What Size Wall Art Do I Need? — The Complete Sizing Guide | Olive et Oriel
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What Size Wall Art Do I Need? — The Complete Sizing Guide
Getting the size right is the single most important decision in buying wall art — and the most commonly missed. Too small and the art looks like an afterthought. Too large and it overwhelms the room. This guide gives you exact rules of thumb for every situation, so you get it right the first time.
The Golden Rule: 60-75% of Wall Width
For a single piece of art hanging on a bare wall, it should span 60-75% of the available wall width. This proportion feels intentional and balanced — it anchors the space without overwhelming it. A wall that's 2m wide calls for art spanning 120-150cm. A 3m wall suits art between 180-225cm (typically achieved with a curated set).
The exception: feature walls in open-plan spaces. Here, you can push toward 80-90% of wall width — especially with extra-large art prints or a statement canvas. These oversized pieces make a deliberate design statement rather than simply decorating.
When in doubt — and this cannot be overstated — go one size larger than your instinct suggests. Customers who upsize virtually never regret it. Customers who go smaller often wish they hadn't.
Quick Reference: Room-by-Room Size Guide
| Location | Furniture / Wall | Recommended Art Width |
|---|---|---|
| Above sofa | 2m sofa | 120–140cm wide |
| Above sofa | 2.5m sofa | 150–175cm wide |
| Above bed | Queen (153cm) | 100–120cm wide |
| Above bed | King (183cm) | 120–150cm wide |
| Above console | 120cm console | 70–90cm wide |
| Feature wall | 3m wide wall | 180–240cm wide (set) |
| Hallway | Narrow wall | 40–48 cm wide (portrait) |
Above the Sofa: The Most Important Wall in the House
The wall above the sofa is typically the most prominent in a living room — and the one most likely to be undersized. The rule: art should span 60-70% of the sofa's width, with the bottom edge sitting 20-25cm above the sofa back.
For a 2m sofa, this means art spanning 120-140cm. Achieving this with a single print means going to at least 90x120cm portrait or 100x70cm landscape. Alternatively, a set of 2 or 3 prints at A2 or A1 size achieves the same visual width with more flexibility — and often better proportions for the wall height.
For very large sofas (2.5m+), consider extra-large wall art — a single statement piece at 100x140cm or a triptych set spanning 150-200cm total.
Every piece is produced at our two manufacturing facilities on of NSW — crafting Australian wall art since 2015. We deliver to over 40 countries worldwide, with custom sizing available on all prints. Over a decade of experience, every order ships within 24 hours with our satisfaction guarantee.
Email help@oliveetoriel.com
Above the Bed: Proportion Is Everything
The wall above the bed is the second most important — and the most personal. Art here should feel like a deliberate statement, not an afterthought. For a queen bed (153cm wide headboard), art spanning 100-120cm feels balanced. For a king (183cm), aim for 120-150cm.
Hang the bottom edge of the art 20-30cm above the headboard. This creates a visual connection between the furniture and the wall — making both feel more intentional. Art hung too high feels disconnected from the bed; too low risks collision with pillows when the headboard is moved.
Vertical (portrait) formats work particularly well above beds — they echo the height of the headboard and draw the eye upward, making the ceiling feel higher. A single tall print at 60x90cm or 70x100cm is often the perfect solution for a queen bed. Browse large art prints to find your ideal size.
Gallery Wall Sizing Tips
Gallery walls follow different rules — here, the collective footprint of all pieces matters more than any individual size. A gallery wall spanning 150cm wide feels like a large piece of art, even if each individual print is A3. This is why curated print sets work so well for large walls — they achieve the necessary visual presence without requiring a single oversized format.
Keep spacing consistent at 5-8cm between frames. Tighter spacing (5cm) reads as a deliberate, tight composition. Wider spacing (10cm+) can feel disjointed unless you have very large individual pieces. Before hanging anything, lay the full arrangement on the floor, step back, photograph it from above, then transfer paper templates to the wall.
Need help choosing sizes? Email help@oliveetoriel.com with your wall dimensions and furniture details — our team is happy to recommend specific sizes.
OEO's Available Sizes — From A4 to Extra Large
Olive et Oriel offers one of the broadest size ranges of any Australian art print studio. Art prints range from A4 (21x29.7cm) for small spaces and gallery walls, through A3, A2 and A1 for standard rooms, up to 70x100cm, 80x110cm and 100x140cm for feature walls and extra-large statement pieces.
Large wall art prints (typically A1 and above) are ideal for living rooms, master bedrooms and open-plan spaces. Extra-large wall art makes a bold architectural statement — best used as a single focal piece rather than in a gallery arrangement.
All prints are produced on of NSW on 310gsm archival fine art paper with UV-stable inks. The same quality regardless of size — from the smallest A4 to the largest statement format. Questions about which size suits your space? Contact our team — we love helping with this.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size wall art should I put above a sofa?
Art above a sofa should span 60-70% of the sofa's width. For a standard 2.2m sofa, that's roughly 130-155cm wide. A single large print at 90x120cm works well, as does a diptych or triptych set spanning the same width. Keep the bottom edge of the art 20-25cm above the sofa back.
What size art should go above a bed?
Above a queen bed, art should span approximately 100-120cm wide — about 2/3 of the 153cm headboard. Above a king bed (183cm), aim for 120-150cm wide. Hang the bottom edge 20-30cm above the headboard.
How high should wall art be hung?
The centre of the artwork should be at eye level — approximately 145-150cm from the floor. When hanging above furniture, the bottom edge of the art should be 20-30cm above the top of the furniture.
What are OEO's available print sizes?
Olive et Oriel offers sizes from A4 (21x29.7cm) through to 100x140cm and larger for select prints. Common popular sizes include A3, A2, A1, 50x70cm, 60x80cm and 70x100cm. See extra-large wall art for the biggest options.
Can I hang multiple smaller prints instead of one large piece?
Absolutely — this is often the smarter choice. A curated set of 3-4 prints spanning the same total width as a large single piece creates more visual interest and is easier to transport and hang.
