Choosing the perfect 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 colors and style that we like, but there is another really important consideration to keep in mind – SIZE! When choosing artwork, you need to know 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. 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.
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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. Now, I’ll be the first to tell you that these rules can certainly 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
OK, yes, there is some math involved in choosing the best size artwork, but I’m going to make it very easy for you. Measure your available wall space in inches, and multiply it by 0.57 (which is the decimal value for the fraction 4/7). Then, repeat the calculation by multiplying your wall space by 0.75 (the decimal value for 3/4). 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 48×0.75 to get 36. The best size artwork for your 48″ wall is between 27-36 inches wide. 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 wall space 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 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 amount of wall 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 artwork. But that’s not always a bad thing! Making a strong statement with your artwork 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.
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 artwork is larger than the opening of the fireplace, but smaller than the overall width of the mantel. Now, I know a lot of you are hanging TVs above the fireplace, and that’s OK. I mean, 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.
Rule #4 – Hang Artwork 6-12 Inches Above Furniture
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. Take my husband, for example. He’s 6’6″ tall, which is just plain tall. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked him to hang something, only to ask him to move it lower later on. He once put up a hook for our ladder in the garage, and the hook was so high, I had to hold the very bottom of the ladder and raise it up all the way over my head, just to get it onto that hook!
Let’s talk statistics for a minute. 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.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, right? I have a friend who is 6′ tall, and her husband is 6’5″. Their kids are gonna be tall, too. So, they designed their house with everything taller – countertops, ceilings, doors, you name it! They should hang artwork at a height that is comfortable for them! 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
OK…you know the rules, you know the colors you want, and you (hopefully) know what style you’re after, so it’s time to GO SHOPPING! Just remember, these rules are more like “guidelines” to ensure you can shop for the best size artwork for your space. You don’t have to follow the rules, but if you do, your artwork will look balanced with respect to your furniture and wall space, and your room will look nicely put together. Just remember, if your artwork is a little over or under the width from the “rules,” no one is gonna notice. So, go ahead and buy that artwork that you absolutely love, and have fun with it!
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This was fabulous for helping me. I like modern wall art and styling it can be tricky.
I’m trying to determine what size art I should put over a rock fireplace. The distance from the top of the mantle and the ceiling is 8.5’ and the mantle width is 6’. Any suggestions will be helpful. Thank You!
The ideal width of art above your 6′ mantle would be around 2/3 the width of the mantle, or about 48 inches wide. For the height, it’s not necessary to fill up a certain amount of wall space between the mantle and the ceiling. The width is the more important dimension to get right.
Very helpful tips! You mentioned that the size of the artwork should be 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the furniture item. But does this rule still apply when it comes to 5 piece wall art? This type of wall art usually comes in bigger sizes, so it might be too large for the sofa. Is that okay?
Thanks for the tips! I am shopping for a sideboard and art to go above it. If the sideboard is 72 inches wide and 32 inches tall, should I go with art that is 48×48 or 54×54? I want to art to really draw the eye, but I don’t want it the center to be too high for the eye. (I have lamps with shades a 12″ diameter for either side, and the ceiling vaults to probably 12 feet above where the art will hang.)
If you’ll have lamps on each side, I’d suggest going with the 48×48 size.
Can the artwork surrounding a TV be wider than your TV console , console being wider than your TV?
also what’s a good TV console width to TV width ratio?
Would I use a different rule of thumb for hanging a vertically-oriented piece of art above the mantel? Thank you!
Even if a piece is hung vertically, you ideally want the width to be the same as the firebox (at minimum), or somewhere in between the width of the firebox and the mantel (not sure what your setup is like).
So helpful! Thank you!
What do you do if you have 10′ high ceilings, 11’4″ wall and a dining table that can range from 60-84″?? It is an open space
room with dining, kitchen, tv and bar area.
Thank you for sharing this! I love how you made rules in choosing the best artwork size. I’m planning to have five pieces wall art but my space is kind of limited. Do you think it’s still possible to have it?
So your sideboard is rectangular, does a square picture suit the space, or the smaller rectangular shape
A square picture can work great over a rectangular sideboard, especially if your ceilings are high. With lower ceilings, a rectangular piece might work better, so that the vertical wall space doesn’t look too crowded.
my fireplace mantel is very long….it is almost the entire length of the wall…how do I fill this space!!!! I also have 2 cats so I can not put anything on the mantel they push it off and break it.
Thank you for this info. I have found a great piece of artwork that is 60 Inch Square. My mantle is 68 inches and the mantle to the bottom of the crown molding at the ceiling is 66 inches. Will this picture dwarf the fireplace or is it ok?
thanks for this! very much helpful. Art curation aims to create a meaningful and impactful experience.
I want to hang a canvas print above my tv. The tv is 66” wide which is actually a 75” tv. The top of the tv is 64.5” from the floor and about 54” from the ceiling. The wall is 168” wide. So I’m guessing the space we have to use is 168”w x 54”T. What is the idea size of a horizontal piece?