The ultimate Nielsen frame buying guide

Nielsen is one of the most highly regarded manufacturers of ready-made frames in the world. Founded in 1971 in Germany, their frames are renowned for quality, using the very best materials and a team of designers to create a range of premium ready-made frames. Nielsen is mainly known for their range of aluminium frames and offer different designs and finishes. Their commitment to being a market leader in ready made frames is apparent. They are the only manufacturer with an extruding, anodizing and painting facility exclusively for producing picture frame moulding, enabling strict in-house quality control.

As well as high-quality aluminium frames, Nielsen also produces picture frames made from wood and composite materials with equally rigorous quality control checks. Along with their range of standard frames, Nielsen also offers multi-aperture frames that are ideal for framing a collection of standard-sized photographic prints, as well as uniquely designed frames for specific jobs.

We’ve broken down the Nielsen products we offer to make it easier to understand the differences in their construction, design and use. If you'd rather skip the buying guide, you can shop the entire collection of Nielsen frames on eFrame instead.

• Aluminium frames
• Wood frames
• Composite frames
• Other frame types

Aluminium Frames

Chances are, if you’ve heard of Nielsen, then you will most likely associate them with aluminium ready mades. Aluminium is an ideal material for picture framing, thanks to its outstanding strength to weight ratio and durability. In addition, the high-quality metals don't warp over time either. This strength allows for a sleek, thin border on even the largest prints - without the risk of bowing or breaking.

Their aluminium ready made options are not only great value for money, but they will help to protect your artwork throughout its lifetime. Below we’ve listed the aluminium frames you can find at eFrame, along with their unique features, finishes and colours.

Largo

Impactful and sophisticated, this silver frame strikes a balance between sturdiness and elegance effortlessly. The width of the frame makes for a bold border around your artwork. At the same time, the brushed silver finish ensures this border will not overpower any framed designs, keeping your display sophisticated and well proportioned.

• Material: Aluminium
• Profile: Soft curve, 30mm wide
• Colour: Silver
• Finish: Brushed
• Sizes: Popular standard sizes

C2

The C2 frame is a solid choice for any interior looking for a contemporary and versatile picture frame with a sleek modern design. Thanks to the strength of the aluminium moulding, the frame can feature a narrow border without compromising the structure of the frame, letting your artwork take centre stage.

• Material: Aluminium
• Profile: Square, 10mm wide
• Colour: Black, Grey, Silver
• Finish: Brushed
• Size: Variety of sizes

Pearl

Like the C2, this is range has a minimal modern design but comes with a subtle cushion profile instead. This rounded shape draws your eyes inwards towards the artwork. The Pearl range is available in a variety of colours and either a matt or polished finish, making it another excellent example of Nielens value for money proposition.

• Material: Aluminium
• Profile: Cushion, 10mm wide
• Matte finish: Black, Silver
• Polished finish: Gold, Silver
• Size: Variety of sizes

Classic

The Classic range from Nielsen features a skinny 9.5mm profile width with slightly rounded edges to create a cushion design. Available in a polished or frosted finish in various colours, this frame is ideal for a diverse set of spaces. We think the polished black would suit an industrial interior, while the polished gold and silver finishes would complement a more luxurious theme.

• Material: Aluminium
• Profile: Cushion, 9.5mm wide
• Polished finish: Black, Gold and Silver
• Frosted finish: Silver
• Size: Variety of sizes

Kuros

As of 2021 the Kuros range from Nielen's is no longer available.

Wooden Frames

As well as being the go-to for aluminium ready mades, Nielsen also offers a great selection of pocket-friendly wooden frames. These frames are manufactured to the same high-quality standards and combine the clean appearance associated with Nielsen with more traditional framing materials - making them ideal for a wide variety of interiors. Natural finish frames are perfect for anyone looking for a warm and authentic accent for their homes, while the painted options provide a premium finish with a subtle hint of the wood grain’s texture.

Essentielles

This frame has inwardly sloped moulding that will keep your artwork captivating at any angle. A relatively thick frame border gives this frame a bold sense of strength without detracting attention from any artwork displayed inside. This design lends itself to interiors where the sleek modern thin borders seen on the other Nielsen frames may look out of place, particularly Scandi or farmhouse interiors. There is even a multi-aperture variant featuring 4 openings for 6”x4” prints.

• Material: Wood
• Profile: Slope, 27mm wide
• Natural finish: Birch
• Painted finish: Black, White, Palisander
• Size: Variety of sizes

Apollo

This frames design is sure to appeal to anyone looking for a simple modern look with a contemporary frame profile. With a flat face and square edges, the apollo line is as clean and sleek as they come, especially as it is one of the thinner wood frames Nielsen offer. They also make this range in a natural wood finish and texture. These frames can hold either a single picture or multiple pictures with space for 3 5" x7" prints.

• Material: Wood
• Profile: Flat, 20mm wide
• Colour: Black, Natural, Wenge and White
• Finish: Painted
• Size: Variety of sizes

Starfish Naturals

Product no longer available on eFrame site

• Material: Wood
• Profile: Cushion, 20mm wide
• Colour: Birch, Black, Gold and Silver
• Finish: Painted
• Size: Variety of sizes

Composite Frames

Composite frames are typically made from a mixture of materials, hence the term composite. By way of example, MDF wraps are made from wood fibres held together by a bonding agent, usually a synthetic resin. These frames are often seen as cheaper than metal or solid wood, and despite their value - they do come with certain advantages.

MDF frames are more environmentally friendly than other alternatives, as they are primarily made from recycled wood. With a high-quality decorative wrap, an MDF frame can look indistinguishable from a regular wooden frame and, at the same time, is less likely to warp, swell or crack.

Another example of a composite material used in framing is plastic or resin. Again, polymers tend to be less quality than other framing materials but have undeniable advantages. These include a desirable strength to weight ratio and a hard surface (which helps them withstand knocks).

Gallery (Float)

This frame has a unique design that facilitates showcasing 4 pictures, 2 10cm x 15cm prints and 2 9cm x 13cm prints. If you're looking for a stylish way to display a collection of photos, this frame is ideal. The openings are measured in metric but are suitable for 2 6" x4" prints and 2 3.5" x5".

• Material: MDF wrap
• Profile: Flat, 25mm wide
• Colour: Black
• Finish: Painted
• Size: 33cm x 43cm to fit 2x 10cm x 15cm, and 2x 9cm x 13cm

Colorado

Nielsen’s most popular composite frame, the colorado series of frames, are perfect for anyone on a budget looking for a quality product to display artwork, prints or certificates. This frame features everything you would expect to see with a frame along with a price that’s hard to beat.

• Material: Composite
• Profile: Cushion, 17mm wide
• Colour: Black, Silver
• Finish: Shiny
• Size: Variety of sizes

Unique Frames

As well as the collections above, Nielsen also manufacture frames to meet a framing niche, mainly multi-aperture frames where you can display multiple photos in one frame. All these frames are built to the same high standard expected from Nielsen, many from materials found in their regular frame product line.

Frame Box/Football Shirt

Admittedly a niche product, this frame is ideal for displaying a football shirt or any other article of clothing that you want to preserve, protect and showcase. The frame features a smooth, durable action to easily open and close the frame, which ships with a complimentary hanger that suits the style of the frame and hangs perfectly inside. The frame features a rebate depth of 15mm, ensuring your shirt is flat without causing any damage and is available in either black or silver.

• Material: Aluminium
• Profile: Flat, 22mm wide
• Colour: Black, Silver
• Finish: Matte
• Size: 70cm x 90cm

Gallery Junior

This line of frames from Nielsen (as the name suggests) are multi-aperture frames that include a mount and are designed like a gallery style frame, with a narrow profile face and deep moulding. Available in a variety of different layouts, all designed to fit 6”x4” prints, there are frames that will display 2, 3, 4 or 6 openings.

• Material: Aluminium
• Profile: Flat, 7mm
• Colour: Black, Silver
• Finish: Matte
• Size: Variety of sizes

Tip - The Nielsen face papers are pH neutral and can be used as a barrier board.