DIY Home Decor DIY Projects

HOW TO UPCYCLE VINTAGE PICTURE FRAMES FOR A GALLERY WALL

After receiving a coat of gold paint and antiquing glaze, these vintage picture frames formed the perfect gallery wall!  Check out the before-and-after and easy instructions below…

UPCYCLING IDEAS FOR VINTAGE PICTURE FRAMES

There are countless ways to upcycle vintage picture frames!

  • Turn them into a calendar with a dry-erase board insert
  • Pin up your kid’s art or family photos by adding cork board to the back
  • Make a jewelry storage board by adding craft chicken wire 
  • Mount faux stems for floral wall decor
  • Replace the glass with a mirror for instant vintage glam
  • Use it as a base for a rustic wreath (round, square, or rectangle all work!)
  • For larger and deeper frames, add shelves for a wall shelf

The possibilities are endless… in fact, this may call for a roundup post down the road.  TBA!

My idea for a gold gallery wall using vintage picture frames came from the need to display my kiddo’s art.  My toddler is finally to the age where he is enjoying simple crafts and art activities, so I wanted a space to display everything that he so proudly creates!

Empty wall in hallway + old frames from my attic storage = SOLUTION

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MATERIALS FOR ANTIQUED GOLD VINTAGE PICTURE FRAMES

These frames were every shade of brown or cream, so to create a cohesive gold finish, I used metallic gold paint and then a final layer of antiquing medium.  Here’s my full source list:

TIPS ON PAINTING AN ANTIQUED GOLD FINISH

All of these frames turned out a little different based on their underlying shade and how much antiquing glaze I applied.  I prefer the differences so it’s not so matchy.  Even though they are different sizes, shapes, and patterns, they still have the same textured and antiqued gold hue that ties them together.  

Here are some tips that may help you achieve the same look:

  1. If you paint a white/cream frame gold, it will appear much lighter and brighter than the darker wood-tone frames.  This is because the paint is metallic and like all paints, the base layer impacts the final hue.  To solve this, I painted one coat of charcoal (any shade of brown or gray will do the trick) on the white frame before adding the gold.  This way, all of the frames had a similar base color.
  2. Two coats of metallic gold paint were enough, letting each coat fully dry.
  3. Follow the directions of your glaze or antiquing medium, but I found that blotting rather than wiping with a cloth was easier to control how much glaze was left on the frame. 
  4. Use a brush for your glaze if you cant get into the detailed crevices with a cloth. 
  5. Be lighthanded with the glaze at first until you know how easily it adheres to the gold paint.
  6. Seal everything with a polyacrylic sealant – the spray can version is super quick and easy!
  7. I determined the layout of my frames and then mounted gold wire to the back of each.  This way, I knew which frames would be vertical and horizontal and therefore how to orient the wire.  
  8. These gold mini clips blend well with the frames but are also sturdy enough to hold artwork, photos, etc. 

By using wire and clips, I avoided having to add a backing to each frame. Plus, it makes it super easy to switch out artwork frequently without the need to remove the frame from the wall and open the backing each time.

GOLD VINTAGE PICTURE FRAMES: THE FINAL LOOK

Here’s how my gallery wall looks – it completely fills the space of my hallway.  Pairing toddler artwork with gilded, museum-style frames is a fun way to mix old with new.


If you like upcycled furniture and decor projects, check out this Upcylced Window Frame Art and this old armoire that was transformed into an Art Deco Bar

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