How To Select The Right Size Wall Art For Your Space
Choosing the right wall art for your space can be a fun and creative process! However, there are some important design considerations to keep in mind when selecting the perfect piece. It's important to consider the size of the wall where you want to hang the art. A small piece of art can get lost on a large wall, while a large piece can overwhelm a small space. When selecting wall art you also want to be mindful of the furniture and decor in the room. The art should complement the existing style, but not necessarily match it exactly. The right size and type of wall art will enhance the look and feel of your space, so take the time to choose wisely. Shop some of our favorite wall art pieces here!
Below we break down how to select the right size wall art for a blank wall, above your bed, and above your sofa.
Source: Jenna Sue Design
Selecting Art For A Blank Wall
When selecting wall art for a blank wall a general guideline is to aim for the artwork to cover around 60-75% of the available wall space. This helps to create a focal point and adds visual interest to the room. You will also want to consider the size of the artwork relative to the wall and other elements in the room, such as furniture and lighting.
You will first measure your wall space and then multiply that number by .6 and .75. That will give you a range of sizes that would all be considered in proportion to your wall. If you are hanging a set of art, or a gallery wall, you will want to be sure to take into consideration the extra 2-6" of space in-between each piece.
When hanging wall art on a blank wall you will want to center the art on the wall, and then you will want to measure up from the floor approximately 56"-60" and let that be midpoint of the wall art.
If you need help creating the perfect gallery wall this blog post is for you!
Selecting Art To Go Above A Bed
When choosing art to go above your bed there are a few “design rules” you should follow. First, you’ll want to select art that takes up 50-80% of the width of the headboard. However, playing with undersized art can be a fun design challenge! When doing so be sure to balance out the small art with oversized table lamps.
One of the common mistakes we see when hanging art above the bed is hanging it too high above the headboard. You want the bottom of your art to be only 4-6” above your headboard. Any higher and it might look like your art is floating towards the ceiling.
If your headboard is bell-shaped or otherwise curved where the middle of the headboard is at a higher point than the other two sides of the headboard, consider going with a set of art rather than one singular piece. This will help it look balanced. We prefer splitting the center and doing two pieces of art on either side of the “peak” or middle hump.
To learn more about selecting the right size art for twin, queen, and king size beds read more here!
Watch our reel on how to select the right size art for above your bed here!
Selecting Art To Go Above A Sofa
When selecting wall art to go above your sofa it’s important to make sure everything is in proportion. A good rule of thumb is to select a piece that is between 50-70% of the width of your sofa. You will want to multiply your sofas length by 0.5 and 0.7. This will give you a range of sizes that would all be considered in proportion to your couch.
If you are considering a gallery wall you will take those two range numbers and divide them by the total number of frames you want to hang behind your sofa. Just be sure to account for the extra 2-6" of space in-between each frame.
When hanging wall art above your couch you will want to measure 6-10” up from the highest point of the back of the sofa and that is where the bottom of your wall art should sit.
Watch our reel on how to select the right size wall art for above your sofa here!
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