4 min readFraming art has long been the default, a finishing touch that signals a piece is complete, considered, and ready to hang. But it’s also one of the quickest ways to blow a decorating budget. Even a small print can cost over $100 to professionally frame, and ordering frames online isn’t exactly a bargain either. Multiply that across a gallery wall, and the numbers climb fast. Still, for anyone chasing that layered, collected look, it can feel like a necessary step.
Lately, though, designers are rethinking that assumption. Instead of treating frames as a requirement, they’re embracing a more relaxed approach, one that skips the extra cost and leans into something a little more effortless. Unframed art, once associated with studios or in-progress spaces, is now being used intentionally in finished rooms. The result feels less formal, more personal, and often more in tune with how people actually want to live.
When Skipping a Frame Can Work
“Unframed art has a more relaxed, casual vibe. I think there is a movement to unframed art as it can feel more organic and less ‘perfect,’” says designer Isabel Schultz. “It is a way of displaying art that feels approachable and can live in the same room next to framed art or as part of a mixed grouping.” It’s easy, and that’s exactly why it works. Frameless art softens the overall look of a room and makes the painting or image feel less precious, which can be especially appealing in spaces that are meant to feel lived-in rather than overly styled.
“Unframed art fits with how people actually want to live now,” says designer Cortney McClure. “Spaces feel more layered, a little less formal, and not everything needs to be fully ‘buttoned up.’ Leaving pieces unframed lets the material and texture come through in a way that feels more honest, and it reads more like part of the space than something added at the end.” In that sense, going without a frame isn’t about cutting corners, but about creating a more integrated, natural feel, where art becomes part of the environment rather than something placed on top of it.
It can feel surprisingly considered, especially with larger pieces. “An unframed large-scale canvas art feels very stylized, like a purposeful ‘gallery chic’ kind of thing,” says designer Paige Garland. “It can lean more modern and a little less stuffy.” The same goes for vintage finds, where leaving something as-is can actually make it more interesting. “Often I will leave vintage art treasures unframed, in their ‘found’ state. This lends a more organic feel to the piece,” she adds. In both cases, skipping the frame lets the personality of the work come through instead of polishing it up too much.
How to Feature Unframed Art
Once you skip the frame, the options open up. These designer-approved ideas show just how flexible unframed art can be.
Treat It Like a Gallery Wall
One of the easiest ways to style unframed pieces is to treat them just like you would framed ones, with a slightly more relaxed approach. “I use clear thumbtacks and arrange as I would any art wall,” says designer Caryn Grossman of CG Interiors Group. “For pieces I don’t want to pierce, I’ll attach a binder clip to the top, then loop it around the tack.”
The look feels easy to swap and a little less formal, while still reading as cohesive. If you’re working with similarly sized pieces, like Polaroids or small prints, a grid layout keeps things feeling clean. “Colored push pins are fun as well, either an assortment or of a single bright color,” they add, turning even the hardware into part of the display.
Prop It Up
Unframed art doesn’t have to go on the wall at all. McClure often works pieces into a room by leaning them into shelves or layering them into millwork so they feel built in. “I’m usually leaning pieces, layering them into shelves or millwork, or even planning for ledges and niches ahead of time so it feels built-in,” she says. “If it needs a little more presence, I’ll mount it on something like linen or a painted board. The goal is for it to feel integrated, not like it’s waiting on a frame.” This approach works especially well for larger pieces or anything with strong edges that can hold its own.
Make It Interactive
Unframed art can also be something you touch, not just something you look at. Camila Pavone of Effortless Style Interiors suggests printing photos in small black-and-white squares and placing them in a bowl on a coffee table. “People love to go through them.” It turns a collection of images into a conversation piece and makes the display feel more personal and lived-in.
Decoupage It
Because there’s no frame to dictate placement, you have a lot more freedom to experiment. “Decoupage your kids' art all over the powder room ceiling!” says Jeanne Barber of Camden Grace Interiors. It’s a playful, high-impact way to use pieces that might otherwise stay tucked away, and it instantly gives a small space personality.
Create a Flexible Display Zone
If you want something a little more structured but still easy to change, a pinboard-style setup can strike the right balance. “Wrap a piece of styrofoam in fabric, then frame it with some moulding; hang and pin the photos. Easy peasy!” says Krista Wells of Georgestown on My Mind. It creates a dedicated spot for unframed pieces while letting you rotate things in and out without committing.
Unframed art isn’t about skipping a step—it’s about rethinking what finished looks like. When used thoughtfully, it can feel more relaxed, more personal, and often more interesting than something perfectly sealed behind glass.
