How to Remove Facial Shine for a Long-Lasting Matte Look

A blogger friend commented on my recent frame project that we can’t leave anything shiny alone. To prove the point, I gathered three frames I had collected at different times over the years. They all shared a gold-or-silver metallic finish on wood and once held photos of my children when they were babies. After more than twenty years, they were due for a refresh—time to banish the shine.

Choosing Paint and Preparing the Frames

I started by mixing white paint with a touch of silver to tone down the original metallic finish. The first coat allowed the frames to gain an even, muted base without losing the subtle depth the metallic underlayer gave them. Once that coat was dry, I applied a second coat in pure white to brighten and unify the look.

Creating a Natural Distressed Finish

To add character and prevent the frames from looking too flat or new, I distressed the edges. Instead of sandpaper, I used a simple stone to rub along the high points and edges where wear would naturally occur. This technique revealed bits of the original metallic tone beneath, giving the frames a lived-in, layered appearance without the glare.

You can see the original finish peeking through in places, which makes each frame feel unique while still matching as a group.

Hanging the Frames Creatively

After placing the photos back in the frames, I wanted to hang them in a vertical grouping. I used a strip of white fabric as the mounting background and attached it to the wall with a small pin. Then I positioned nails along the fabric and hung the frames from them. This fabric strip created a clean, soft backdrop and made the trio feel like a single, cohesive installation.

Because each photo had a different background and tone, making the frames similar ensured the set looked intentional and balanced. The muted white finish ties the images together while the distressed edges let each frame keep a little of its original personality.

The Result: A Timeless, Cohesive Display

The finished grouping gives my family photos a fresh, cohesive setting without erasing their history. My “babies” are no longer babies—indeed, they’re all taller than I am—but the frames honor those early moments while fitting into our current home. They match as a set, yet the faint metallic hints underneath keep each frame from feeling identical.

This is an easy, low-cost makeover that updates older frames, reduces glare from metallic finishes, and creates a unified display. If you have mismatched metallic frames at home, try a white base coat, a light second coat, and gentle distressing where natural wear would appear. The result is a clean, modern look with personality.

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