Choosing the Right Size Art for Your Space

Blank walls can be intimidating! Even if you know what kind of art you like or how you’d like to display it, you still need to figure out how large it should be. That’s why we’ve gathered our favorite tips for how to choose the right size artwork for your space. Whether you’re creating a gallery wall, a picture ledge display, or hanging one statement piece, you can follow our easy advice to get the sizing just right and create a wall that really wows. Don’t forget to get your art custom-framed at FastFrame—you’ll get exactly the size you need while enhancing your art and your home decor!

Art Sizes 101

Artwork comes in a wide range of sizes you can choose from based on your wall space and the look you want to achieve. If we can offer one tip here, it’s when in doubt, go larger! Artwork that is on the slightly larger side will always look better than a smaller display that makes the room feel empty and underwhelming.

When you are measuring your art, consider your framing. Small artwork can be turned into a larger statement piece with an over-sized mat to create drama. The total size of your piece (to the outside edge of your frame) will be increased depending on your chosen mat and framing combination.

Mini: 10-17 inches in height and width; great as part of a larger collection or in small, unusual spaces (like a pantry or a reading nook).
Small: 18-24 inches in height and width; good in spaces with little wall space (like a bathroom or kitchen) and excellent for pairing with other work either in a gallery wall or in
groupings of 3 or 5.
Medium: 25-32 inches in height and width; looks equally good in a group or displayed alone in a space where there’s already a lot going on (like a home office or entryway).
Large: 33-40 inches in height and width; can hold its own in most spaces, creates a visual impact without adding clutter to a busy space. Can also be used as an anchor
piece in bigger gallery wall displays.
Oversize: 41 inches or larger in height and width; best used on their own as focal points in the room (be sure to use our sizing tips to ensure oversize art won’t totally overwhelm your space).

Measuring and (Easy!) Math

Now it’s time for some math—don’t panic, it’s simple! Just grab your measuring tape and a calculator. Measure the width and height of the wall you want to hang your art on. Now multiply the width by .57 and .75 and do the same with the height. This will give you a general range for
the size art (including mat and frame) that will look best.

Let’s say your wall space is 10 feet by 10 feet (or 120 inches by 120 inches), your framed art display should be between 68 to 90 inches in both width and height. These rules apply whether you’re hanging one piece or a grouping of artwork. If you’re hanging a collection, use this
formula and include 2-3 inches in between each frame.

If you’re choosing a wall art size based on furniture, you can still use these calculations. So, if you have a 92 inch wide sofa, your wall art (including mat and frame) should be between 52 to 69 inches wide to best complement the space.

Measuring and (Easy!) Math

Let’s say your wall space is 10 feet by 10 feet (or 120 inches by 120 inches), your framed art display should be between 68 to 90 inches in both width and height. These rules apply whether you’re hanging one piece or a grouping of artwork. If you’re hanging a collection, use this formula and include 2-3 inches in between each frame.

Notice how the additional frames using the sizing rule create a feature of the art display and more of a statement. The new choice of artwork reflecting accent colors in the room brings this look together.

Placement Tips

Think about the orientation of your art, especially if you are hanging one piece or a small grouping. Landscape styles (wider than they are tall) look especially good over sofas, beds or long low sideboards while portrait styles (taller than they are wide) look great on narrower walls, like in kitchens and bathrooms.

Grab your tape measure again to figure out how high you should hang your artwork. As a general rule, the middle of the artwork (or display) should be at eye level, which is approximately 57 inches for most people. For spaces with low ceilings (below 8 feet), divide your wall into 4 sections (starting from the floor) and hang your framed art in the third section. If your artwork is above a piece of furniture, hang it 6 to 12 inches above the top of the furniture. Of course, you can bend all of these rules for a more eclectic display, such as a gallery wall that goes all the way to the ceiling.

For spaces with low ceilings (below 8 feet), divide your wall into 4 sections (starting from the floor) and hang your framed art in the third section. If your artwork is above a piece of furniture, hang it 6 to 12 inches above the top of the furniture. Of course, you can bend all of these rules for a more eclectic display, such as a gallery wall that goes all the way to the ceiling.

Whether you’re creating a gallery wall, a picture ledge arrangement, or hanging one large piece of artwork, just follow our sizing guide to ensure a beautiful display that perfectly fits your walls. (If you want more gallery wall help, check out our other post Gallery Walls Made Easy.)

Head to your local FastFrame store to custom-frame your art in the ideal size for your space!