You know the drill. You fall in love with a funky 17×23 inch painting at a garage sale, but every store frame either swallows it or chops off its head. I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.
Store bought frames are the bullies of the art world. They only accept standard sizes, and anything else gets rejected like a bad prom date. So grab your glue gun and let’s build something better.
Why Bother With DIY When You Can Cry in the Aisle at Target?
Because your weird art deserves better than a cardboard backing and a smug “sorry, not sorry” from big box retail. Plus, these 29 ideas cost next to nothing and look twice as cool. Ready? Let’s go.
Here are 29 ways to frame odd‑sized art without losing your mind or your paycheck.
1. Reclaimed Barn Wood Float Frame
Grab some old fence boards or pallet wood. Cut four pieces to match your art’s exact outer dimensions, then miter the corners at 45 degrees.
Sand them just enough to avoid splinters but leave that gray, weathered look. Attach the art directly to the back using small brads or heavy‑duty glue.
You’ll end up with a rustic float frame that makes your piece look like it hung in a century‑old farmhouse. Store frames could never.
2. Washi Tape Minimalist Border
Clean the edges of your art and lay down strips of wide washi tape in a color that pops. Overlap them slightly to create a continuous border about half an inch thick.
Press firmly so the tape bonds to the paper or canvas. Hang it directly on the wall using two small nails behind the tape line.
That’s it. No wood, no glass, no drama. Perfect for a 9×14 inch sketch that doesn’t fit anything.
3. Embroidery Hoop Gallery
Find a wooden embroidery hoop slightly larger than your odd‑shaped art. If the art is a circle or oval, even better – but it also works for rectangular pieces with a little folding.
Stretch your art over the inner hoop like fabric, then snap the outer hoop down tight. Trim the excess paper or canvas from the back. The tension holds everything in place.
Add a ribbon or twine to the screw at the top for hanging. I’ve used this for a 10×10 inch square print that refused to cooperate, and it looked like a million bucks.
4. Clipboards As Instant Frames
Salvage a few old clipboards from back‑to‑school sales or thrift stores. They come in weird sizes like 9×12.5 inches, which is perfect for mismatched art.
Clip your piece onto the board and let the metal clip act as a top frame. If the art is wider than the clipboard, mount two clipboards side by side.
Paint the boards the same color for a seamless look. This trick saved a panoramic photo I had that was 6×18 inches – store frames wouldn’t touch it.
5. Cardboard Shadow Box With Fabric
Cut corrugated cardboard into strips about two inches wide. Glue them together to form a rectangle that exactly matches your art’s odd dimensions.
Wrap each strip in felt, burlap, or old denim before assembling. Use a hot glue gun to attach the fabric tightly. Then glue the strips into a box shape with a back panel.
Drop your art inside. The soft fabric holds it without permanent damage, and the depth gives a shadow box effect. I made one for a 12×15 inch embroidery piece that standard frames rejected outright.
6. Twig and Jute Rustic Frame
Collect straight twigs from your backyard, about the same thickness as a pencil. Cut four twigs to length, mitering the ends with garden shears.
Lash the corners together using jute twine in a simple X pattern. Weave extra twine across the back to create a net that supports your art.
Slide the art between the twigs and the twine net. It looks like something from a forest fairy’s living room. Works great for oddly tall pieces like a 7×20 inch botanical print.
7. Painted Ladder Sides For Tall Art
Find an old wooden step ladder at a garage sale. Remove the rungs so you only have two long side rails.
Sand and paint the rails any color you want – chalk paint works beautifully. Then attach your tall, narrow art directly to the rails using small screws or heavy mounting tape.
Hang the whole assembly horizontally or vertically. I used this for a 10×36 inch family photo strip that no frame store could accommodate. Now it’s a statement piece.
8. Mirror Frame Repurposed
Check thrift stores for cheap mirrors with ornate frames. Pop out the mirror glass and discard it (carefully).
The frame’s inner opening will be some odd size – perfect for your odd art. Cut a piece of cardboard or foam board to fit the opening, then mount your art on that.
Reattach the backing, and you’ve got a fancy vintage frame for zero effort. I scored one that measured 14×18.5 inches inside, and a rejected watercolor slipped right in.
9. Leather Strap Hanging System
Cut two pieces of leather or faux leather strap, each about six inches longer than your art’s width. Screw or nail the straps to the top and bottom edges of your art’s backing.
Leave the extra length flopping over the front edges like a functional frame. The leather creates a bold border that holds the art securely.
Hang the straps on two wall hooks. This works shockingly well for a 13×19 inch poster that’s too wide for standard frames. Plus it feels like a cowboy’s office.
10. Mismatched Vintage Plate Frames
Scour flea markets for those old metal plate hangers with spring clips. They usually come in sets of three or four.
Clip one hanger to each corner of your art, even if the corners are rounded or weird. The spring tension adjusts to any thickness, and the metal arches become decorative brackets.
Connect the hangers with wire or chain, then hang from a single nail. I framed a 15×15 inch ceramic tile painting this way, and everyone asks where I bought the frame.
11. PVC Pipe Industrial Frame
Buy thin PVC pipe from the hardware store. Cut four pieces to your art’s exact dimensions, plus a half inch for corner connectors.
Paint the pipe with spray primer and a metallic finish – copper looks incredible. Assemble the pieces using 90‑degree elbow joints. The frame snaps together like Legos.
Slide your art into the back, then glue a thin strip of plastic or wood along the inner edge to hold it. This gave me a 20×28 inch frame for less than eight bucks. Store frames wanted fifty.
12. Magnetic Vent Cover Frame
Get a magnetic vent cover – the kind that sticks to air ducts. They come in large sheets like 12×24 inches.
Cut the vent cover to the exact shape of your art using scissors. Then peel and stick the magnetic side onto the back of your art. The magnet is weak, so you also need a metal backing.
Attach a thin sheet of galvanized steel to the wall, then let the art snap onto it. Zero visible frame, just floating art. Perfect for a 6×14 inch oddball piece that refuses all normal solutions.
13. Binder Clips And Wire
Gather six to eight large binder clips. Clip them evenly around the perimeter of your art, with the metal loops facing outward.
Thread a single length of picture wire through all the loops, then twist the ends together. The wire becomes a continuous tension band that wraps the whole piece.
Hang from two nails. The binder clips act as both clamps and decorative silver accents. I did this for a 16×16 inch canvas board that wouldn’t fit any square frame. It looks like modern art itself.
14. Flooring Sample Planks
Visit a home improvement store and ask for free or cheap laminate flooring samples. They’re usually 6×36 inches or other weird sizes.
Glue three samples together side by side to create a wide plank backer board. Then attach your art to the front using double‑sided tape.
The tongue‑and‑groove edges of the samples become a built‑in frame border. I used five samples to frame a 14×20 inch mixed media piece. The store clerks just smiled and waved.
15. Oven Rack Repurposed
Find an old oven rack at a salvage yard or a neighbor’s curbside trash pile. Wire brush off any rust.
Set your art behind the rack, then clip it in place using tiny spring clamps. The rack’s grid becomes a modern industrial frame that adds texture.
Hang the rack using two hooks on the wall. This is insane but glorious for a 12×24 inch print. And yes, I’ve done it. My kitchen smelled like nothing, but my art wall looked epic.
16. Duct Tape Colored Border
Buy three rolls of duct tape in contrasting colors – neon pink, matte black, and silver. Tear off strips and lay them along the edges of your art, overlapping slightly at the corners.
Create a border that’s one inch wide. Press down firmly, then flip the art over and trim any overhang with a utility knife.
Hang with standard wall hooks. The tape acts as a frame and a protective edge. I framed a 9×11 inch doodle this way, and it survived a cross‑country move without a scratch.
17. Picture Ledge Made From Scrap Wood
Cut a piece of 1×2 lumber to the exact width of your art. Sand and stain it any color.
Attach a small lip to the front edge using a second strip of wood, creating a U‑shaped channel. The art sits in the channel, leaning against the wall.
Screw the ledge to the wall, then slide your art in from the top. This works for any height because the art just stands there. I have a 5×30 inch panoramic photo living on a six‑inch ledge. Store frames can’t even handle the concept.
18. Felt And Cardboard Sleeve
Cut two pieces of stiff cardboard slightly larger than your art. Cut a matching piece of felt that wraps around both cardboard pieces like a book cover.
Glue the felt to the outside, leaving one edge open like a sleeve. Slide your art into the sleeve. The felt creates a soft, frameless border.
Hang using a single nail through the back cardboard. I used this for a 13×18 inch fabric art piece that was too thick for any standard frame. It’s like a hug for your art.
19. Bicycle Spoke Circle Frame
Collect old bicycle spokes from a bike shop’s trash bin. You’ll need about 20 to 30 spokes.
Bend the spokes into a large circle or oval using pliers, then wire them together end to end. The spoke nipples become decorative connectors.
Lay your circular art inside the spoke ring, then glue small magnets to both the art and the ring to hold it. This is perfect for a 14‑inch diameter mandala drawing. Yes, it’s a little extra. But so is your art.
20. Cereal Box Collage Frame
Flatten cereal boxes and cut them into one‑inch wide strips. Paint each strip a different bright color.
Weave the strips into a checkerboard pattern that matches your art’s dimensions. Glue the woven mat directly onto the front edges of your art.
The cardboard is lightweight but sturdy enough for small pieces. I framed a 7×9 inch photo of my dog this way, and the cereal mascots added unintentional charm. Store frames would never understand.
21. Drawer Front From Old Dresser
Find a discarded dresser and remove one drawer front. It’s already a rectangle with built‑in edges.
Sand off the old finish and paint it to match your room. Cut a piece of foam board to fit inside the drawer front’s recessed area. Mount your art on the foam board.
Glue the foam board into the drawer front. The result is a chunky, sculptural frame for any odd size up to the drawer’s dimensions. I used a 15×20 inch drawer front for a canvas that was 14×19. Perfection.
22. Hula Hoop Stretched Canvas
Cut a hula hoop in half to create a long curved arc, or keep it whole for a circle. Stretch your art across the hoop like a drum skin.
Use a staple gun to attach the art to the outside of the hoop, pulling tight as you go. Trim the excess, then add a second hoop over the back for a cleaner finish.
Hang from a single nail through the hoop’s top. This turned a 24‑inch square tapestry that wouldn’t fit any frame into a groovy circular masterpiece. Plus, you get to say “hula hoop” in a DIY article.
23. License Plate Border
Collect six to ten old license plates from flea markets. Arrange them in a rectangle around your art, overlapping the edges by an inch.
Drill small holes and connect the plates with zip ties or wire. The plates become a metal frame that’s loud and proud.
Slide your art behind the plates, then secure it with a few dabs of hot glue. I did this for a 10×16 inch hot rod poster, and it looks like it belongs in a garage band’s tour bus. Store frames are way too boring for that vibe.
24. Pool Noodle Soft Frame
Cut a pool noodle into four strips lengthwise so you have half‑round flexible tubes. Paint them with acrylic paint – it sticks surprisingly well.
Wrap the noodle pieces around the edges of your art like a bumper. Use a hot glue gun to attach them at the corners and along the back.
The foam protects the art and gives a squishy, playful border. I used this for a 12×18 inch kid’s painting that was too fragile for a rigid frame. Plus, it’s hilarious.
25. Record Sleeve For Small Odd Art
Take a vinyl record sleeve (12×12 inches square) and cut it open along two sides so it lays flat. Trim it to fit your art’s exact odd dimensions.
The cardboard sleeve already has printed artwork, so you get a free decorative border. Glue your art onto the inside of the sleeve, then fold the edges over like a mat.
Hang with a small nail through the top corner. I framed a 6×9 inch postcard this way, and the old jazz album cover made it look intentional. Store frames would have charged me thirty bucks.
26. Measuring Tape Border
Buy a cheap fabric measuring tape from a sewing store. Cut a length equal to the perimeter of your art plus six inches.
Use a stapler or hot glue to attach the tape around the front edges of your art, folding it neatly at the corners. The numbers and markings become a quirky, functional frame.
Hang directly on the wall. The tape lays flat and flexible, so it works for any shape – circles, ovals, or wavy edges. I did this for a 14×14 inch abstract piece, and people always ask where I found such a weird frame. I tell them it’s a secret.
27. Rubber Floor Mat Frame
Get a rubber anti‑fatigue floor mat from a discount store. Cut a rectangle out of the center slightly smaller than your art, leaving a border of rubber.
Stretch the rubber mat over the edges of your art like a giant rubber band. The mat’s grippy texture holds tight without glue.
Hang using two nails through the rubber. This is perfect for a heavy piece like a 16×20 inch ceramic tile mosaic. Store frames would crack under the weight. Rubber just shrugs.
28. Chopstick Lattice Frame
Glue wooden chopsticks together in a lattice pattern – crisscrossing every two inches. Make the lattice about two inches larger than your art on all sides.
Sandwich your art between the lattice and a thin plywood backer. The chopsticks act as both frame and grille, partially covering the art for a cool obscured effect.
Attach with small screws through the backer. I used this for a 9×12 inch ink drawing, and the chopsticks added an Asian minimalism that store frames could never copy. Plus, you get to eat takeout first.
29. Cable Spool Rim Circle Frame
Find a small wooden cable spool from an electrical supply company. Knock out the center so you’re left with just the circular rim.
The rim is already a perfect round frame with a natural wood finish. Sand it smooth, then drop your circular art inside. Use a few dabs of glue on the back to hold it.
Hang using a single nail through the rim’s top edge. I framed a 15‑inch round watercolor this way, and it looks like it came from an artisanal forest. Store frames don’t even make round ones in that size.
You Just Saved Your Art From Frame Purgatory
Now you have 29 ways to tell store bought frames exactly where they can stick their standard sizes. Go dig through your garage, raid the recycling bin, and maybe steal a pool noodle from a kid’s summer stash.
Pick one idea and try it today. Your odd‑sized art has been waiting long enough. And the next time a frame store rejects you, just smile and walk out. You’ve got better things to build.