Molding 101: Know More About Molding

The picture frame or mirror’s molding provides its overall look and personality. There are vintage picture frames to exude an old-world and classic vibe while there are contemporary picture frames that are best if you are going for a more modern and updated look for your room. Whether a frame is contemporary or vintage will depend on the type of molding you choose. Your choice of molding for your mirror will also add elegance or flair to your bedroom or bathroom.

Here are the different elements you need to know when choosing molding for your picture or mirror frame:

• -Material. The usual materials are wood and metal. There are also other frames that use plastic or acrylic in the molding. However, wood and metal moldings usually come in better quality and are thus a great choice to frame precious pictures and memorabilia. For wood molding, there is a wide variety of wood available for you. The more common ones include walnut, cherry, red oak, pine, hard maple, birch and poplar. There are also metal frames that use steel or aluminum. These are usually manufactured using a mold or die. You can obtain a shiny chrome, silver or golden look with metal moldings. Plastic molding can be very affordable but tends to easily crack or warp.
• oA Note on Metal Vs. Wood. When choosing the material for your picture frame (wood vs. metal), remember that there are drawbacks and advantages to each type of material. Metal has more vibrant and lasting colors and are ideal for contemporary designs. Wood is beautiful and naturally has this classy and classic look. However, wood can fall prey to warping and humidity.
• -Style. The available wood mold designs may overwhelm because of their sheer number of shapes and designs. You need to know what kind of look you are going for in terms of the relationship of the frame and the photo or artwork. You also need to see how the frame will fit in its surroundings or the room where you plan to hang the frame. Molding is commonly available in the following styles: flat, round, half-round, shallow scoop, reverse scoop and reverse sloop. The shallow scoop design is ideal for larger picture frames and works to draw the attention to the artwork by visibly separating the framed item from the wall. The reverse scoop is inclined in such a way that it pushes the photograph forward and “outside” of the frame. The reverse sloop is for more modern pieces. Its design directs the light away from the framed item. Please note that you have more style options with wood molding as opposed to metal molding.
• -Color. When choosing the molding, consider the type of picture or artwork you want to frame. For more “formal” or classical pieces of artwork and for vintage photographs, wood works best. You can have the molding stained so that it complements the predominant colors of the item to be framed. If you want to reuse the frame, consider going with a neutral color such as black, dark brown or light brown. For more contemporary pieces, you can choose metal or PVC moldings painted in your color of choice.
• -Thickness. The thickness of the molding should be in proportion to the size of the picture or artwork. Molding that is too thick can overwhelm a small picture. Meanwhile, molding that is too thin may be too flimsy for bigger pictures that also need more of the structural support provided by the molding. When considering the thickness, you should also remember that the thicker the molding, the heavier the frame will be. You will need to purchase hanging materials that can readily support the picture frame’s total weight. The same goes for the wall – it should be strong enough to hold the frame or frames installed.