How to Choose the Right Size Wall Art for Your Space

Choosing art you love is one thing. Choosing the right size is often where people pause.

I hear this hesitation all the time, What if it’s too small? What if it overwhelms the room? What if I get it wrong?
The good news is this, choosing the right size wall art isn’t about strict rules or designer formulas. It’s about proportion, balance, and how you want the space to feel.

This guide walks you through how to choose wall art that feels intentional and calm, not awkward or undersized, so you can buy with confidence. It focuses on choosing the right size for fine art photography prints, pieces intended to be lived with long-term rather than rotated seasonally. If you’re still deciding which image feels right for your home, you may find it helpful to begin with my guide to choosing the perfect print before narrowing down to size.

Why Wall Art Size Matters More Than Style

A beautiful image can still feel “off”, no matter how carefully chosen the image itself is, if the scale isn’t right.

Too small, and it can look lost on the wall, like it’s floating without purpose.
Too large, and it can dominate the room rather than complement it.

When the size is right, something subtle happens. The room feels settled. The art feels like it belongs there, not as an afterthought, but as part of the space.

Start With the Wall, Not the Artwork

Before thinking about print sizes, take a moment to look at the wall itself.

Ask yourself:

• Is this a feature wall or a quieter supporting wall?

• Is there furniture underneath?

• How wide is the wall visually, not just in measurements?

A helpful general guideline is this:

Your artwork (or group of artworks) should take up around 60–75% of the available wall width.
This simple guideline removes much of the guesswork when choosing the right size for your space and works beautifully when displaying fine art photography prints in residential settings. It keeps things visually balanced without feeling crowded.

Choosing Art Size Above Furniture (Sofa, Bed, Console)

When choosing the size of fine art prints above furniture, the furniture should always set the scale.

Above a sofa

Aim for artwork that spans roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the sofa’s width.
For most standard sofas, this often means:

• One larger statement piece, or

• Two to three medium prints styled as a simple set

Avoid placing a small artwork above a large sofa, it tends to look disconnected and unfinished.

Above a bed

The same rule applies. Art above a bed should feel anchored by the bed’s width.
Larger bedrooms can comfortably handle a single large print, while smaller rooms often suit a softer approach with two medium pieces.

Above a console or sideboard

This is a perfect spot for a confident but not overpowering piece.
A medium to large print works beautifully here, especially in entryways and dining rooms.

If you’d like a deeper look at placement height and spacing as well as proportion, you can read my full guide on where to hang art in your home, which complements this sizing advice.

Choosing Wall Art for Empty Walls

Empty walls are where people most often under-size their art.

If the wall is:

• Wide

• Unbroken by furniture

• Meant to feel intentional rather than decorative

Then go larger than you think.

Large-scale fine art photography prints create calm by reducing visual noise. Instead of filling the wall with multiple small pieces, one considered artwork gives the eye somewhere to rest.

If a single large print feels like too much, a small series of two or three prints with breathing space between them works beautifully. You can explore examples of larger-scale works within the Coastal Collection or the New Zealand Collection to see how proportion translates across different spaces.

Room-by-Room Size Suggestions (Simple, Flexible Guide)

Living room

This room can handle the most visual weight.

• Above a sofa: medium to large

• Feature wall: large or a balanced series

• Smaller walls: medium works well

Bedroom

Bedrooms suit calmer, more restrained sizing.

• Above the bed: medium to large, depending on wall width

• Side walls: medium or small works beautifully

Hallway or entry

These spaces often suit repetition over scale.

• A series of small to medium prints hung evenly

• Vertical layouts work well in narrow spaces

Home office

Go for a size that complements, not competes.

• Medium art above a desk

• Smaller prints if the space is visually busy

These are flexible guidelines designed to support confident decisions, not rigid rules.

One of the Most Common Mistakes

Choosing art based on what feels “safe”.

Smaller often feels safer, especially when buying online. But in most homes, artwork that feels too small is far more noticeable than artwork that feels slightly generous in scale.

If you’re deciding between two sizes, the larger option is usually the one that feels right once it’s on the wall.

A Simple Way to Visualise Size Before Buying

If you’re unsure, try this at home:

• Use painter’s tape or paper to mark the artwork size on the wall

• Step back and view it from different angles

• Notice how it relates to nearby furniture and door frames

This small step can instantly remove doubt.

Once your print is in place, proper handling and display will help preserve its detail over time. For guidance on protecting your print once it’s framed, see our Print Care page.

Quality Matters More as Size Increases

When choosing larger pieces, print quality becomes even more important. Scale draws the eye, and detail becomes part of the experience.

That’s why archival fine art photography prints made on museum-quality paper maintain their tone, depth, and clarity over time.

Trust Your Space (And Your Instincts)

Choosing the right size wall art isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a space that feels balanced, intentional, and lived in.

When the scale feels right, you stop thinking about the art as an object and start experiencing it as part of your home.

And that’s always the goal.

If you’d like help choosing the right size fine art photography print for your space, I’m always happy to guide you. Sometimes a second pair of eyes is all it takes to feel confident moving forward.

Author

Leah Hermann is a landscape and travel photographer based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Through her brand, Lens Art Images, she creates fine art photography prints that bring the beauty of the world into everyday spaces. Each piece is printed on museum-quality paper, inspired by nature, and made to last.