The best small space decorating ideas use the wall instead of the floor: tall portrait art, one large calm piece, light colors and a mirror opposite a window. Keep floor furniture low, hang art with its center 57 to 60 inches from the floor, and use one statement piece instead of many small ones so the room reads as larger.
- Vertical art, such as a 20x40 or 24x48 inch portrait canvas, makes an 8 foot ceiling (96 inches) feel taller.
- One large piece sized to two thirds of the furniture width calms a small room better than six tiny frames.
- Hang art with its center 57 to 60 inches from the floor, and 6 to 10 inches above any furniture.
- Pale, low-contrast images such as sand, mist and sky recede, while dense dark scenes make a wall feel closer.
- Leave at least a third of every wall empty, because open wall is the cheapest way to add space.
How Would You Decorate a Small Living Room?
Start with one anchor piece on the longest unbroken wall, then add light, a mirror and low furniture. An anchor such as a 36x24 inch landscape canvas above a 72 inch loveseat gives the eye a single place to rest. Everything else in the room can then stay simple, since the wall already carries the design.
The common mistake is to fill every wall to match the amount of furniture. A small room needs the opposite: fewer, larger things, and clear floor and wall around them. Pick a palette of two or three colors and let the art repeat one of them.
Which Wall Art Makes a Small Space Look Bigger?
Tall and calm wins. Vertical art stretches the eye upward, so a narrow wall between a window and a corner gains height. Calm images with a lot of open sky, water or sand add visual depth because the eye travels into them. Our vertical wall art is built for exactly these narrow spots.
Portrait canvas comes in sizes from 8x16 to 30x60 inches (8x16, 10x20, 12x24, 20x40, 24x48 and 30x60). In a small room, the 20x40 and 24x48 sizes hit the sweet spot, large enough to matter and narrow enough to fit beside a window.
| Spot in a small room | Space available | Shape | Size that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow wall beside a window | 24 to 30 in wide | Portrait | 20x40 or 24x48 |
| Above a 72 in loveseat | 48 to 54 in wide | Landscape | 48x32 |
| Above a 60 in bed headboard | 40 to 45 in wide | Panoramic | 36x12 or 48x16 |
| Short entry wall | 24 to 36 in wide | Square | 24x24 |
| Desk or kitchen nook | 16 to 24 in wide | Square or portrait | 16x16 or 12x24 |
Pro tip: Tape a paper rectangle in the exact size of the piece to the wall for a day. If the room still feels roomy with the paper up, the real piece will too.
What Is the Two Thirds Rule for Art?
The rule says art should be about two thirds to three quarters the width of the furniture below it. Above a 72 inch loveseat, that is 48 to 54 inches of art. In a small room, aim for the lower end so the art does not crowd the ceiling or the window.
Keep 6 to 10 inches between the furniture top and the bottom of the frame so the two read as one group. Our minimalist wall art follows this logic: one idea, plenty of space around it.
How Do You Decorate a Very Small Bedroom?
Use a panoramic piece above the bed and keep the side walls clear. A panoramic canvas in a 48x16 inch size covers a 64 inch queen headboard at about three quarters its width. Hang it 8 to 12 inches above the headboard. Choose soft, cool colors, since they calm a room where you sleep. A dorm bed wall follows the same rules, and dorm wall decor ideas that protect walls adds hanging steps that protect the paint.
If the room is shared by two people, keep nightstands narrow, hang a small lamp on the wall, and keep the art as the only large visual. Our neutral wall art suits a small bedroom because it blends with pale bedding and walls.
A studio apartment has an 8 foot ceiling and a 30 inch wall between the window and the corner. A 24x48 inch portrait canvas fits with 3 inches on each side, since 24 plus 6 is 30. Hang it so the center sits 57 to 60 inches from the floor. That puts the bottom edge at about 33 to 36 inches and the top at 81 to 84 inches, which leaves 12 to 15 inches below the ceiling and makes the wall read as taller.
What Makes a Small Home Look Cheap?
Clutter, mismatched scale and art hung too high make a small home look cheap. Many small frames at different heights look busy, while one well-sized piece looks planned. Art that hangs above eye level looks disconnected from the room, so keep the center at 57 to 60 inches. Dim bulbs and bare walls are the next two culprits.
Watch out: Do not buy a large print and then hang it in the dark. A dark corner makes a dark image vanish, and the room feels smaller. Put the piece where daylight reaches it, or add a lamp within 4 to 6 feet.
How Do You Add Style to a Small Home on a Tight Budget?
Spend on one large piece and fill the rest with free changes. Rearrange the furniture, clear a shelf, repaint with a light color and rehang the art at the right height. A Poster Print is usually the lowest cost finish, and a big one in a plain frame beats several small prints. Our guide to affordable wall art goes deeper, and our wall art posters are the place to look.
- Measure the wall, the furniture and the window to the nearest inch.
- Pick the shape: portrait for narrow walls, panoramic for wide, shallow ones.
- Choose a piece with a calm, pale image and one color from your room.
- Mark the center at 57 to 60 inches from the floor and hang the piece.
- Step back, clear the clutter around it and leave a third of the wall empty.
Do Mirrors and Light Colors Really Help?
Yes, within limits. A mirror placed opposite or beside a window bounces daylight deeper into the room, and light, low-contrast colors reflect more of it than dark ones. A leaned floor mirror also adds the sense of a second room. Keep the mirror and the art on different walls, so neither competes. In a small bathroom the same logic applies, and bathroom wall decor that survives steam covers art that handles the damp.
If you rent, our guide to renter friendly wall decor shows how to lean or hang pieces without marks. For a gentle wall color to pair with art, see living room wall decor ideas.
Every piece is printed to order and ships free across the US. Choose a tall portrait for a narrow wall or a square for an entry.
Vertical wall art Minimalist wall art Neutral wall art Square canvas prints
Quick answers
Common Questions
How would you decorate a small living room?
Choose one anchor piece, such as a 36x24 or 48x32 inch landscape canvas above the sofa, and keep everything else simple. Use a mirror near the window, low furniture and two or three colors that repeat the art. Hang the center at 57 to 60 inches from the floor and leave a third of the wall empty.
What is the 2/3 rule for living rooms?
For wall art, the rule says the piece should be about two thirds to three quarters the width of the furniture below it. Above an 84 inch sofa, that means 56 to 63 inches. In a small room, use the lower end, and keep 6 to 10 inches between the sofa top and the bottom of the frame.
What size art is best for a small room?
One piece between 24 and 48 inches wide suits most small rooms. Use a 20x40 or 24x48 inch portrait for narrow walls, a 36x24 or 48x32 inch landscape above a loveseat, and a 24x24 inch square for an entry. Always check that the art is no wider than three quarters of the furniture below.
Can wall art make a room look bigger?
Yes, when it is tall, calm and well placed. A vertical piece draws the eye up, and an image with open sky, water or sand adds depth. Avoid dense, dark scenes in a tight room. One large piece also works better than many small ones, which add visual noise and reduce the sense of space.
How do you decorate a very small bedroom?
Hang one panoramic canvas, such as 48x16 inches, 8 to 12 inches above the headboard, and keep the side walls clear. Choose cool, soft colors, keep nightstands narrow and use a wall lamp. A mirror opposite the window adds daylight, and a portrait print beside the bed adds height without taking floor space.
