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Paint. If you decide to paint the frame, be sure to use a type of paint appropriate for the wood. Latex-based paints will give a smoother, shinier appearance. You can paint the frame one color or you can paint on designs. Use long strokes and several coats to produce an even appearance.

Stain. Stain comes in a variety of colors. Try to choose one which closely matches the other wood stains in the room where the image will hang. You may wish to test the stain first on scraps of the wood, to see how many coats will be needed and how it will interact with the grain of the wood. With a stain it is best to add before putting the pieces of the frame together. This will give the stain a more even appearance. Use a stain brush to further ensure a professional finish. When the stain has dried, you can finish with a varnish to give the frame a nice shine.

You may wish to customize your frame to better match with the room in which it will be placed, or to accentuate an aspect of the photo or picture you'll place inside it. Before inserting the glass, image and mat, you can add paint or stain to the wood. The color of each is entirely up to you. Here's how you can paint or stain your picture frame to give it more flavor: