You've decided on getting some wall art for your room, great choice! Now the biggest question, what size wall art should you buy?
When it comes to choosing the best size wall art for your wall, it will ultimately come down to the size of your wall.
For maximising wall art, you should use 60 - 75% of your wall space.
If your wall measures 500mm wide and 200mm high (5m x 2m) , you're wall art space would be from 300mm x 120mm to 375mm x 150mm.
The magic formula is to multiply you're wall by 0.60 to 0.75 to get your answer.
This is of course if you're maximising your space. You can hang one statement piece in the centre, or you may have other things on the walls, for example shelves.
Here's some quick tips to get you started on picking the perfect size:
- For small walls, don't overwhelm the space
- For large walls, larger art pieces or gallery walls work well
- Small art can look good in both large and small rooms, giving each a different visual look.
- Take into consideration the overall look and feel of the room
- Ensure the wall fits with your personality - One print can make a big impact
Hanging Art Over The Sofa, Bed & Other Furniture
When you're hanging your wall art above a sofa, bed or furniture, you should allow for the piece to breathe. That means giving space between the top of the furniture and where you're hanging your wall art.
Allow for 15cm - 20cm space above your furniture. When it comes to sofas and furniture in the living room, this is the perfect distance.
When it comes to hanging art above the fireplace, you could opt for a larger amount, for example 20 - 30cm. This is the same for hanging art above the bed.
Ultimately you should always test and try out the placement to see what looks the best in your space.
You can read our guide on how to frame and hang wall art for more in-depth information.
Consistent Spacing
When it comes to spacing, you should allow your art room to breathe. Allow for at least 5 cm on each side of your art piece.
If you're hanging a set of 3 prints, you should have 5cm on either side of the middle piece.
Sizing Up With Furniture
It's not only that height that matters, getting the correct art size in proportion with your furniture matters too.
If you're hanging art above the bed, it should occupy around 80% of it's width for an optimal view. This could be a set of 2 or 3 prints, or one extra large print centred which covers around 80% of the horizontal space.
Mixing Wall Art Sizes
When you're choosing which size of wall art to pick out, don't be afraid to mix up sizes if you're going for more than one piece.
There's plenty of cool ways to create a gallery wall, and a mosaic type of effect combining small and large art pieces can look great.
A few A5 and A4 prints can look fantastic with an A3 or A2 print in the middle. For a striking look, an asymmetrical style, with a large print to one side and smaller prints next to it can also create a bold look.
Test & Try It Out First
The best thing to do before hanging up any wall art is to try out your placements first.
This can easily be done with tape. Mark and mask out the area and sizes, stand back and see how it looks. If you're happy you can go with it, if not then it's really easy to adjust.
You can do this before buying any art, and before putting any nails into your walls.
Mini Prints
Small prints that make a big impact, mini prints are a fantastic way to get some art into your home. A5 prints are a good size when it comes to a finishing touch with small details, and can work well.
You can put an A5 print on a floating shelf, nook or have it on the wall. There's a brand new tiny print trend which showcases singular tiny pieces of wall art such as A5 prints hanging on a wall which can make a dramatic impact.
Need a gift? An A5 art print makes a perfect gift for a friend or family member, whether it's a new home owner or just a present for a special occasion.
Small Wall Art
Small wall art can be sized anything from 20 - 30cm, and A4 art prints fit the bill perfectly.
These can be used to create a stunning gallery wall with other A4 prints, larger and smaller prints or hanging 3 or 4 in a row to show off your own style.
A4 prints work well standing in frames too. Fantastic for a bookshelf, floating shelves and nooks.
Medium Size Wall Art
Medium sized wall art can go from 30cm to 40cm, and A3 art prints are a great choice for this.
As with A4, they're small enough to make a big impact, and depending on the size of the room, can be placed as an individual piece, or part of a collection.
Use a set or 2 or 3 A3 prints alongside each other, or create a gallery with a mosaic effect with smaller prints and the A3 as your centrepiece.
Large Wall Art
40-50cm pieces take a step up, and could be considered fairly large art pieces. They are around A2 size, and can be used as a single piece, or in a set of 2 or 3.
Like the rest, you can also use these pieces as part of a bigger gallery wall display, mixing in smaller pieces for a stunning look.
TIP - You can make your wall art appear larger by using a frame larger than the artwork, for example an A1 frame with A2 art. This makes the artwork stand out and give greater impact on your wall.
Extra Large Wall Art
Extra large art pieces can be sized between 60 - 90cm, and are really visually stunning.
If you have a very large wall, you could place two or three of these pieces side by side which will create a big impact.
Creating a gallery wall with these can be done, but along with using smaller pieces, you'll need a big enough space to accommodate the whole gallery wall.
Oversized Wall Art
For one piece that's going to make a huge impact, an oversized wall art piece is going to be it. These are usually over 100cm, and when hung usually sit by themselves to give maximum impact on the art piece.
It can be possible to use a set of 2 or even 3 oversized art pieces, but you will need a large wall area to place these.
For most, hanging one oversized or extra large art pieces is enough. Not only will this provide enough space around it to breathe, it also gives the maximum impact within the design of the art itself.
On That Note
When it comes to which size of art you should buy, you should take into account:
- The size of the wall
- What you have on or around your wall already
- Your own personal style
- Whether you're going for one piece or a gallery wall
- Spacing between the prints and the furniture
Once you've done that, browse for your favourite artwork at Veranito which will set your home apart and get your walls to do the talking for you.