stretcher, not the decorative outer frame. A loose canvas requires even tension across suitable stretcher bars so it sits flat without placing unnecessary stress on the fabric or paint. Larger canvases need stronger support to reduce twisting and sagging.
A stretched canvas can remain unframed, sit inside a conventional moulding or be finished with a floating frame. Oil and acrylic canvases are normally displayed without glass so their texture remains visible.
Before approving canvas framing Perth services, discuss the paint condition, available edge material, intended face size, stretcher depth and final hanging weight. Older or brittle paintings may require a gentler approach than new printed canvas.
Questions to Ask Perth Picture Framers
Before accepting a quote, ask:
- Which materials will directly touch the item?
- Is the mounting method reversible?
- What UV protection does the glazing provide?
- Will paper artwork remain separated from the glass?
- Is the moulding suitable for the finished size and weight?
- What is included in the price and estimated turnaround?
- Can you show examples of similar framing work?
Reliable picture framers in Perth should explain each recommendation and offer sensible alternatives when the preferred specification exceeds your budget. Take the actual item, a photograph of the room, approximate wall dimensions and your deadline to the consultation.
Frame What Matters with Framous Picture Framing in Midland
Framous Picture Framing has helped customers across Midland and greater Perth frame everything from oils, watercolours and photographs to certificates, canvases, mirrors, military medals, sporting memorabilia and unusual objects. Its award-winning team also provides restoration, frame renovation and canvas stretching, supported by an extensive selection of mouldings, matboards and decorative materials. Whether you have a clear idea or need guidance on colour, style and budget, the team can create a combination suited to your piece and surroundings.
Explore completed projects in the Framous framing gallery.
Then visit us, or call (08) 9274 1453, or request a quote to discuss your artwork, photograph, canvas or memorabilia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is custom framing worthwhile for an inexpensive print?
It can be when the print has personal value or unusual dimensions. For replaceable décor in a standard size, a ready-made frame may offer better value.
Should artwork touch the glass?
Works on paper should generally be separated from glazing with a mat or spacer. Contact may increase the risk of sticking, condensation marks or surface damage.
Is UV glass necessary in Perth?
UV-protective glazing is a sensible choice for valued photographs, watercolours, certificates and prints. However, framed pieces should still be kept away from direct sunlight.
Can old picture frames be repaired?
Many damaged frames can be strengthened, renovated or fitted with improved internal materials. A professional inspection will determine whether repair or replacement is more appropriate.
