Modern living room featuring oversized abstract wall art above a neutral sofa, demonstrating ideal artwork proportions for interior design

How to Choose the Right Size Artwork for Your Room

How to Choose the Right Size Artwork for Your Room

Art has the power to transform a space completely — but the wrong size can leave your walls feeling unfinished or overwhelming. Whether you’re curating a statement piece for your living room or a calming set for your bedroom, the proper proportions are key to creating balance, harmony, and impact.

1. Understand the Scale of Your Space

Before falling in love with a piece, take a step back and look at your room’s overall dimensions. Large open spaces with high ceilings can handle oversized artworks, while smaller, more intimate rooms benefit from medium or smaller pieces that don’t overpower the space.

Modern living room with a caramel leather sofa, black and white patterned cushion, large square abstract black artwork above, and city view through window — showcasing ideal artwork sizing above furniture

Tip: As a guide, your artwork should take up about two-thirds to three-quarters of the wall it’s placed on.

2. Consider Furniture Placement

When art hangs above furniture — like a sofa, bed, or console table — it should be slightly narrower than the piece below it. This creates a natural frame and ensures your art looks intentional rather than floating awkwardly.

Close-up of a modern living room with caramel leather sofa, large black and white abstract painting, black console table, and white textured ceramic lamp — illustrating statement art in interior design
Rule of thumb: The artwork should be around 75% of the width of the furniture it sits above.

3. Think About Height.

The centre of your artwork should generally be at eye level, which is about 145–150cm from the floor for most people. If you’re hanging it above furniture, aim for a gap of 15–25cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the artwork.

This ensures your piece feels connected to the room rather than isolated.

Framed abstract artwork with black brushstrokes and gold accents above a black fluted cabinet with marble top, styled with a bronze glass vase, decorative bowl, and tan handbag — modern interior styling inspiration

4. Play with Groupings

If your wall is too large for a single artwork, try a gallery wall or a set of two or three complementary pieces. These can create impact without requiring one oversized piece — and they allow you to mix styles, colours, and textures for a layered look.

Pro tip: Keep consistent spacing (5–10cm) between pieces for a polished effect.

5. Don’t Forget Room Function

The room’s purpose influences the artwork's size. For example:

  • Living rooms & dining rooms: Larger, bolder pieces make a statement.

  • Bedrooms: Medium to large pieces in calming tones create a restful atmosphere.

  • Hallways & small nooks: Tall, narrow pieces or smaller framed sets work best.

Modern hallway with brown walls featuring a tropical palm tree painting in green and gold tones, curved cream armchair, and fluted wood cabinet with marble top and black vase of flowers

6. Use Paper Templates Before Hanging

Before committing, cut paper to the size of your intended artwork and tape it to the wall. This quick visual test helps you see whether the scale works and saves you from drilling unnecessary holes.

7. Balance with Colour and Texture

Sometimes a slightly smaller piece works perfectly if its colours or textures are strong and bold. Conversely, a larger piece with soft tones can bring presence without overwhelming the space.

Modern interior with deep navy panelled wall, black geometric textured cabinet, large stone vase with green foliage and white magnolia, and framed floral artwork in soft white and blush tones

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right size artwork is all about proportion, balance, and intention. When in doubt, go slightly bigger — small pieces can get lost, while a larger piece will make a confident statement. At Luxe Gallery, every piece is curated to elevate your home, no matter the size of your space. Explore our collection of ready-to-hang artworks and find the perfect fit for your walls.

 

More than art. More than walls. Your story in every piece

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