Start by removing the glass, backing board, and any hanging hardware from all four frames. This not only reduces weight and bulk but also gives you cleaner corners to work with. Lay all four frames out flat and compare them — if there are significant differences in depth or molding detail, decide which sides will face outward before you begin joining them, since you want the most attractive sides visible in the finished piece.
If you want all four frames to look unified, this is the moment to paint or stain them. Chalk paint in matte white, black, or a soft sage green gives a beautifully rustic finish. A coat of dark walnut wood stain over a sanded frame brings out the grain and gives the whole piece a polished, intentional look. Apply your chosen finish, let it dry completely, and then lightly sand if you want a distressed effect that makes the piece look like something you would find in a boutique home goods shop for four times what you spent.
To join the four frames into a box structure, stand them upright on their edges and arrange them so that each frame forms one side of a square or rectangular box. The front face of each frame becomes one visible side of the box. At each corner where two frames meet, use your chosen binding material to tie them securely together. Thick twine or jute rope wrapped several times around the corner joint and knotted tightly creates a beautiful rustic connection point that becomes a decorative feature in itself. If you prefer a cleaner, more modern look, use small hinges or corner brackets on the inside of each joint instead. For the most secure connection, pre-drill small guide holes through both frame edges at each corner and thread your twine or cord through before knotting.
Project Idea 1: An Outdoor Garden Lantern
This is probably the most dramatic use of the four-frame box, and it genuinely looks like something you would buy from an upscale garden or home decor store. Once your four frames are joined at the corners into an open box shape, you need to create a base and optionally a top. For the base, cut a piece of thin plywood or a wooden board to fit the interior dimensions of the box and attach it to the bottom of the frame structure using wood glue or small screws driven through the frame edges. Sand and paint or stain the base to match the frames.
