Choosing wall art should feel exciting — not overwhelming. Whether you're decorating a living room, bedroom, hallway, or home office, this guide will walk you through exactly how to pick the right piece, the right size, and the right placement for every room in your home.
In This Guide:
1. Room-by-Room Breakdown
Living Room
The living room is your home's statement space — it deserves your boldest, most considered piece. Look for art that creates a focal point and anchors the room. A large canvas above the sofa (roughly ⅔ the sofa's width) works beautifully. Abstract art, botanical prints, and landscape canvases all work well here.
Recommended sizes: 60×90cm, 70×100cm, or 90×120cm for statement impact. Browse our abstract collection and botanical prints for living room inspiration.
Bedroom
Your bedroom is your sanctuary — choose art that feels calming and personal. Soft botanicals, minimalist line art, and serene landscape prints all work beautifully above a headboard. Symmetrical pairs of smaller prints on either side of a window or door create elegant balance.
Recommended sizes: 50×70cm or 60×90cm above the headboard. Bedside: 30×40cm pairs.
Hallway
Hallways are underused but high-impact. A gallery wall here creates a lasting first impression. Mix landscape photography with botanical prints and a quote piece. Keep frames consistent (same colour, same style) for a cohesive look.
Recommended sizes: Mix of 20×30cm and 30×40cm prints in a gallery arrangement.
Home Office / Study
Your workspace should inspire and motivate. Motivational quote art, architectural prints, or single bold abstract pieces work brilliantly here. Avoid overly busy, complex imagery that can distract — clean, minimal pieces help you focus.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are the hidden gems of home decor. A single well-chosen piece (botanical, minimal line art, or a simple black-and-white print) elevates a bathroom from functional to spa-like. Use humidity-resistant framing and keep prints away from direct shower splash zones.
2. Choosing the Right Size
This is where most people go wrong — they choose art that's too small. A print that looks large in a shop can feel tiny on a full wall.
✦ The Golden Rule: Art above furniture should be 50–75% of the furniture's width. A 180cm sofa = 90–135cm wide art.
Here's our quick reference:
| Room / Use | Recommended Size |
|---|---|
| Above sofa (large) | 70×100cm or 90×120cm |
| Above sofa (standard) | 60×90cm |
| Above headboard (king) | 60×90cm |
| Above desk | 50×70cm |
| Hallway gallery | Mix of 20×30 and 30×40cm |
| Bathroom accent | 20×30cm or 30×40cm |
For a complete reference, visit our Wall Art Size Guide — it includes a visual scale comparison.
3. Matching Art to Your Colour Palette
You don't need an exact colour match — in fact, perfect matches can feel flat. Instead, think about complementary contrast and tonal harmony.
Neutral Rooms (Beige, White, Grey)
You have maximum freedom here. Bold abstract art in gold, navy, deep green, or rust will pop beautifully against neutral walls. Alternatively, go monochromatic with soft black-and-white prints for a serene, gallery-like feel.
Warm-toned Rooms (Terracotta, Mustard, Olive)
Lean into earth tones. Botanical prints with warm greens, sepia-toned photography, and abstract art with amber and ochre tones all feel harmonious.
Dark / Moody Rooms (Charcoal, Forest Green, Navy)
Go light and luminous. Pale botanical prints, gold leaf art, or bright abstract canvases create stunning contrast against dark walls. Don't be afraid of a large, light print against a dark feature wall.
4. Choosing a Style That Fits Your Home
Minimalist / Scandinavian
Clean line art, single-subject botanicals, simple typography prints. Monochromatic or two-tone palettes. Our minimalist collection is a great starting point.
Bohemian / Eclectic
Rich textures, warm earth tones, global patterns. Mix media — macramé alongside canvas prints, woven wall hangings next to botanical prints. Layering is the key.
Contemporary / Modern
Bold abstract art, architectural photography, and geometric prints work brilliantly in modern spaces. Large format, single statement pieces. View our abstract collection.
Classic / Traditional
Landscape art, floral studies, portraiture. Rich frames — gilded, dark wood, or ornate. Arrange in symmetrical pairs or formal groupings.
5. Hanging Height & Placement
The most common hanging mistake? Too high. Art should be hung so its centre sits at approximately 145–155cm from the floor — roughly eye level for most adults.
✦ Pro Tip: Before putting any nails in, cut a piece of paper or newspaper to the exact print size and tape it to the wall. Live with it for a day. You'll immediately know if it's the right spot.
Above furniture, leave a 15–20cm gap between the furniture top and the bottom of the frame. Too close looks cluttered; too far looks disconnected.
6. Creating a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is one of the most impactful things you can do to a room — and it's easier than it looks. Here's the formula we swear by:
- Pick an anchor. Choose your largest piece (at least 50×70cm) and place it in the centre or slightly off-centre.
- Keep consistent gaps. 5–8cm between frames throughout — this creates visual rhythm.
- Mix sizes, not styles. Different sizes work together; wildly different styles clash. Stay within a colour palette.
- Lay it out first. Arrange prints on the floor before you touch a hammer. Photograph it, then transfer to wall.
- Odd numbers work. Groups of 3, 5, or 7 prints feel more dynamic than even numbers.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Piece?
Now that you know what you're looking for, browse our curated collections to find the art that belongs in your home.
- 🖼️ Browse All Wall Art
- 📐 Full Size Guide — visual scale comparisons
- 🌿 Botanical Prints — nature-inspired, room by room
- 🎨 Abstract Art — bold, contemporary canvases
- 📖 2025 Interior Design Trends — what's on trend right now
- ❓ FAQ — shipping, returns & more
