Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
How to Make a Plain Picture Frame Look Expensive with This Easy DIY
Problem: You found the perfect picture frame, but it still looks...plain.
Solution: Turn it into a boutique-worthy keepsake with a few simple embellishments that reflect the person you're gifting it to.
As Problem Solution Girl, I love finding inexpensive ways to solve everyday decorating and gifting problems. This easy DIY picture frame makeover is one of my favorites because it transforms an affordable frame into a personalized gift that looks far more expensive than it actually is.
🛍️Shop the Post
Support me as a creator and shop my links with no extra cost to you! See my creations come together via my Amazon Shop plus get buying links at affordable prices!
We also love shopping CVS ❤️ (the ExtraCare card savings stack helping you to save!) and here are some of our CVS finds to stock up on (especially when you get that 40% off coupon!) and love Walmart (Walmart+ gets you free shipping and delivery on many items) and Sam’s Club for extra savings on beauty, fashion and we love their furniture too!
🛠️We also love Lowe’s (see our Lowe’s storefront here) for all our home improvement projects and gardening loves (and animal lover loves too!).
📕Bookmark or pin this one by clicking the Pinterest SAVE button on the images in this article for creative magic in an instant.
Easy DIY Boho Picture Frame Makeover Using Seashells and Feathers
👉More Product Loves❤️
You can also get the products I’ve featured and more of my product loves via my Target shop here or my CVS Store here (use your ExtraCare card to double up on savings!) or via my shop my store here or below:
🔗Links go out to either the brand website, Amazon, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, or Lowe’s where we source our supplies based on discounts, budget and pricing.
Why This DIY Works
Sometimes less really is more.
Instead of covering the entire frame with embellishments, I kept everything concentrated along one side.
That asymmetrical design gives the frame a clean, modern look while still making it feel handcrafted and personal.
The neutral colors also allow the vacation photos to remain the star of the gift.
More Ways to Personalize a Plain Picture Frame
The beauty of this project is that you can completely customize it to match your own decorating style or the personality of the person receiving it.
Here are a few ideas to attach to a frame for boutique style decor:
Driftwood pieces or seashells on a frame in a pattern for a coastal look
Pressed flowers for cottagecore style
Faux pearls for elegant decor
Vintage buttons for a sentimental keepsake
Small pieces of lace for shabby chic style
Ribbon or velvet trim for a classic design
Dried lavender or eucalyptus for natural texture
Mini wooden beads for Scandinavian style
Tiny charms that represent favorite hobbies
Fabric scraps from meaningful clothing or quilts
Colorful gemstones for a more glamorous look
Painted wooden shapes for seasonal decorating
Whether your style is minimalist, farmhouse, coastal, boho, vintage, or colorful maximalist, this project can easily become your own.
Make a driftwood tree to match your boho frame using my simple tutorial here on my website or see me make it in the short video below via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Why Printed Photos Make the Best Gifts
We all have thousands of photos stored on our phones.
Unfortunately, most of them rarely get looked at again.
Printing your favorite memories gives them a permanent place in your home where they'll be seen and appreciated every day.
A framed vacation photo becomes much more than a picture. It becomes a conversation starter. A reminder of time spent together. A memory that can be enjoyed for years.
That's exactly why I'm planning to carefully package this frame and ship it to my in-laws. Every time they see it, I hope they'll smile and remember our wonderful Georgia vacation together.
Sometimes the most meaningful gifts aren't the most expensive—they're simply the most thoughtful.
Love this photo of our family…I’ll always remember people floating on inner tubes behind us, lol!
Why I Decided to Upgrade a Plain Picture Frame
Recently, my husband and I took a wonderful trip to Georgia with my in-laws. We made so many special memories together that I didn't want those photos sitting on my phone forever.
Instead, I decided to print several of our favorite vacation photos using the CVS Photo App (it’s within their main app) and create a personalized gift for my in-laws and one for myself.
Since I'm a CVS Creator, I use their 1-Hour Photo Service often because it's incredibly convenient. I simply upload my photos through the app, place my order, and they're usually ready for pickup in about an hour. It's one of my favorite ways to quickly turn digital memories into something you can actually enjoy every day.
Personalized Vacation Photo Gift Idea with a DIY Coastal Picture Frame
Even better, I used my CVS ExtraCare Plus membership to save money. The membership costs just $5 per month, includes a $10 monthly bonus reward, and offers free shipping on qualifying orders. I ordered several photo prints and used my monthly bonus, bringing my total to under $5 for all of my vacation photos. That's a budget-friendly win in my book!
The Plain Frame Problem
I found two simple picture frames at CVS for around $8 each.
They were cute, neutral, and exactly the right size—but they needed a little personality.
Since my mother-in-law loves seashells and I love relaxed boho decorating, I wanted to create something that blended both of our decorating styles while keeping the design elegant and minimalist.
The goal was simple:
Take an inexpensive frame and make it look like something you'd find in a boutique gift shop.
Hot gluing the feathers on
How I Made My Picture Frame Look Expensive
This DIY couldn't have been easier.
Here's exactly what I did:
Printed 4x6 vacation photos using the CVS Photo App.
Placed several photos inside the 4x6 frame (CVS, but Amazon has some similar frames here) so my in-laws can switch them out whenever they'd like.
Hot glued a small cluster of natural feathers along one side of the frame using a low temperature setting.
Used Liquid Fusion Glue to attach small seashells arranged into delicate butterfly shapes (hot glue just doesn’t hold shells together as this glue does)
Finished the design by adding a few dried bunny tail and pompas grasses for soft texture and a modern boho feel.
Use Liquid Fusion glue for the shells
The best part?
Almost all of my embellishments were items I already had.
The seashells were collected during walks on our local Florida beaches, and the feathers came from Amazon. Since I already owned the decorating supplies, the overall project cost stayed incredibly low while making the frame look completely custom.
Creative Ways to Display Printed Photos with a Handmade Picture Frame
Problem Solved
If you've ever looked at an inexpensive picture frame and wished it looked more high-end, don't replace it.
Personalize it.
With just a few simple embellishments and your favorite printed photos, you can create a boutique-style keepsake that feels unique, meaningful, and completely one-of-a-kind.
As Problem Solution Girl, I love finding simple, affordable solutions that make everyday life a little more beautiful—and this easy DIY picture frame makeover is definitely one of them.
If you try this project, I'd love to hear how you personalized your own frame!
🎬Take Action
If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💖 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: How to Stamp Toilet Paper for a Cute Guest Bathroom
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.