Showcase your style with a collection of colorful and carefully curated wall art. Keep reading to discover how to choose the right size and placement for your wall art for a well-balanced display.

In this guide:
1. Measure Your Wall Space
2. Choose Your Art Size
3. Determine the Ideal Placement
4. Make a Creative Display
Frequently Asked Questions

1. Measure Your Wall Space

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Grab a tape measure and start by measuring the height and width of your wall and multiplying each number by 0.57 – this gives you the ideal dimensions for your artwork. If you're hanging a collection or gallery wall, use this formula to determine the total width the pieces should span together, allowing 2" – 3" of space between each frame. Overall, the artwork should fill about two-thirds to three-quarters of the open wall space to create a balanced, visually appealing display.

2. Choose Your Art Size

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Mini
Ranging between 10" – 17" in size, mini wall art pieces are typically used in a collection or in a vertical pairing to fill narrow wall spaces.

Small
Small pieces of artwork are between 18" – 24" and are most impactful in a grouping or paired with another print for a symmetrical look. They can also be hung in rooms that have little wall space like a bathroom.

Medium
Medium wall art refers to art that is between 25" – 32" in size – great for a statement piece in a smaller room or at the center of a gallery wall.

Large
Large wall art pieces will be about 33" – 40" in height and width. Use a single large painting for a clean, sophisticated focal point.

Oversized
Oversized art refers to all wall art that is 41" or larger. These pieces make grand statements in large rooms but can overwhelm a small space.

3. Determine the Ideal Placement

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When placing artwork, follow our tips below:

• The middle of the artwork should hang about 57" from the floor (or at eye level for most people). If it is hanging above a sofa, make sure there is at least 6" –12" between the top of the sofa and the piece of art.
• If you have low ceilings (below 8'), break your wall into four sections (from the bottom up) and hang it in the third section.
• If you are hanging multiple pieces of different heights, make sure the middles line up.
• When hanging artwork above your stairs, hang a piece every third step to get a diagonal look.
• Think about your room, if it is already cluttered or busy, opt for larger pieces to not overwhelm the room.

Tip!

See our guide How to Hang a Picture Perfectly: Everything You Need to Know for more placement tips.

4. Make a Creative Display

Take a look at these wall placement ideas to gather inspiration.

Gallery Wall

Gallery walls are a unique way to fill empty wall space with a collection of your favorite pieces. Make sure there is enough blank space (2" – 3") around each piece of artwork to avoid a cluttered or cramped finished product. Choose artwork of a similar color scheme and style for a cohesive look to your display.

Tip!

Use painters tape or paper outlines of your frames to plan your gallery wall layout. For more tips, read our guide on How to Make a Gallery Wall.

Display Shelves

Floating shelves are a great way to exhibit your favorite art pieces or collection of decor. Staggering the shelves can create an eclectic laid-back vibe while a uniform line will give a refined, sophisticated look. Displaying artwork on shelves makes it easy to swap them out for seasonal decor or if your style changes frequently.

Tip!

Love the idea of displaying artwork on shelves? Check out our guide on How to Install Floating Shelves: A Must-Read to help you get started.