By Room
Shop Wall Art by Room
The room decides more than the wall does: how far back you stand, how much wall there is, and what the space is for. Start with your room and the right size and shape follow.
Distance
Viewing distance decides detail before size does. A hallway is read at three feet, so a busy image turns to noise and a simple one holds. A living room is read at ten to fourteen feet, where fine detail disappears and a single strong shape survives.
The Wall
The furniture sets the width, not the room. A piece should span about two thirds of whatever sits below it. That ratio settles most arguments about size, which is why the same bedroom takes a different piece above a king bed than above a nightstand.
Purpose
Every room has a job for the art. A bedroom is for winding down, so low contrast and cool color suit it. An office is for focus, so one clear subject beats a busy one.
Home
At Home
Where you live, from the room you spend the most time in to the one you barely stop in.
Work and Public Space
Away From Home
Cafes, restaurants and the spaces a business hangs art in.
Common Questions
How High Should Wall Art Be Hung?
Hang the centre of the piece about 57 to 60 inches from the floor, which is average standing eye level. Above furniture, leave 6 to 8 inches between the top of the sofa or headboard and the bottom of the frame. In a room where people mostly sit, such as a dining room, drop the centre closer to 45 inches.
What Size Wall Art Goes Above a Sofa?
About two thirds the width of the sofa. Going narrower than half the sofa width is the most common reason a wall above it looks unfinished.
Should Every Room Match?
No. A house that matches room to room reads as a showroom. Keep one thread running through the whole home, usually a color family, and let the subject change with the room.