Let’s Talk Framing – Giving Your Batiks the Spotlight They Deserve

In my opinion, a good frame is just as important as the art itself. The right one doesn’t just hold your piece — it elevates it. When it’s done well, a great frame quietly steps into the background, letting the artwork take centre stage. And honestly, finding that perfect balance? It’s an art form of its own.

Stretch Framed

When it comes to batiks, I’ve always loved the boldness of stretch framing. It lets the design speak for itself — big, beautiful, and confident, with no need for fuss. There’s something timeless about it, and for me, it brings back so many memories. It’s how I’ve seen batiks displayed throughout my life, and it always feels right, familiar and comforting.

But over the years, as I explored different ways of presenting Batiki, I found myself drawn to something new — the look of batiks with wide white borders. It all started with the original Blue Tiger, a batik I really wanted to hang in the house. I also wanted to preserve it properly, so I took it to a professional framer for advice.

That’s when I discovered the magic of the floating frame. If you haven’t come across it before, a floating frame creates the illusion that your artwork is hovering within the frame. There’s a little gap between the edge of the piece and the frame itself, which adds depth and draws your eye inward. It’s subtle but super effective and can totally transform a piece.

For Blue Tiger, this floating frame was slightly different as I wanted the wide border, so instead  the gap is between the art itself and the back board, still giving the impression of floating within the frame. The final result? Stunning. And yes, the frame was expensive (over £300-eek!), but in this case, it was absolutely worth every penny to protect the original and give it a gallery worthy finish.

Traditional Floating Frame

Floating Frame with Border & Glass

Now, if you’re thinking about framing your own batiks and you’ve got the budget, I’d definitely recommend a professional framer. But don’t worry if that’s not in the cards, DIY framing can work beautifully too.

The fabric I print on is thin enough to treat like paper art. It wraps easily around a backing board, which means you can slot it into a standard frame without too much hassle. In fact, a lot of the frames I use at home are upcycled finds from charity shops and car boots.

Batik prints also look great in those simple, modern, Ikea-style frames. They’re affordable, easy to get hold of, and really let the artwork shine. Sometimes, I even take out the glass or Perspex altogether, especially if I want to give the piece a more organic, textured feel. I feel it adds a nice mix of modern and traditional, which I love.

Clean, simple and affordable framing.

Whatever route you go, just remember, there’s no one ‘right’ way to frame a batik. It’s all about finding what works for you and your space. And when you get it right, it really does bring the art to life.

If you're not sure what frame works for you, drop me a line and we can brainstorm together!