This is it: my favorite art project to date. I know that’s a bold claim, but it’s earned. I framed and hung my bike posters, and I love the result—not just because it looks great, but because it was simple and inexpensive. If I sound extra enthusiastic, forgive me. I’m a fan of bicycles and easy DIY projects.
Here’s the wall before, with the retail display posters just taped up and looking a little sad.
And here they are now, framed and hung. The two frames cost us just $14 to build—$7 each—and the hardest part was waiting for the stain to dry. Seriously, these frames were quick and affordable to make.
Here’s how it went. The $14 covered four 6-foot lengths of 1×2” pine from the hardware store. Since I was making two frames, I needed four long boards (for the vertical sides of each frame) and four shorter boards (for the tops and bottoms).
To ensure the pieces were uniform, I clamped four boards together and cut them at once. If you don’t have a saw, many stores will cut boards to size for you. After two cuts I had four long pieces and four short pieces ready for assembly.
I made the short boards an inch longer than the poster width so the poster would overlap the frame slightly (for example, a 27” poster would use 28” top and bottom pieces). For the side pieces I calculated the height by adding an inch to the poster height and subtracting the widths of the top and bottom boards so everything fit snugly.
I skipped mitered corners for a more rustic, straightforward look. No complex joinery was needed—just clamp, pilot-drill, and screw. I clamped the frame pieces in place, drilled pilot holes so the wood wouldn’t split, and then screwed the top and bottom boards into the side boards.
When the frames were assembled they looked simple and honest. I left the screw heads visible because the frames are meant to feel raw and unpolished; plus, most people won’t see those screws unless they’re unusually tall or lying on the floor. The exposed hardware actually complements the mechanical nature of the bike artwork.
I considered leaving the wood untreated since that’s how the posters were originally displayed in the store, but decided a dark stain would tie the frames into other wood accents in the room. We used a leftover dark walnut stain and followed it with a coat of clear satin polyurethane for protection. After the stain and finish dried, I attached the posters.
With the frames ready, I laid each poster face-down on the back. The inch of overlap around the edges hid the frame underneath. My prints were on thick, sturdy paper, so I secured them with a few staples around the perimeter—about four per side. If your poster paper is thinner, consider mounting it to a stiffer backing with spray adhesive or rubber cement to prevent wrinkling.
After stapling, I screwed simple hanging hardware through the poster and into the wood so nothing would show on the front. Then they were ready to go on the wall.
Seeing them hung was a small thrill. The raised frame gives the posters depth and lets them sit slightly off the wall, which adds visual interest and makes the pieces feel more substantial than a flat poster. Because the prints are on thick stock we opted not to add glass or plexiglass; they look more immediate and tactile without it. If we want more protection later, we can always add glazing, but for now the unobstructed look suits the room.
I’m really pleased with how they turned out. The deconstructed bike images are the focal point, but the handcrafted frames do a fine job of supporting the art without stealing the show. They feel durable and intentional rather than delicate museum pieces, which fits the casual, lived-in vibe of the space.
Now I can admire them from the kitchen sink while doing dishes—one more small pleasure of a simple DIY upgrade. We’re also planning to add a low storage piece beneath the artwork to balance the composition and provide practical function. I’ll share that update when it’s in place.
Update: We created a “Shop Our House” page to help identify furniture and accessories used around the house, including paint colors and sources for items we often mention.