How to Save Money on Picture Frames

Framed pictures are a lovely, personal way to decorate your family room, bedroom, or any area of your home. Visitors enjoy viewing the smiling faces of your family and loved ones, and scenic views of places you have visited will bring back memories and put brighten your mood. Decorative frames for your photos can be costly, unless you know where to look.

Instructions

1. Shop dollar stores. Many of the chain dollar stores have a large section of frames with designs ranging from plain wood to bejeweled and colorful plastic or metal.

2. Scour thrift stores, yard sales and estate sales. You can find beautiful frames at a fraction of the original price when someone has moved, downsized, redecorated or passed away. If you find a beautiful frame with broken or missing glass, head to your local hardware store, where they will cut you an inexpensive piece to fit. If the frame is a standard size, buy a plain frame of the same size at the dollar store and use the glass.

3. Spruce up frames. You might hit a mother lode at a yard sale and walk away with a box of frames at pennies apiece. If they are boring or dated, fix them up to suit your decor. A can of spray paint or some glue and glass beads can make a world of difference.

4. Clip coupons. Craft stores such as Michaels frequently publish coupons in the Sunday paper. Use them to garner frames at deep discounts. Or find Internet coupons for great deals on the perfect designs for your home.

5. Use a digital frame. While these are not necessarily cheap, consider this: you don't have to print your photos, and you can show off several of your favorites using only one frame. This is also a great option if you are short on space but long on pictures.

Tips & Warnings

• Make homemade frames using items that might otherwise end up in the trash. Use your imagination!

Resources

• Internet Coupons