Start with a neutral

If you're unsure, a neutral mat is almost always the right call. White, off-white (cream), warm grey, and black all work with the vast majority of artworks. Neutral mats let the artwork speak without competing, and they pair with almost any frame color.

The exception is when the artwork itself has strong colors and you want the framing to echo them — in that case a carefully chosen color mat can be striking. But for everyday framing, neutral first.

White vs. cream: which to pick

This is one of the most common questions in framing. The answer depends on the temperature of your artwork.

  • Bright white — suits cool-toned artwork: black and white photography, modern graphic prints, works with a lot of blue or cool grey.
  • Warm white / cream — suits warm-toned artwork: oil paintings, watercolors, vintage prints, works with earthy or golden tones.

A quick test: hold a bright white sheet of paper next to your artwork. If the white looks harsh or out of place, go warm. If it looks clean and right, go white.

Matching tone in the artwork

An old framing rule: match the mat to the lightest value in the artwork. This creates visual continuity — the mat feels like an extension of the piece rather than a border imposed on it.

The reverse also works: a black mat against a dark artwork can create a bold, dramatic look, particularly for photography, screenprints, and high-contrast graphic works.

Using a color mat

Color mats work best when the mat color already exists in the artwork. Pick up a secondary or background color rather than the dominant one — you want the mat to support the art, not compete with it.

Avoid saturated, bright colors unless you're deliberately going for a bold, graphic effect. Muted, desaturated versions of a color almost always work better in practice.

Double mats: adding depth with an accent

A double mat uses two layers: a wider outer mat and a narrower inner mat (typically showing just 3–6mm). The inner "accent" mat adds visual depth and creates a subtle line that separates the artwork from the outer mat.

The standard approach: neutral outer mat, colored or toned inner mat. The inner mat can echo a color from the artwork for a polished, intentional look. The inner mat should almost always be darker or more saturated than the outer one.

What to avoid

  • Matching the mat color exactly to the frame — they'll blend together and the mat loses its purpose.
  • Using a warm mat with a cool artwork or vice versa — the temperature clash looks accidental.
  • Very narrow mats (under 2") on large artworks — they look cheap and don't give the artwork room to breathe.
  • Very wide mats on small artworks — overwhelming, unless it's a deliberate minimalist presentation.