The most common mistake with wall art is going too small. A print that looks generous in the shop can look like a postage stamp once it is hung over a three-seater sofa. Here is a simple way to get the size right first time.
Start with the two-thirds rule
Measure the width of the furniture the art will sit above, then aim for art that is roughly two-thirds of that width, including the frame. It is big enough to anchor the furniture without crowding the wall.
- A 220 cm sofa suits art around 140 to 150 cm wide.
- A queen bed (about 160 cm with the headboard) suits art around 100 to 110 cm wide.
- A 160 cm sideboard suits art around 95 to 105 cm wide.
If one print would be too large, two prints side by side work just as well. Measure the pair as one piece, including the gap between them.
Which Contemplo size fits where
Our prints come in five sizes. Here is how they usually work, with the frame adding a few centimetres on each side:
- 30 × 42 cm suits a hallway, a desk wall or a gallery wall of several smaller pieces.
- 47 × 66 cm fits above a bedside table, a small console or a reading chair.
- 66 × 87 cm works above a sideboard or a single bed. Two of them side by side work above a sofa.
- 83 × 118 cm is the one for a queen bed or a two- to three-seater sofa.
- 100 × 150 cm, framed only, is a statement piece for a king bed, a long sofa or a big empty wall.
Our print pairs are chosen to hang together and cost 10% less than buying the two prints separately.
How high to hang it
- Above a sofa or sideboard: leave 20 to 25 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. Any higher and the art floats away from the furniture.
- Above a bed: leave 20 to 30 cm above the headboard.
- On an empty wall: hang it so the centre of the art sits around 145 to 150 cm from the floor, which is roughly eye level.
- Pairs: keep a gap of 5 to 8 cm between frames and line up the bottom edges.
Landscape or portrait?
Wide furniture usually wants landscape art, or two portrait prints side by side. Tall, narrow walls, such as beside a doorway or at the end of a hallway, suit portrait prints. On any collection page you can filter by Shape to see only landscape or portrait prints.
See it before you buy
Two easy ways to check the size on your own wall:
- Use our wall tool. Upload a photo of your wall, choose a print and size, and drag it into place. Your photo stays on your device.
- Ask for a free mock-up. Send us a photo and the wall width, and we will show you the print at true scale, framed or unframed.
A quick tip if you are between two sizes: painter's tape the outline of each size on the wall and live with it for a day. Most people end up choosing the bigger one.