How to Use a Mahogany Picture Frame

Mahogany picture frames, with their deep, rich quality and hint of red color, are often used with professional documents and nature scenes. You may have a difficult time matching a specific frame with your existing cabinets or furniture, but when you use mahogany frames as an accent, they look sophisticated and modern with your decor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Shop at retail stores such as Target or Wal-Mart or at local craft and discount stores to find a variety of mahogany frames. If you need to match the frame to your existing wood tones, make sure to take a sample with you to the store and keep your receipts in case you need to exchange it.

2. Measure the sizes of your artwork or photographs to make sure you get the correct frame for the picture. You can find mahogany document frames for diplomas and certificates--a great addition to your office or study--or custom sizes at a frame shop.

3. Look at the frame's special qualities: wood grain, color and adornment. Choose frames lined in black accents or matted with a specific color to bring out the colors and qualities of the artwork. Mahogany works well with dark accents and matting, but you can also pair it with white for a sophisticated contrast.

4. Check the thickness of the frame as well as its physical size in relation to the picture. Choose a large mahogany frame to cover a blank wall, multiple small frames to sit on your desk or a few medium frames to create a picture cluster above a table or chair.

5. Consider your other accessories and choose mahogany frames to accent your overall decor rather than take it over. Ultimately you want your artwork to stand out but blend into your overall theme. Use mahogany frames for holiday and seasonal photographs and paintings, nature scenes and country cowboy and barn pictures as they fit into your decor.

6. Recycle old frames by staining them or turning them into a rustic look. Sand the edges, carve out chunks and paint in some shadows to give your eclectic or Southwestern room a feeling of warmth and age.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a professional for assistance in choosing frames if you have trouble finding the right color and style. Take your picture into a frame shop and look at it against the various mahogany frame choices.