Framed With A Mat Or Without?

Is it better to frame with a mat or without? That is the million dollar question. In my opinion, neither is right or wrong and it comes down to a matter of preference.

This post shows you real room examples of our art framed with a mat and without plus my personal thoughts on framing with or without a mat. Hopefully the examples below will help make your mat or no mat decision more simple.

As a general rule, I 100% prefer a print to be framed with a mat. I believe a mat elevates the overall piece of art and it draws the viewer’s eye to the main event: the art itself (in this case, the car).

Like I said, I’ve always been 100% pro-frame it with a mat. That is until I saw one of our car prints printed large scale (24x36) and framed without a mat. I loved it. Seeing our print framed at 24x36 without a mat changed my personal opinion to the following:

If you’re framing one of our car or airplane prints LARGE (meaning 24x36 or larger), I believe the print looks equally as good framed with OR without a mat. The reason being the white backdrop on which each of our cars and airplanes is photographed. When framing a LARGE car or airplane print, I personally believe there’s enough white background space that you don’t always need the addition of the mat to draw your eye to the car or airplane.

Below are a mix of examples showing our prints framed with a mat and some framed without a mat….

LARGE Prints Framed Without A Mat

Custom size, LARGE car prints framed in white frame without a mat. Room design by @elliottinteriors. Room photo by @emilygilbertphoto. I love these prints without a mat.

LARGE Prints Framed With A Mat

The prints in this room are similar in size to the prints in the previous room, but framed with a mat. 16x24 car prints framed with a mat. Final frame size is 23.25 x 31.25. I LOVE these prints with a mat. In my opinion, the mat elevates the look of the prints. Thank you so much @teenieyergs for using my prints in your guest room design and for sharing this photo with me. I LOVE THIS ROOM!!

LARGE Print Framed Without A Mat

Airplane print framed in 24x36 white frame without a mat. Final frame size is 25.5 x 37.5. Nursery design by @ashandpineinteriors. Room photo by @RaquelLangworthyphoto. Love this airplane print framed without a mat. For this specific airplane print and at 24x36, a mat might be too much and make the print look crowded.

Looking for a crib similar to the one in the nursery above? We've found a few here,
here and a less expensive option here. 

We love a wall sconce in a nursery like the white lantern sconce in the above room. Here are a few of our favorite sconces for the nursery we think you'll love, too: nursery sconce, nursery sconce 2, nursery sconce 3, and less expensive nursery sconce. 

LARGE Print Framed Without A Mat

Another large airplane print framed in 24x36 white frame without a mat. Final frame size is 25.5 x 37.5. Bathroom design by @alexanderinteriorsnashville. Interior photography by me, @lesleemitchell. Love it framed without a mat.

LARGE Prints Framed With A Mat

16x24 car prints framed with a mat. Our customer framed these prints on her own so we are unsure of final frame size.

In my opinion, I believe the sophisticated look of this room and the black and gold frames are begging to be framed with a mat just like they are. Incredible room design and photo by @prettydomesticated.

Side By Side Comparison Framed Without A Mat And With A Mat

Photo One shows our Pink Cars print framed without a mat. We do not have the sizing on this print but we believe it is likely a 16x20. Big girl room design by @dagdesignboston.

Photo Two shows the same Pink Cars print at 20 x 30 framed with a mat. Final frame size is 36.75 × 26.75. Girl nursery room design by @laurenpravetzdesign.

LARGE Prints Framed Without A Mat

Custom size car prints framed in white frame without a mat. Nursery design by @alexkaehlerdesign. I believe the prints look great framed with no mat.

LARGE Print Framed Without A Mat

24x36 car print framed without a mat. Final frame size is 25.5 x 37.5. Nursery design by @sheilakramerinteriors. Room photo by @vivianjohnsonphoto.

For SMALL (8x10 & 11x14) car and airplane print sizes, my personal preference is to frame small prints with a mat. To me, a mat elevates the look and draws the viewer’s eye to the car or airplane. Again, it’s a matter of preference.

Below are several examples showing you how our prints look when printed SMALL and framed with a mat and without a mat.

8x10 Prints Framed With A Mat

Six 8x10 prints framed with a mat. Final frame size is 14.25 x 16.25. Big boy room design by @elementsofstyle. Room photo by @sarah_w_studios.

11x14 Prints Framed Without A Mat

Four 11x14 prints hanging vertically framed without a mat. Final frame size 13 x 16. Big boy room design by @helendavisdesign.

8x10 Prints Framed With A Mat

Eight 8x10 prints framed with a mat. Final frame size is 14.25 x 16.25. Big boy room design by @changoandco. Room photo by @selliottphoto.

11x14 Prints Framed Without A Mat

Four 11x14 prints framed without a mat. Final frame size 12.5 x 15.5. Big boy room design by @progenyinteriors.

8x10 Prints Framed With A Mat

Six 8x10 prints framed with a mat. Final frame size is 14.25 x 16.25. Big boy room design by @julietaalvarez.

11x14 Prints Framed Without A Mat

Two 11x14 Car Prints framed without a mat and hung above the crib just below a shelf and two more 11x14 Car Prints hanging on opposite wall. Final frame size is 13 x 16. Nursery design by @dylandreyernbc. See TODAY Show tour of Dylan Dreyer’s nursery here.