Easy Ways to Repurpose and Decorate Old Frames
What can you do with an old frame? There are so many things to do with old picture frames. Here are Repurposed picture frame ideas to inspire your creativity.
Old frames without glass may be a decorator’s hidden secret asset. There are so many ways to use their timeworn vintage beauty in your home! I’ve lost count of how many I have around; it’s hard to turn them down when the price is right (usually free;). Today I’ll show you some Easy and Fun Ways to Repurpose and Decorate Old Frames.
This post is part of our monthly Lifestyle of Love blog hop, organized by Cindy, of County Road 407. Cindy has rounded up the best vintage, antique, farmhouse, and repurposed lovers around! If you’re visiting from The Painted Hinge, I’m sure you loved Michelle’s fresh style. I’ll have all the rest of the links down below.
This post feels like it may become a this-is-your-life kind of flashback of the many ways I’ve used old vintage frames in my home. But that’s what this blog hop is all about! Today you’re going to get a ton of ideas for how to use old frames; be ready to head out to your nearest vintage or thrift store and stock up for yourself!
Easy and Fun Ways to Repurpose and Decorate Old Frames
For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission. There is no additional cost to you. My full privacy policy is here.
Enjoy Vintage Old Frames Alone with a Little Extra
Vintage, old frames usually have enough beautiful details in and of themselves, they don’t need much extra. Whether you lean them against your wall or hang them, a simple adornment inside their blank space is all you need. You can use a ribbon and hang something from the top piece of the frame, or use a nail to hang something on the wall behind.
Some things to fill an empty frame:
- wreath
- print or photograph
- bunting/garland
- string lights
- foliage branch
Think of the frame as a canvas to create on. Tie something on it, place an item in it, or behind it, wrap it with something.
Fill an Old Frame with Texture
Adding an interesting textural filling to an empty frame is a fun way to get a whole new accessory for your home. Take out the glass and put any of these options inside:
- decorative sheet metal
- pegboard
- chicken wire
- chipboard
- painted chalkboard
- ceiling tin
- corrugated tin
- shiplap or beadboard
Your frame can be used for organizational function or beauty! I hang my jewelry on a frame filled with painted pegboard, which turns it into art for my closet. Any type of metal inserted can become a magnet board. Painting chalkboard on a simple board inside a frame has all sorts of possibilities of decor or function.
You can nail to the surface and hang a grouping of items, or you can wire on a vase of flowers. It still frames the view, just in a different way than it did originally!
Group Old Frames for Impact
When you have a lot of frames, it’s fun to enjoy all their beauty together. The mantel or the top of a piece of furniture is a great place to amass your frame collection. Layer them singly or overlap so you can see parts of each peeking out.
You can see examples of all of these ideas together on these Harvest and Christmas mantels.
Are you amazed at all the possibilities a couple old frames can bring to your home decor? They are the chameleon of decorating; use them for function or beauty. See…you can never have too many frames!
Check out our other Lifestyle of Love hops for more ideas:
“9 Easy Ways to Decorate with Bottles and Jars”
“Easy and Fun Ways to Decorate with Vintage Wooden Crates”
For more frame ideas, visit CoCo at The Crowned Goat next; she has some great tips for improving the look of old frames (and she’s got great style;).
Thanks for stopping by and reading Easy and Fun Ways to Repurpose and Decorate Old Frames! If you enjoyed the ideas and inspiration, become an Insider down below!
Pin, Share, and Enjoy the Rest of the Inspiration!
Sharing at these lovely parties:
I love vintage frames! Fun idea to repurpose them!
Me, too! That’s why I have to legitimize keeping them all by repurposing them;)
Lora you always come up with the most creative ideas for all things vintage! I love all the ideas you have shared, but the winter chalkboards in those unique shaped frames are my favorites. I love the layered collection of frames in your pinnable graphic too! Aren’t they so fun to collect?
So fun hopping with you! I am looking forward to seeing more of what you do with frames in the future.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Frames are definitely a mainstay in my decorating, Amber! So many frames, so many ways to enjoy them:)
It was so much fun to take a walk down memory lane with you Lora! You have so many fabulous frames and fantastic ideas too. I’ve been looking for a new way to organize my jewelry because my closet is tiny so your post with all the layered necklaces gives me so much inspiration and is perfectly timed. Hope you’ve had the best weekend, CoCo
You’ll love your jewelry all pretty in a frame, CoCo! Function and beauty is the best combo:)
Seeing all your fun and original ways you’ve used frames jogged my memory of other ways I’ve used them myself. I used to sell jewelry at shops and used old frames to hang them from. Honestly, I think you’ve used yours more ways than any of us have thought of. The “Dreaming of a White Christmas” with the scarf is just my absolute fave. so cute and eye catching. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Lora!
Funny, I’d totally forgotten that I tied a scarf around a frame for that one, until I came across that pic! Totally a “this is your life” kinda moment:)
Wow Lora – your frame collection is amazing! And I love all the clever ways you used them in your decor. I especially love the chalkboard frames on your mantel – simply stunning! Well done my friend!
They were my favorite last year, too. Need to figure out someplace to use them this year…
I love all your ideas on frames, you have a great collection, thank you for sharing, i pinned it so i will always have it for future use, i may be brilliant some day, haha!!
Good that you pinned, Marlene! Great way to keep track of ideas:)
I loved going down memory lane with you! I think I”ve followed you since pretty much the beginning of your blog and it was so much fun to see all of your frame ideas all in one place. You are so creative and think of wonderful ways to use your frames. Seeing your chalkboards makes me want to make a few. I used to make them for my shop when I had it but never made any for myself. Using groups of chalkboards on your mantel is such a good idea. I love the snowflake themed mantel!
“never made any for myself”…oh, that sounds so familiar, Paula! As I was looking at all those cute candlesticks, I was thinking if I still had the store, I would have sold them all and probably not had any for myself:( Kind of nice to be able to keep all the fun stuff I create now and inspire others to make them for themselves! I’m liking being on the idea side, rather than the cranking out side;)
If you could see my face you’d say Cynthia Lynn, close your mouth, it’s very unbecoming. I loved each idea and wanted to stare at each photo for quite a while. I have some old tin and need this in my life. Loved your ideas and am so excited you are in our group with your creative fun self. Have a great weekend.
It was a lot of work to search the archives for all these ideas! Probably good to have a lot of them in one place; thanks for picking a great theme!I can’t wait to get to everyone’s posts; getting caught up with yesterday’s hop. Oh, the holiday season; my head is already spinning!
Lora I luv all your framing ideas especially the snowflake chalkboards! Pinned
Thanks, Ann! I had so much fun with all those dresser mirror frames last year. Love that I can use them throughout the year and switch them up! So glad you joined the group; you fit right in!
Your collection is amazing. I love the different ways you’ve filled them. Such fun texture.
Thanks, Katie! I love all the colors together:)