Transform A Boring Picture Frame Into A Statement Piece With A Quick Design Trick

When it comes to hanging artwork, usually the art itself is the star of the show while the picture frame plays second fiddle. But who says the frame has to be plain or can't be equally as star-worthy? With just a handful of supplies and a bit of DIY effort, you can easily give your picture frames a gorgeous glow up. One simple way to level up the style of a basic frame? Add color and pattern to the picture mat. To instantly transform plain white mat boards into show-stopping picture mats, just cover them with wallpaper. 

Whether you're aiming to create the perfect gallery wall or just want to zhush up a single piece of art, this DIY is a great way to repurpose any leftover wallpaper you may have. It also offers a low-stakes option of introducing wallpaper into your space when you're not quite ready to commit to entire walls of pattern. Best of all, you can use either peel-and-stick wallpaper or regular wallpaper for this project, and it won't take you more than half an hour to do. Below, we're sharing how to pull off this easy wallpaper hack to spruce up a plain picture mat, as well as a few wallpaper options you could choose.

All you'll need for this project is a ruler, scissors, utility knife, and a scraping tool such as a credit card. Start by measuring the height and width of the mat. Determine which part of the wallpaper you'd like to be visible on the mat, and then cut a piece that's an inch longer than the mat on all sides. Peel off the backing and attach the wallpaper to the front of the mat (spray the mat with adhesive if you're using regular wallpaper). Smooth out any wrinkles. Turn the mat over, cut an "x" in the center, and fold the flaps of wallpaper onto the backside of the mat. Lastly, fold the excess wallpaper around the perimeter onto the backside or cut it off.

As for which wallpaper to use, that depends entirely on your style. Going for a moody vibe? The dark tones in NextWall Pimpernel Wallpaper from Amazon would be lovely, as would the Juniper Forest Wallpaper from Rifle Paper Co. Prefer something more cheerful? Try Pop Art Grapefruit Wallpaper from Spoonflower. If neutral tones are more your speed, the NuWallpaper Enchanted Wallpaper from Amazon is a stunning option. You don't even have to buy the whole roll, as many retailers offer sample swatches for a few dollars that may be large enough to cover your picture mat. Furthermore, if you don't want to spend any money on wallpaper, get a similar look by drawing on a design or using a stencil and paint. Whichever pattern you choose for your picture mat, it's sure to make your art the focal point in any room.