6 Best Decorative Matting Boards for Framing Kid Artwork

The refrigerator door is often the primary gallery for a child’s creative output, but those masterpieces quickly accumulate, curl, and fade under magnets. Transitioning these pieces into a framed wall display preserves them as meaningful keepsakes while instantly elevating the look of a family hallway or playroom. Choosing the right mat board ensures that these temporary treasures remain protected and visually organized for years to come.

Crescent Select Matboard: Best for Archival Quality

When a specific piece of art—perhaps a first portrait or a school award—warrants long-term preservation, archival materials are a necessary investment. Crescent Select is a standard choice for those who want to prevent the yellowing and brittleness that common construction paper often experiences over time. Its buffered surface helps neutralize acids that might otherwise damage delicate pencil or marker drawings.

These boards are ideal for homeowners who view their children’s artwork as historical family artifacts rather than temporary decor. While the price point is higher than craft-store alternatives, the protection offered is significant for items stored in basements or hung in sun-exposed rooms.

The bottom line: Choose this board when the artwork is intended to be a permanent family keepsake. It provides peace of mind that the colors and paper integrity will hold up against natural aging processes.

Peterboro Matboards: Best Overall Color Selection

Finding a mat that matches the exact shade of a crayon or paint used in a child’s drawing can make the art pop, but standard neutral mats often fall flat. Peterboro stands out for its extensive range of hues, moving well beyond basic white, black, and cream. This allows for a more personalized touch that complements the vibrant, eclectic nature of kids’ art.

For families with designated “creative zones” or playrooms, these colors can bridge the gap between messy art and professional-looking displays. Because the color selection is so vast, it is easy to find a shade that ties a busy piece of art into the existing color palette of a room.

The bottom line: Opt for Peterboro when the goal is a cohesive, designer-led look for a gallery wall. The variety justifies the cost if visual harmony is the priority.

Golden State Art Mats: Best Value for Bulk Projects

Homes with multiple children often face the challenge of managing a high volume of artwork that changes frequently. Purchasing individual custom mats becomes expensive and time-consuming, making bulk-pack options like Golden State Art a practical solution. These mats are typically sold in sets, allowing for a consistent, uniform look across an entire hallway or staircase gallery.

These boards prioritize affordability and accessibility, making them perfect for renters who want to decorate walls without a massive upfront investment. While they may not offer the same heavy-duty archival rating as premium brands, they are durable enough for standard framed displays.

The bottom line: Buy these in bulk packs when rotating seasonal art or displaying multiple pieces simultaneously. It is the most economical way to frame an entire collection without sacrificing a tidy appearance.

Bainbridge Alphamat: Best for Fade-Resistant Color

Sunlight is the primary enemy of childhood art, often turning vivid watercolors or colored pencil sketches into faint, washed-out images. Bainbridge Alphamat boards feature pigments specifically engineered to resist fading, keeping the mat color as sharp as the day it was hung. This makes them a superior choice for sunny living rooms or breakfast nooks where framed art catches morning light.

Because these mats are also fade-resistant, they prevent the unsightly “ghost lines” that sometimes appear around the edges of art after a few years of sun exposure. They represent a balance between high-end archival performance and everyday utility.

The bottom line: Use these in brightly lit areas of the home to ensure both the art and the mat maintain their original, crisp appearance. The durability factor prevents the need for re-framing a few years down the line.

Lineco Self-Adhesive Board: Easiest for Beginners

Mounting artwork can be a frustrating task for those without experience, often resulting in crooked alignment or messy adhesive residue. Lineco provides a self-adhesive option that removes the guesswork from securing art to the mat. This feature is particularly useful for parents who need to get a project finished quickly during a busy weekend.

These boards are perfect for busy households where time is limited and efficiency is valued over complex custom framing techniques. They eliminate the need for specialized tape or spray adhesives that can accidentally ruin a piece of original art.

The bottom line: If speed and ease of use are the top priorities, this is the most stress-free solution. It allows for a clean, professional finish without the learning curve of traditional mounting.

Logan Pre-Cut Mats: Best for Standard Frame Sizes

Trying to find a custom mat that fits an odd-sized piece of paper often leads to wasted time and unnecessary expense. Logan offers a wide variety of pre-cut sizes that align with standard frame dimensions found at most home goods stores. This makes the framing process a simple “drop-in” operation rather than an involved craft project.

For the homeowner who prefers off-the-shelf frames over custom shops, Logan mats simplify the entire workflow. These are perfect for standard 8×10 or 11×14 frames, ensuring that the art is perfectly centered every time.

The bottom line: Choose Logan when using standard-sized frames to avoid custom cutting fees. It is the most reliable way to achieve a professional, centered result with minimal effort.

How to Pick a Mat Color That Complements the Art

A mat should highlight the art, not compete with it for attention. A general rule of thumb is to select a neutral color—like off-white, light gray, or soft beige—that appears in the artwork. This pulls the colors together without making the frame look overly busy or distracting.

If the artwork is very bright, a dark or bold-colored mat can act as a frame within a frame to ground the piece. However, avoid matching the mat color to the exact shade of the walls, as this can make the artwork appear to “float” or disappear into the background.

• Neutral mats: Best for intricate, multi-colored drawings.
• Dark mats: Best for high-contrast, bold, or black-and-white sketches.
• Soft pastels: Best for delicate, light-handed crayon or watercolor pieces.

Measuring Your Artwork for the Perfect Mat Board Fit

Accurate measurement is the difference between a polished display and a sloppy one. Always measure the visible portion of the artwork you want to show, then subtract about 1/4 inch from each side to create an “overlap.” This overlap is crucial because it gives you a buffer to tape the art to the back of the mat without the adhesive showing.

Never guess the dimensions, as even a small error can result in gaps that look unrefined. Use a metal ruler rather than a fabric tape measure for the most precise, rigid edge when marking your lines.

Single vs. Double Matting: When to Use Each One

Single matting is the classic choice for simple displays and works well for small, intimate spaces like offices or smaller bedrooms. It keeps the focus entirely on the artwork and is the most cost-effective approach for framing large quantities of pieces.

Double matting, which features a thin inner border of a contrasting color, adds significant depth and sophistication to a piece. Reserve double matting for “hero” pieces—such as a particularly detailed drawing or a piece of art that will be hung in a high-traffic area like a living room.

• Single Mat: Use for casual, frequent updates to a gallery wall.
• Double Mat: Use for display-quality pieces that you plan to keep for years.

A Quick Guide to Safely Mounting Artwork to a Mat

Always use acid-free archival tape to mount art to the mat board, as standard household tape will eventually dry out and damage the paper. Only apply tape to the top edge of the art, allowing the bottom to “hang” freely; this prevents the paper from buckling as humidity levels change throughout the year.

• Avoid: Never use glue sticks or liquid adhesives, as they cause permanent damage.
• Recommended: Use gummed linen tape or archival hinge tape for a secure, reversible hold.
• Pro-tip: Ensure the art is centered on the backing board, not the mat, before applying the hinge tape to keep it securely in place.

Whether preserving a single childhood milestone or creating an ever-changing gallery of weekly creations, the right mat board provides the structure and protection necessary for a home gallery. By balancing the need for archival quality, visual appeal, and ease of use, you can transform everyday drawings into lasting memories. Stick to standard sizing and neutral tones for the best results, and do not hesitate to use archival mounting techniques to ensure those masterpieces endure.