Wall Art Size Guide: What Size Art for Your Wall?

The short version: art above furniture should be about two-thirds of the furniture's width, hung so the bottom of the frame sits 20 to 25 cm above it. On an empty wall, aim for art that covers around half to two-thirds of the wall's width, with its centre about 145 to 150 cm from the floor. If one piece isn't wide enough, use two or three side by side, with gaps of 5 to 10 cm, and treat them as one block.

The three rules of thumb

1. Two-thirds of the furniture. Above a sofa, bed, sideboard or table, the art (or group of art) should be roughly two-thirds of the furniture's width. Much smaller looks lost; wider than the furniture looks top-heavy.
2. 20 to 25 cm above furniture. Leave this gap between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame, so the two read as one arrangement.
3. Centre at eye level. On a wall with nothing below it, hang the centre of the art at about 145 to 150 cm from the floor. Our guide to how to hang a picture explains how.

Wall art size chart by room

Widths here are the total width of the art, including the frame. Frames add a few centimetres to the size of the print itself.

Where	Typical furniture width	Art width to aim for	Options that work
Above a three-seater sofa	About 200 cm	120 to 140 cm	One A0 landscape; two A1 or 60 × 90 cm portrait side by side; three A3 in a row
Above a two-seater sofa	About 150 cm	90 to 100 cm	One A1 landscape; two 50 × 70 cm portrait
Above a double or king bed	140 to 160 cm	90 to 105 cm	One A1 landscape; two 50 × 70 cm portrait
Above a sideboard	120 to 160 cm	80 to 105 cm	One A1 or 60 × 90 cm; two A2
Above a console or desk	80 to 120 cm	55 to 80 cm	One A2 or 50 × 70 cm; two A3
Above a fireplace	Match the mantel	Two-thirds of the mantel	One A1 or 60 × 90 cm portrait, or a centred landscape
Hallway or narrow wall	No furniture	Half the wall's width	One A2 or 50 × 70 cm portrait; a vertical stack of two A3
Above a dining table	160 to 200 cm	100 to 140 cm	One A0 landscape; a pair of A1

For exact dimensions of each size, see our picture frame size chart and canvas size guide.

One large piece, a pair or a group?

• One large piece gives a calm, confident focal point. It's the easiest to get right and suits minimal rooms.
• A pair of the same size, side by side, is a simple way to fill a wide space like a sofa or bed. Keep the gap between them to 5 to 10 cm.
• A row of three suits long furniture and works well with a matching set of prints.
• A gallery wall mixes sizes for a more personal, relaxed look. Treat the whole group as one shape and apply the two-thirds rule to it. Our gallery wall guide has layouts and spacing.

Common sizing mistakes

• Going too small. This is by far the most common mistake. A single A3 frame above a sofa looks lost. If in doubt, go a size up, or add a mount, which makes a print look bigger without changing it.
• Hanging too high. Art floating high above the furniture loses its connection to it. Keep the 20 to 25 cm gap.
• Ignoring ceiling height. In rooms with high ceilings, portrait pieces or vertical stacks use the height well. In low rooms, landscape pieces keep things balanced.
• Uneven gaps in groups. Wide or inconsistent gaps make a pair or row look like separate pieces. Keep spacing tight and equal.

Testing the size before you buy

1. Cut paper or card to the outside size of the framed piece. Taped-together newspaper works fine.
2. Tape it to the wall where the art will go.
3. Look at it from across the room, and leave it up for a day if you can.

You can also see your own artwork in a frame before ordering, using Preview Your Own Artwork on any of our frames.

Common questions

What size art should go above a sofa?

About two-thirds of the sofa's width. Above a 200 cm three-seater, that's 120 to 140 cm of art: one A0 landscape piece, or two A1 or 60 × 90 cm pieces side by side.

What size picture should go above a bed?

About two-thirds of the bed's width. For a double or king bed, one A1 landscape piece or two 50 × 70 cm pieces side by side.

How high should art be hung above a sofa?

With the bottom of the frame 20 to 25 cm above the back of the sofa.

Is it better to have one big picture or several small ones?

Either works if the total width follows the two-thirds rule. One large piece feels calm and bold; a pair or group feels more relaxed and personal.

What is the most common wall art mistake?

Choosing art that's too small for the wall or furniture. When in doubt, go a size up or add a mount.