Choosing the perfect size artwork for your room can be a challenge! With so many styles, colors, price points, and framing options out there, the choices can be overwhelming. Typically, we tend to look for artwork based on the color palette and style that we like, but there is another really important consideration to keep in mind – SIZE! In today’s post, I’ll be sharing tips for choosing the best size artwork for your home, and we’ll also talk about placement, so you can learn how to shop for and hang artwork like a pro.

When choosing artwork, you need to figure out what size will work best for your space. If the artwork is too small, it will look awkward, and draw more attention to the blank areas of the wall than the artwork itself. Too big, and you overwhelm the space, making the area feel small and crowded. So, how do you sort through all the different sizes of art to find the best fit for your wall space? Whether you need a great tip for working with a small space, or a general rule for working with a large blank wall, I’ve got you covered!

Rules for Determining Artwork Size

Like many things in interior design, there are some “rules” to follow when it comes to sizing and hanging artwork. I’ll be the first to tell you that these rules can be broken, and you should do whatever you want in your own home. But, if you’re not trying to break the mold with your creativity, and just want to know the tried-and-true methods for choosing the best size artwork for your space, then read on!

Rule #1 – Artwork Should Take Up 4/7 to 3/4 of the Available Wall Space

There is a little math involved in choosing the best size art, but I’m going to make it very easy for you.

  1. The first thing you need to do is measure your available wall space (width of your wall) in inches, and multiply it by 0.57 (which is the decimal value for the fraction 4/7).
  2. Then, repeat the calculation by multiplying your wall space by 0.75 (the decimal value for 3/4).
  3. You will have two numbers that represent the range in size that your artwork should be.

Let’s work through an example, shall we? If your wall space is 48″, you will multiply 48×0.57 to get 27. Next, multiply 48 by 0.75 to get 36. The best size artwork for your 48″ wall is between 27-36 inches wide. There are several standard sizes of art you can find within that range. For smaller rooms, you can go with smaller sizes on the lower end of the range. Easy, right?

In this hallway, the wall is 86″ wide. If we follow the calculations above, we should shop for artwork that’s 49-65 inches wide. This piece is 54″ wide, and you can see how nicely it fills the wall space.

Filling a large blank wall with a single piece of art isn’t always easy, and is sometimes rather expensive. For larger wall spaces, like in this hallway example, you have a couple of options.

  • You can use two or more smaller pieces side-by-side, such that the width of the two pieces together, and the space between them, adds up to the total width you’re aiming for.
  • Or, you could do a gallery wall.

Gallery walls are a great way to fill up a large space! Just remember that the total width of your gallery wall should follow the 4/7 to 3/4 rule. There are also some great displays you can make with wall baskets, or a combination of other fun wall decor (e.g., wood signs and wreaths).

  • TIP: Bigger is better! If you are buying artwork, it’s best to err on the side of buying too big, rather than too small. If you buy artwork that’s too small, it will look like an afterthought…like you just hung whatever  artwork you had lying around, without thinking about the best size artwork for your space. On the other hand, if you buy something a little too big, it will create a focal point, and draw attention to the oversized wall art. But that’s not always a bad thing! Making a strong statement with large wall art is a great way to showcase your personality.

Rule #2 – Artwork Above Furniture Should Take up 2/3 to 3/4 the Width of the Furniture

If you plan to hang artwork above a piece of furniture, like a sofa, dresser, or headboard, the artwork should be 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the furniture item. You don’t want to use the entire wall space as your guide in this case. Why? Because it’s important to maintain good proportions between your furniture and artwork.

You want the room to feel balanced, with each item given the opportunity to shine. If your artwork is larger than the furniture, then the furniture will seem smaller and less significant. If your artwork is too small, you’ll see too much empty wall space, and things will look “off.”

Take a look at this cute bedroom. If we used the total wall space to determine the size of our artwork, the artwork would probably be as big or bigger than the bed. It would look way too big with respect to the bed! So, when hanging artwork above a piece of furniture, we need to use the furniture as our guide for sizing the artwork.

best artwork size for bedrooms

Artwork: Boats II Wall Art from GreatBigCanvas.com

  • TIP: Use painter’s tape or masking tape to mark the size of the art you’re considering for your wall. Then stand back and see what you think about the size. This is the best way to “try on” a size before committing.

Rule #3 – Artwork Above a Fireplace Should Fall Between the Width of the Fireplace Opening and the Width of the Mantel

Artwork above a fireplace tends to look best when the width of the canvas size is larger than the opening of the fireplace, but smaller than the overall width of the mantel.

A lot of people like to hang their TVs above the fireplace in their living room, and it can be a great option. What’s better than watching a movie curled up on the sofa, with a cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a fire in the fireplace? Not much!

Basically, the same rules apply to the size of your TV. If your TV is huge, that’s great for watching football and movies, but not so great for aesthetics.

Ideally, your TV will follow Rule #3, or be around 2/3 the size of your fireplace mantel, whichever gives you the biggest TV. If you hate the idea of limiting your TV size, and this rule feels too restrictive to you, just remember what I said earlier…it’s your home, and you can do whatever you want.

  • TIP: Artwork and TV’s above the fireplace can be damaged over time due to excess heat. Consider hanging a mirror over the fireplace to avoid this.
best artwork size for fireplace

Artwork: The Island Art Print from Minted.com

Rule #4 – Hang Artwork 6-12 Inches Above Furniture

If you will be hanging artwork above your sofa, bed, dresser, or console table it’s best to leave about 6-12 inches between the top of the furniture, and the bottom of the artwork. This creates just enough visual space between the two, and ends up creating a nice balance with the furniture, artwork, and wall space up to the ceiling. However, if you have a very short piece of furniture, like a bench, follow Rule #5.

Rule #5 – Hang Artwork with Center About 64″ Above the Floor

You may have heard that you are supposed to hang pictures and artwork at eye level,  but this means different things to different people.

The average man in the US is 5’10” tall, and the average woman is close to 5’4″. So, the “average” height of both men and women is around 5’7″ tall (hey, that’s my height!). Since our eyes are a couple inches lower than the top of our heads, you can assume that “eye level” is somewhere around 64″ above the floor. So, that means that the center of your artwork should be 64″ above the ground – not the top, not the bottom, but the center.

The same rule applies to gallery walls. You can think of a gallery as one combined large artwork piece, rather than individual smaller prints, and the centre of a gallery wall should also be about 64″ above the ground.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, right? If you’re really tall, you can hang your artwork at a height that is comfortable for you. And, if you happen to be on the shorter side of average, go ahead and hang your artwork a bit lower. After all, you live in your home, and you should be the ones to enjoy your artwork.

Rule #6 – Hang Artwork (and TV’s) 3 to 6 Inches Above the Mantel

When you hang things above a fireplace, you are often already hanging them at a height higher than eye level. So, it’s OK to minimize the distance between the bottom of your artwork or TV and the top of your fireplace mantel. Hang your artwork about 3-6″ inches above the mantel for best results.

Wrap-Up

You just learned six essential rules in this wall art size guide that you can use to hang art like a pro in your home. Now that you know the rules, it’s time to go shopping for some great art pieces for your home. One of my favorite places to shop for art online is Minted, where you can find beautiful canvas wall art and framed prints in any home decor style. No matter where you score your art, remember to use these rules and “guidelines” to ensure you shop for the best size artwork for your space.

When you follow these rules, your artwork will look balanced with respect to your furniture and wall space, and your room will look nicely put together. And don’t stress if your artwork is a little over or under the width from the “rules,” because no one is gonna notice. So, go ahead and buy that gorgeous artwork you’ve had your eye on, and have fun decorating your home!

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