When in doubt, choose white or off-white: it suits nine prints out of ten, keeps attention on the artwork, and never dates. But the other 10% is where matting gets interesting — here are the rules professional framers actually use.
The default: white and off-white
A white mat reads clean and contemporary; off-white (snow, ivory) is softer and flatters warm-toned art and photographs. If the print has a white background, match the mat to it so the image appears to float. It's the gallery default for a reason.
When to go black
Black mats suit high-contrast photography, dark artwork and anything dramatic — they make colors glow but shrink the apparent size of the image. Pair with a black frame for a deliberate, moody look; avoid black around delicate pastel work.
Picking a color
Pull a secondary color from the artwork, never the dominant one — matching the main color flattens the image. A double mat is the lower-risk way to add color: keep the wide top mat neutral and let a sliver of color show at the opening as an accent line. Browse plain and conservation shades on our picture mats page.
Proportions matter as much as color
A generous mat (2.5–3 inches for an 11x14 print) looks gallery-grade; a skinny 3/4-inch border looks like an afterthought. Weight the bottom edge slightly heavier if you're adding a caption. All our mats are bevel-cut to order from acid-free conservation board, 1.4mm thick with a white core — enter your exact frame and opening sizes and we cut to the fraction of an inch.
Choosing mat and frame together
Decide the mat color first, then the frame: the mat sits next to the art and does more visual work. Neutral mat + simple frame is the combination that survives redecorating. To preview both on your own photo, try our picture frames page.