Four Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing a Wood Photo Frame

Wood picture frames are a popular choice for displaying your favorite photos but unfortunately there are some buying pitfalls you should know. Before you shop for that perfect wood picture frame, you need to be aware of these four pitfalls.

Pitfall #1- Mistaken Identity
When shopping for a wood frame, you need to be familiar with the difference between these three types of wood frames: solid wood, composite wood and wood veneer. These differences are important because the cost of the frame will vary widely depending upon the type of wood used to make it.

Solid wood frames don’t need much explaining but composite wood is made out of wood pieces glued together with an adhesive.  Decorative frames, frames with beaded borders, decorative round frames or oval frames are all made of composite wood. It’s the most economical and quality conscious way to create a decorative wood edge without the high cost of hand carving or the poor appearance of glue-on wood ornamentation. Inexpensive “wood frames” are also made of composite wood which is why some people associate low quality with composite wood. However, composite doesn’t have to mean inexpensive or inferior quality or workmanship. It’s simply a more environmentally sustainable and superior way to make ornate and decorative wood frames.

Wood veneer gives the real look of an expensive or rare wood without having to waste limited resources. Wood veneer is a thin sliver of high quality wood, like an exotic or local hardwood, that’s glued to a less expensive piece of solid wood. In some cases, the veneer is glued to composite wood. The gorgeous look of an exotic or burl wood is a good example of when a wood veneer is often used. High end hardwoods are very expensive and there’s no point in having a solid burl wood frame when you can only see the outside. A veneer of an exotic or expensive hardwood will allow more frames to be made with this limited resource and is an economical way to make a unique and beautiful wood frame.

Pitfall #2- Wood is Not Perfect
Most people like the look of wood but sometimes forget it’s natural and can come with imperfections. Do not expect your wood frame to be perfect because wood naturally has variations. For most people it’s the color variations, natural wood grain and natural imperfections (like wood knots) that make wood frames beautiful. High quality frame manufacturers minimize these variations as much as possible, but be aware that they can occur.

Pitfall #3- Sensitivity of Unfinished Wood
You may already know this pitfall if you’ve purchased unfinished wood before but the wood can be easily damaged if you’re not careful. Unfinished frames are made of raw wood with no protective lacquer or coating to seal the wood and protect the frame from damage. Generally most frames are “finished” so the best way to spot an unfinished frame is to feel the rough natural wood texture. Unfinished wood frames can easily be damaged by water or any oily or sticky substance that may come into contact with the frame. Be especially careful with water or greasy fingerprints as they can leave a mark on the unfinished wood frame that can be difficult to fix.

Pitfall #4- Watch Out for Misleading Colors
Manufacturers of wood frames describe frames with words like cherry, walnut, rosewood or teak. Don’t think of the wood type as being the material used to make the frame. It’s just easier to help people understand the actual color of the frame by relating it to a recognized wood color. Most frames are stained these colors but are rarely made of solid woods like cherry, walnut, rosewood or teak. Usually if a frame is made out of a solid wood, the description will say “solid walnut” or “solid teak. If it doesn’t say solid, it’s most likely just stained that color. Reading the frame description carefully or asking the frame retailer is the best way to know for sure if you are looking at a solid walnut frame, for example, or a wood frame stained a walnut color. Also, solid wood like teak, cherry or walnut will be considerably more expensive than staining a wood frame made out of a less epxensive wood.

By remembering, and avoiding, these potential pitfalls when buying wood frames, you will save yourself time and money and be pleased with a wood picture frame that is perfect for you and your favorite photo.