How to pick art the right size for your space
I've created a much more comprehensive guide to replace this one. Check it out over here: NEW SIZING GUIDE
Deciding what size artwork you need for a specific space can be tricky. Art pulls a room together, but if the size isn't right, something will feel off. Too big and your space can feel overcrowded, too small and your room can look incomplete.
Don’t worry! I have a few tried and true tricks to make sure you feel confident choosing the right size for your home.
Photo by Kierstin Smyth Design (private commission)
The Golden Rule
Art should take up 2/3 to 3/4 of your wall space. Measure the height and width of your wall and then multiply them by both .66 and .75 to find your minimum and maximum. You can use the same calculation to find the range of sizes of art to best fit above a piece of furniture.
For example, if your credenza is 5 feet wide, multiply 5 by .66 and .75. In this case, a piece of art between 3.3 feet and 3.75 feet wide will look great above the credenza. Remember - you can combine multiple pieces to achieve the right size!
A reference guide:
| Furniture Piece | Art Size |
| 72" sofa | 48-54" wide |
| 84" sofa | 56-66" wide |
| 96" sofa | 36-72" wide |
| Twin Bed | 25-30" wide |
| Full Bed | 35-41" wide |
| Queen Bed | 40-45" wide |
| King Bed | 50-57" wide |
| 48" table | 32-36" wide |
| 60" table | 40-48" wide |
| 78" table | 52-59" wide |
Visualize It
An easy trick to help visualize the size of a piece of art in a room is to tape it out. Outlining the dimensions of different options on your wall will help you understand what will look best. Another great way to do this is by cutting out the dimension of your potential art piece from Kraft paper and taping it to the wall. This is especially handy if you’re working on a gallery wall or hanging multiple pieces together.
Heart of Gold and Rise I | Get them as a pair!
A Few More Tips
- Bigger is better. Choosing a piece of wall art that is on the slightly larger side of what you think will be appropriate for a wall is better than it being too small which makes the room feel barren.
- A general rule is that the centre of the piece should be about 58" high
- The bottom of the piece should hang 6-12" above the closest piece of furniture.
Happy Hanging!
Love the reference guide! Bookmarking for later. Thanks!
So many questions answered…. what a great reference guide
Thanks!
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