Simple DIY Floating Frame For Canvas

Posted in DIY Home Decor
DIY Floating Frame For Canvas
Simple DIY Floating Frame For Canvas

Hey creative friend! I’m so glad you’re here. Today I’m sharing how I created a simple DIY floating frame for my new canvas wall art. While I am totally in LOVE with this canvas, it still needed a little something to make it really pop off of my chalkboard wall, and I found this idea on Pinterest. I think it will complement my modern farmhouse style perfectly. Here’s how I did it.

This post contains a few affiliate links to help you find the products I use. You are not charged extra to use any of the links, but any income I make will be used for more amazing DIY projects to share with you! To see my full disclaimer, click here!

Simple DIY Floating Frame For Canvas

So, here is the before adding the floating frame. You can see the canvas is very plain but adding a wood element to this farmhouse beauty made all the difference in its presentation. I wanted a WOW statement on my wall.

I added a floating frame to the canvas art and the results are beautiful!

Product List For This Project

Cutting The Lumber For The Floating Frame

Okay, so let’s talk angles for a minute. First off, you don’t have to be this fancy with your cuts. A simple square cut is perfectly acceptable and still looks great. I just wanted to try this bevel cut to see if I could do it. When I upgraded to a new miter saw last year, I knew it would come in handy at some point. I have to say it was a challenge, but I learned a lot during the process. It’s all about precision.

45 degree miter cut

Tips For Cutting The Perfect Fit

  1. You don’t have to measure the canvas for the board’s length needed for this kind of project. I find that laying the boards next to the canvas and using a pencil to mark the cuts is more accurate. You will get a much better fit with this method. I tried both. Be sure to allow room for the L brackets that the canvas will float on inside the frame. (I’ll show you later)
  2. Make sure your saw blade is made for trim or fine cuts. A 10-inch blade should have at least 40 teeth—a 12-inch blade at least 60.
  3. 45° miter angles are not always perfect. If the gap is small when the ends are butted together (about 1/16th of an inch off), recut one side of the miter. If the gap is larger, recut both sides, or they won’t line up correctly.

Building The Floating Frame

Insert the L brackets (corner brackets) inside the frame base and next to the canvas to check for a good fit before constructing the floating frame. If modifications need to be made, this is the time to make adjustments. You’ll want a snug fit for the canvas but not too tight or loose inside the frame. Always do a dry run of the fit to make sure the ends line up first. Now is not the time to get in a hurry. (almost perfect is okay) You know what I always say… perfectionism is overrated.

A frame for canvas art can can built with a few simple cuts. Get my DIY tutorial now on the blog.

Tips For A Seamless Fit On Your Floating Frame

  1. Apply a thin layer of wood glue to each end before assembling.
  2. Use a damp cloth to remove any excess wood glue on the surface.
  3. Pin nails to secure the joints.
  4. While the glue is still wet, use 220 grit sandpaper to smooth any rough edges for a professional finish. The sawdust from the sanding will adhere to the glue and fill in any tiny gaps.
  5. Fill the tiny nail holes with wood filler and sand them smooth. I used stain-grade wood filler for this project.
I used wood glue to connect the two ends on the DIY floating frame. This makes for a tight bond.
I'm all about some cool tools and these 90 degree corner clamps worked perfectly when building this frame.

This cool new toy in the picture above helped to hold the ends together and added another set of hands which was very helpful because of the size of the frame. It also helped to ensure that my corners were at a 90° angle. Not necessary, but helpful if you do a lot of woodworking with corners. Again, a simple square cut will also work for this floating frame, and if you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with simple first.

Adding A Weathered Finish To The Floating Frame

To finish off the wood on this floating frame, I used two colors of Gel Stain, blended the two on the wood to create a rustic weathered finish, and added a Gator Hide top coat for protection and durability.

For a natural wood finish on this frame I used gel stain.
I layer gel stain in different colors on wood for a rust weathered finish.
I sealed this floating frame with a strong and durable top coat called Gator Hide.

Adding The Spacers Inside The Frame…L Brackets

Next, attach the L brackets to the inside corners of the floating frame base. This is what the canvas will sit on to create the gap between the canvas and the frame and gives the appearance of the floating canvas inside the frame. These L brackets come in black, but I had these gold ones on hand and decided to give them a quick finish with black Rust-oleum spray paint first. Using black will minimize the advisability of the metal inside the frame.

You may need some help inserting a large canvas like this one into the frame. Take your time. It should be snug enough that it doesn’t fall out. The L brackets are the only thing holding the canvas in place.

L brackets were used inside the frame to create a gap for the canvas to rest on. DIY Floating Frame Tutorial
L brackets will help to create a gap inside the frame to give the appearance of a floating frame for my canvas art.
Here are the results of my DIY floating frame on my large canvas art. It really does give it a finished look. Tutorial available on the blog.

Re-Use The Frame Hangers On The Canvas

Most canvases come with wall hangers already mounted on the back. Simply unscrew them and reattach to the floating frame where you want them.

I re-used the frame hangers on the canvas and attached them to my DIY floating canvas. Get the full tutorial on the blog now.

Adding A Floating Frame Made All The Difference

A simple DIY floating frame on your canvas will make a HUGE difference in it's presentation. Learn how to DIY on the blog now where I share step by step instructions.
It could not have turned out any better! Try adding a DIY floating frame to your canvas art. Get all the instructions on the blog.

Wow! Can you believe what a difference this floating frame made to my Highland Cow Art? I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The miter cuts are definitely pretty but can be challenging for a first-timer. Hindsight is 20-20, and I should have used a smaller canvas for the first time. Sometimes you gotta go big or go home! Ha! That’s what gets me into trouble every time, but thank goodness it all worked out.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this project. Do you love working with wood? Afraid of the power tools? So was I at first. I’d love to hear about your experiences. Tell me about it in the comment section below.

Until the next project… xo, Do

Share

14 Comments

  1. Hola…!!!!!!! Quedo hermosisimo….. una idea GENIALLL para realzar un cuadro . Creo que buscare a cual de mis cuadros podre hacerle este hermoso trabajo ..Gracias

  2. I think it made a huge difference to frame your picture, also. It looks fantastic! Great job mitering and great job altogether!

  3. Hi Do
    The L brackets hold the picture, I would do the square frame(easy one) ..that came out beautifully! You are so talented! 💗💗

  4. Tou said you used 2 color combo for the stain. Do you mind sharing the colors, in your list it only shows one. Thank you

  5. Hi Do I love the frame, confused how the picture attaches to the frame? Does it just click inside the L brackets?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

×