You have finally graduated and some huge congratulations are in order! Now that you’ve finally gotten the diploma you spent years fighting for, you likely feel a sense of relief and triumph. And you should! This is one of the proudest moments you will have in your life! And now that this chapter in your life is over, it is time to display your diploma to remind you of this glorious day. You’ll get to look at it and remember that pride you felt any time you want to. And there are so many options when it comes to displaying your diploma, it could take a while to find the perfect frame.

Do you want a prestigious wood frame with a felt back in the colors of your university? Or do you want a deep shadow box that displays your tassel side by side with your diploma? Maybe you want a sleek and thin design with your university’s crest and name on it? 

Do you want a custom drawing of a specific building on campus? Or a photo of you in your cap and gown on graduation day? There are countless unique diploma frames to choose from. It can be overwhelming when thinking about choosing one of these or the many other diploma frame options, so check out this article to help guide you through your purchasing decision.

Reflect On Your Accomplishment

You did it! Somehow you got through and you got that degree. All those long hours studying and all the hard work you put in just for this moment! Do not let it fly by you! Before you start stressing about the next phase of your life, look back and reflect. Remember all the great memories you have made during this experience. Remember that amazing championship homecoming game and that one awesome dance. Think about all the amazing people you have met. Hold them close because it might be a while until you see them again.

Reflect on all that you have learned! Think about how you felt your freshman year and compare it to how you feel now. Take a deep breath and think about how happy you are that you pulled an all-nighter to finish that paper so you didn’t have to retake that class. Cherish these memories. You did a lot to get here and you don’t want to forget this feeling. So take as many photos as you can and save everything! Then, to help you remember this forever, start to think about displaying your degree.

Consider These Things When Looking for a Diploma Frame

There are more things than you would ever think to consider when looking for a diploma display. There are so many smaller decisions that will play a part in the final decision. Take a look at these things before you purchase a diploma frame.  

What Do You Specifically Want to Display

When thinking about this amazing achievement of yours, obviously you want to put it on display. That is an easy decision. What you need to think about is what exactly you want to display. You might not realize it, but it has an important impact on the display you choose. Do you want to display a traditional diploma or certificate? Do you want to include your entire graduation cap or just the tassel? Do you want to focus on the school you graduated from? You could do this with a plaque or a photo of your school on the display. Maybe you want a photo of you and your family or college best friends displayed. Think about what is important to you to help determine what you would like to display.

Are you someone that made many memorable friends in college? Maybe consider getting a frame that not only has your diploma in it, but a spot to put a picture of you and your best friends on your big day. Graduation is a day that you will always remember along with the friends that helped you get through your highs and lows throughout your college journey. If you met some of the best people in college, consider buying a frame for not only your diploma, but to show off the people that pushed you to be a better you every day.

Also, take into consideration frames with a watercolor design of your school, a black and white image of a popular spot, or the key location on campus. These are very unique frames that not only show off your diploma frame, but also to represent a spot on campus that meant a lot to you while spending time and studying at college. 

A watercolor, or black and white image would be great to have to remember that one spot on campus where you always hung out at, or just a spot where lots of your classes were in that you remember taking. What better way to remember your big graduation day than having a beautifully pencil drawn, or watercolor image to add to your diploma frame?

What Is Your Purpose For Displaying It

You probably haven't thought much about why you want to display your diploma. It is just natural to have your diploma hanging somewhere, right? Better there than laying in some random drawer. While this is true, your purpose for displaying your diploma can actually greatly impact what type of frame you want to purchase. So think about it. Do you want to display your diploma to remember graduation day and everything leading up to it? Are you displaying your degree to provide a source of credibility? Maybe you’re just displaying it to keep the document safe.

Your purpose for displaying matters greatly. For example, if you are going to be displaying your degree at work to show credibility you probably don’t want to get a display with a huge picture of you and your bestie on graduation day. If you are trying to preserve the document, you are going to want a super high-quality glass. You will probably want something waterproof. Get this figured out before you choose your frame.

Where You Will Keep Your Diploma

You are probably worried about how you will display your diploma before you even begin to think about where you will keep it. You are worrying in the wrong order! If you want to pick the perfect diploma display, you need to consider where you plan on keeping this display. Let’s continue with the previous example. Perhaps you are a psychologist who needs to have your degree displayed in your office so that patients can visibly see that you are properly trained. In this case, you probably want a sleek and professional design. You probably also want your actual degree to be the focus of the degree.

If you decide to hang your diploma in your work office, your clients will probably take you more seriously if you just display your diploma. Hanging up a picture of your college friends, or even your family alongside your diploma might be a better option if you decide to hang it up in your home office. Always keep in mind your professionalism when it comes to hanging up your diploma!

On the other hand, if you plan on displaying it in your home, you will want it to match the aesthetic of your home. Additionally, you will likely want something more personal, much more than just a certificate. If your goal is to preserve the document, you would want a secure design that you can file away or keep in a safe or somewhere else safe. 

In this case, you probably do not want anything extra displayed either. Think about all of your options for where you can display and choose one. Let that guide your decision when picking out a frame.

Will You Be Adding More Diplomas to Your Collection?

We know you just graduated, but think about whether or not there will be more displays. This decision will not only guide you on buying your display but help you decide where to keep your display. So, are you continuing your education? Even if you are not going back to school right away, if there is a chance there are some things you should keep in mind. You will want to keep your displays consistent. You may want to implement a theme throughout the display that way you can differentiate between them.

For example, maybe you want to display your certificate and tassel of each degree. That way when you display them in a line, you can see the different colors. Perhaps you want to display a photo of yourself or you and your family on the day of graduation for each degree or certification. 

That way you can see how much you have changed throughout the years. If you are displaying more than one, you may want to keep frames smaller. On the other hand, if this is your one and only degree you will be getting you probably want it to look special and distinct. Therefore, you may go for a large flashy frame.

Factor In Your Personal Style

While all of the above information is important, the most important factor in your purchase decision should be your personal style. At the end of the day, you should choose whichever frame you gravitate to most. If you want a basic monochrome display of a certificate, that is amazing! If you want a super colorful display with a photo of you hugging your parents hanging in your office, go for it! There is a huge collection of displays with varying designs, frame sizes, and colors. Choose what speaks to you. Maybe you want colors other than your school’s colors, that is fine! Maybe you want your tassel and your display to match, that is great! Do not let any outside opinions sway you from what you like the best. This piece is going to be hanging or sitting in your space forever. It is there so you can remember one of your greatest achievements. It is all about you, so remember that!

Be Proud

While it is easy to get wrapped up into choosing your frame, do not forget why you are buying one in the first place. Whether you tape your diploma to the wall or put it in a gold plated frame, it is still just a piece of paper. What makes it important is not what it is displayed in, but all of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into getting you that diploma. That diploma represents all of your sacrifices. It represents you spending years learning and finally being certified in a career that you are passionate about. It represents years of filling out the FAFSA and scholarship applications. It represents that one week where you ate ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

So, go ahead and buy that frame! Let it preserve the memory of one of your life’s best moments. Hang it on your wall, on your fridge, or place it on your desk. Wherever you keep it, make sure to acknowledge it. Let it remind you to be proud of yourself. Because yes, you did that!