Do you have a tired old frame that has seen better days? There is no need to throw away something that still does its job just because you're bored of the sight of it. Whether it's wood, metal or plastic, you can paint it, polish it, add to it or take something away.
Clean and repair it
Start by cleaning the frame and making any repairs. A soft, damp cloth is best for cleaning any material.
- Wood. Sandpaper, wood glue and perhaps a hammer and a few nails will handle most repairs.
- Metal. Scratches and dents are harder to fix, but metal frames can be sanded, buffed and polished.
Get the paint out
A lick of paint is one of the simplest ways to smarten a frame. You might just varnish a wooden frame, or paint it a completely different colour in matt or gloss. If you know what you're going to frame, pick a complementary colour.
It doesn't have to be one colour. Use stencils or stamps, or paint details freehand if you're handy with a brush.
Add decoration
As well as, or instead of, painting, you can add almost anything. A hot glue gun will stick beads, jewels and other embellishments to wood. Stickers and patterned tape are even easier, and peel off if you make a mistake. All sorts of things can be recycled into decoration, from toilet roll tubes to plastic milk containers.
Go metallic
Give a wooden frame a metal finish with gold leaf, or silver or another metal leaf. It's a cheap way to make a frame look more sophisticated.
- Apply the leaf to the frame, following the instructions on the packet.
- Brush off any excess.
- Coat it with acrylic sealer.
For an antique look, try a crackle glaze or another ageing technique.
So rescue that frame gathering dust in the garage or loft, or the one on the wall you've been meaning to change for ages.