Artwork Size Guide
MARK - MEASURE - MAP - MATCH
Feel confident about choosing the right sized original artwork or art print for your space!
Choosing a suitable size is part practical decision and part instinctive choice. The steps I've outlined below will help guide you towards figuring out what will work best for you and your space.
Handy helpers:
Masking Tape, newspaper or Post-It notes
A Tape Measure
Small Step Ladder (if it's a big wall!)
Pen and Paper
Before you begin:
If you're planning on replacing one artwork with another - take down the existing piece whilst you measure up for the new one. You'll be surprised at how different the wall space can appear when it's empty, once a familiar artwork is removed.
If you're planning a 'gallery wall' style hang (where you have lots of small pieces hanging close together on the same wall), take into account any other artworks that will share the same wall area and leave some breathing space around them.
Also be sure to consider the distance above items of furniture and from door or window frames and electrical switches.
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Use post it notes (to mark the corners) newspaper or painters masking tape to roughly work out where you want your new artwork to hang
This step will help you visualise an approximate optimum size for your new artwork.
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Understanding the actual dimensions of your space is an important next step.
Take both vertical and horizontal measurements of the marked up area where you plan to hang your new original artwork or art print.
Make a note of them and keep them handy when ordering artwork online or browsing in galleries for a new piece.
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Choose your preferred orientation:
Landscape
Portrait
Square
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Check that your preferred art print or original work is available in your size. Get in touch if the standard sizes listed in my store aren't perfect - custom sizes can be created for you.
Remember - vertical pieces can enhance ceiling height; horizontal works can widen a space and a grid or gallery wall can solve indecision by combining multiple smaller works into a larger visual statement.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Scale
If you're looking for a single statement piece for a wall, the artwork should typically fill around 60–75% of the available wall space (excluding furniture). This avoids the “floating postage stamp” effect which can happen if the artwork is too small. Larger art prints feel immersive and statement-making; they hold space and can define a room. Smaller works feel quieter, more personal, and are perfect for layering into a collected, evolving wall. Framing size (mat boards and borders) can also significantly increase the perceived scale without needing a larger print.
Anchor Points
If the artwork is going above a sofa, bed, or console, the piece (or grouping) should generally be about two-thirds the width of the furniture. This creates visual balance and makes the artwork feel connected to the space rather than drifting above it.
Viewing Distance
Larger works suit rooms where you step back, such as living areas, hallways and open-plan spaces. Smaller, more intimate pieces work beautifully in areas where you view them up close, like reading nooks, bedrooms, or narrow corridors.
