I have seen anything and everything under the sun being used behind a picture or in a frame, and I am loving it.  Doesn’t it make you wonder why the heck we didn’t think of this sooner?  I think it is a great way to add interest to your room.  In researching different design trends, I’ve learned that the biggest trend right now is to mix textures, even more than colors.  That is why we are seeing so many different hard and soft textures together (fabric with wood, pallets and crates with steel, etc.)  It is so great!  I love any trend where “anything goes” both with design and fashion.  Doesn’t it take the pressure off?

Here are a few framed pictures of my kids that I put in the playroom.  I was really excited to have a central place to hang over-sized frames with colorful fabric.  I used clips to hold the pictures, which we just drilled into the “mat” after it was covered with fabric.  We used a spray adhesive to attach the fabric to a piece of masonite.  My talented woodworking husband made the frames using some 2x4s.  Super CHEAP.  The frames cost about $15- total (we had old lacquer already that we used- it would cost more with the paint.)  I bought discount fabric (a fat quarter of each), some spray adhesive and clips for a couple of dollars at an office supply store.

What do you think?

Here are 8 other ideas that I have seen used as a mat in a frame:

• burlap
• wood
• pallets
• wallpaper
• dried flowers/greenery
• maps (good idea!)
• Sheet music (above a piano? awesome!)
• chalk paint