Framing your child’s artwork can turn a simple drawing or painting into a cherished memory and a striking home decor element. It’s a wonderful way to showcase their creativity, while also giving their confidence a boost by showing that their efforts are valued. At The Kids Point, we believe in nurturing creativity in children, and framing their artwork is a great way to celebrate their unique artistic expressions. This guide provides creative and practical ideas for framing kids’ art at home, helping you add a personal touch to your home while honoring your child’s creativity.
Why Frame Kids’ Artwork?
Framing your child’s artwork goes beyond aesthetic appeal; it can positively impact both your home environment and your child’s sense of achievement. Here’s why framing is a great idea:
- Boosts Confidence and Creativity: Displaying a child’s work prominently tells them that their efforts matter. It inspires them to keep creating and can lead to even more imaginative ideas.
- Adds Personal Touch to Your Home: Children’s art is often bright, bold, and full of personality. Framed art pieces bring warmth and individuality to any space in your home, making it feel more lived-in and unique.
- Creates Lasting Memories: Some pieces of artwork may capture significant moments in your child’s life. Framing these works allows you to preserve them as cherished memories that you can look back on as they grow older.
- Teaches Organization and Care: Involving children in the framing and display process helps them understand the value of their work. It also teaches them to care for their belongings and be organized.
Let’s dive into some exciting ways to create beautiful frames for kids’ artwork that you can enjoy at home.
Rotating Art Frames
If your child produces a lot of art, which is often the case, you can opt for rotating art frames. These frames allow you to easily change out the artwork whenever a new masterpiece comes along, without the hassle of removing the backing and replacing it each time.
How to Create a Rotating Art Frame:
- Purchase a frame with a hinge on the side or a magnetic backing. This allows you to swap out artwork quickly.
- Choose a neutral or classic frame color so that any piece of art will match the frame’s style.
- Mount the frame in a central area of your home—such as the hallway or living room—so your child’s latest work is always in the spotlight.
This option keeps things fresh and encourages kids to continue creating, knowing their latest art will always have a place to shine.
DIY Washi Tape Frames
For a fun, temporary way to frame kids’ artwork, you can use washi tape—a decorative Japanese masking tape that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. This method is great for art that you want to display temporarily or switch out frequently.
How to Create a Washi Tape Frame:
- Choose washi tape in a design that complements your child’s artwork.
- Measure the space on the wall where you’ll place the art and create a simple frame shape by applying the washi tape directly to the wall around the piece.
- Use colorful or patterned tape to make the frame playful and exciting.
Washi tape is easy to remove and reposition, making it a fantastic option for renters or those who like to change up their wall art often.
Shadow Boxes for 3D Art
If your child creates 3D artwork—like clay sculptures, paper mache, or collages with raised elements—a shadow box frame is the ideal solution. Shadow boxes are deep frames that allow for three-dimensional objects to be displayed while protected from dust or damage.
How to Create a Shadow Box Frame:
- Purchase or build a deep-set frame with glass or acrylic covering.
- Mount the artwork securely inside the frame using adhesive or pins, depending on the medium.
- Arrange smaller 3D pieces like sculptures or found-object art in creative ways within the box.
A shadow box can add depth to your art display and is a perfect way to showcase tactile, textured art that won’t fit in a traditional flat frame.
Upcycled Frames from Recycled Materials
If you’re eco-conscious and love a DIY project, creating frames from recycled materials is a fantastic way to combine sustainability with creativity. Items like old picture frames, wooden pallets, or cardboard can be repurposed into unique, custom-made frames for your child’s artwork.
How to Create Upcycled Frames:
- Gather materials from around the house like cardboard, old wood planks, or even unused photo frames.
- Cut the material to size and assemble it using glue or nails to create a frame shape.
- Paint or decorate the upcycled frame to match the artwork’s style.
- Use clear acrylic sheets if you don’t have glass to cover the art and protect it from dust or wear.
This method teaches children about the importance of recycling while encouraging them to think creatively about how to repurpose materials for new projects.
Magnetic Frames for Easy Switches
Magnetic frames are an effortless way to display and change out artwork quickly. They work particularly well for places like refrigerators, where kids often love to see their work displayed.
How to Create Magnetic Frames:
- Purchase or DIY magnetic strips to place behind or on top of a frame.
- Attach magnets to the corners of the artwork and the magnetic surface to secure it in place.
- Use colorful or custom-shaped magnets that match the theme of the artwork for a playful touch.
This option is not only easy but interactive, as your child can help switch out the art themselves, encouraging them to stay engaged with their creations.
Color-Coordinated Gallery Walls
For a stylish and cohesive look, create a color-coordinated gallery wall using your child’s artwork. By framing multiple pieces in similar or complementary frames and colors, you can create a stunning display that looks deliberate and organized while still celebrating the playful nature of children’s art.
How to Create a Color-Coordinated Gallery Wall:
- Select a wall in a prominent area of your home, like the living room or hallway.
- Choose frames in a consistent color scheme (e.g., all white frames, wooden frames, or black frames) to unify the collection.
- Arrange the frames in a grid or freeform layout, depending on your style preference.
- Optionally, you can mat the artwork with colored mats that either contrast with or complement the colors of the art.
This approach turns a collection of individual pieces into a unified, gallery-worthy display, perfect for larger areas of the home.
Framing with Fabric Mats
Using fabric mats instead of traditional paper mats adds texture and a unique design element to your framed artwork. This method allows for a fun and tactile twist on standard framing.
How to Create Fabric Mat Frames:
- Purchase fabric in a color or pattern that complements the artwork.
- Cut the fabric to fit inside the frame as the mat and secure it behind the glass.
- Place the artwork on top of the fabric, allowing a border of fabric to frame the art.
Fabric mats offer a textured, personalized feel that can make a child’s drawing or painting feel even more special.
Clothespin Art Display Frames
Clothespin art displays are a casual, interactive way to showcase kids’ artwork. They’re perfect for families who want to change out art regularly without the need for traditional frames. You can hang multiple pieces at once, making it ideal for displaying a series of artworks.
How to Create a Clothespin Art Display Frame:
- Stretch a piece of string or wire across an empty picture frame.
- Secure the string tightly to the back of the frame using nails or hooks.
- Use small clothespins to hang your child’s artwork along the string.
This method not only looks rustic and charming but also makes it easy to rotate the artwork as your child creates new pieces.
Floating Glass Frames
For a modern, minimalist look, consider using floating glass frames. These frames create the illusion that the artwork is “floating” between two panes of glass, which works particularly well for irregularly shaped or unusually sized art pieces.
How to Create Floating Glass Frames:
- Purchase a floating glass frame from a craft or home decor store.
- Place the artwork between two panes of glass or acrylic and secure it in the frame.
- Mount the frame on the wall in a prominent spot to give the art center stage.
This framing style is ideal for showcasing sketches, abstract art, or any piece where the negative space around the art enhances its visual appeal.
Custom Collage Frames
For kids who love to make several smaller art pieces, a custom collage frame is a perfect way to display multiple works at once. Collage frames allow you to group various drawings, paintings, or photographs together into one frame.
How to Create a Collage Frame:
- Purchase or DIY a multi-opening frame, or use a large frame with smaller pieces arranged inside.
- Arrange your child’s art pieces in a visually pleasing way, either randomly or with a theme.
- Use colored mats or labels to describe each piece or the inspiration behind them.
Collage frames are a fun way to tell a story through a series of art pieces and are perfect for kids who enjoy working in smaller formats.
Framing your child’s artwork is a creative and fun way to honor their creativity while adding a personal touch to your home. Whether you choose traditional frames, DIY methods, or more inventive displays, each option offers its own unique way to celebrate and preserve your child’s artistic expressions. At The Kids Point, we believe that fostering creativity in children leads to countless benefits, including increased confidence and a sense of achievement. By framing their artwork, you not only add beauty to your home but also show your child that their creativity is valued.