Choosing artwork isn't just about finding a design you love — size plays just as big a role in how balanced and finished a room feels.
One of the most common decorating mistakes is choosing a piece that's too small for the wall. Even a beautiful artwork can look lost if the scale isn't right.
This guide walks through how to size large wall art for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and home offices, helping you choose artwork that feels proportionate, intentional and perfectly suited to your space.
In This Guide
- Why Size Matters More Than People Expect
- Sizing Artwork for the Living Room
- Sizing Artwork for the Bedroom
- Sizing Artwork for the Dining Room
- Sizing Artwork for the Home Office
- Understanding Artwork Shapes
- When to Go Oversized
- Measuring Before You Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Size Matters More Than People Expect
Large wall art does more than fill an empty wall.
The right piece anchors furniture, creates a focal point and helps a room feel complete. Artwork that is too small can make even a well-designed space feel unfinished, while oversized artwork can bring a gallery-like sense of scale and sophistication.
As a general guideline, artwork should occupy approximately 60–75% of the available wall width above the furniture it hangs over.
Sizing Artwork for the Living Room
The wall above the sofa is often the largest display area in the home, making it one of the most important places to get sizing right.
Artwork should generally be around two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the sofa beneath it.
| Sofa Width | Recommended Artwork Width |
|---|---|
| 180 cm | 120–140 cm |
| 220 cm | 150–180 cm |
| 280 cm | 180–220 cm |
| 320 cm+ | 220–300 cm |
In larger open-plan homes, one oversized statement piece often creates more impact than multiple smaller artworks grouped together.
Explore our Living Room Wall Art collection for artwork designed to suit larger living spaces.
Sizing Artwork for the Bedroom
Artwork above a bed should feel visually connected to the bed frame and headboard.
As a guide:
- Queen Bed: 120–180 cm wide
- King Bed: 150–240 cm wide
- Super King Bed: 180–300 cm wide
Bedrooms often suit softer subjects such as coastal scenes, florals and calming abstract artwork because they contribute to a relaxed atmosphere.
Browse our Bedroom Wall Art collection for inspiration.
Sizing Artwork for the Dining Room
Dining rooms can typically accommodate larger artwork than many people expect.
A wide panoramic piece above a buffet or sideboard often works better than a smaller square format.
Recommended widths:
- Small dining room: 120–150 cm
- Medium dining room: 150–200 cm
- Large dining room: 200–300 cm
When positioned correctly, a larger piece can help define the dining area and create a more polished interior.
Sizing Artwork for the Home Office
Artwork can dramatically influence how a workspace feels.
A well-sized piece helps create a more inspiring and professional environment rather than a purely functional one.
Recommended widths:
- Compact office: 90–120 cm
- Standard office: 120–180 cm
- Executive office: 180–240 cm
Abstract artwork, contemporary landscapes and architectural photography are particularly popular choices for home offices.
Explore our Home Office Wall Art collection for ideas.
Understanding Artwork Shapes
Choosing the right size is important, but choosing the right shape can be equally influential.
At Glam Wall Art, artwork is available in four primary formats.
Square Wall Art
Square artwork creates a balanced and contemporary look.
Popular sizes include:
- 80 × 80 cm
- 100 × 100 cm
- 120 × 120 cm
- 150 × 150 cm
- 180 × 180 cm
- 200 × 200 cm
Square artwork works particularly well in:
- Bedrooms
- Home offices
- Reading corners
- Contemporary interiors
Landscape Wall Art
Landscape is the most versatile format and suits the majority of Australian homes.
Popular sizes include:
- 90 × 60 cm
- 120 × 80 cm
- 150 × 100 cm
- 180 × 120 cm
- 210 × 140 cm
- 240 × 160 cm
Landscape artwork works best:
- Above sofas
- Above beds
- Dining rooms
- Living rooms
For most spaces, landscape is the safest and most flexible choice.
Portrait Wall Art
Portrait artwork draws the eye upward and helps create a sense of height.
Popular sizes include:
- 60 × 90 cm
- 80 × 120 cm
- 100 × 150 cm
- 120 × 180 cm
- 140 × 210 cm
- 160 × 240 cm
Portrait artwork works particularly well in:
- Hallways
- Entryways
- Staircases
- Narrow walls
- Bedrooms with higher ceilings
Panoramic Wall Art
Panoramic artwork is designed for wider walls where traditional proportions may feel too compact.
Popular sizes include:
- 120 × 40 cm
- 150 × 50 cm
- 180 × 60 cm
- 210 × 70 cm
- 240 × 80 cm
- 270 × 90 cm
- 300 × 100 cm
Panoramic artwork works particularly well:
- Above long sofas
- Above sideboards
- Dining rooms
- Commercial spaces
- Open-plan living areas
For walls wider than 4 metres, panoramic artwork often delivers the strongest visual impact.
Quick Shape Guide
| Shape | Best For |
|---|---|
| Square | Bedrooms, Home Offices |
| Landscape | Living Rooms, Dining Rooms |
| Portrait | Hallways, Entryways, Staircases |
| Panoramic | Large Walls, Open-Plan Spaces |
When to Go Oversized
Oversized wall art tends to work best when:
- Ceilings exceed 2.7 metres
- Walls are wider than 4 metres
- The room is open plan
- You want a single statement piece rather than multiple smaller artworks
At larger dimensions, material quality becomes increasingly important.
Our premium fabric prints are designed to hang flat and resist warping even at sizes up to 300cm wide, making them particularly suited to oversized installations.
Measuring Before You Buy
A few minutes of measuring can prevent an expensive mistake.
Before purchasing:
- Measure the available wall width.
- Measure the furniture beneath the artwork.
- Mark the proposed dimensions using painter's tape.
- Step back and view the outline from different positions around the room.
Many homeowners are surprised by how much larger artwork can comfortably be once the size is visualised on the wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should artwork be above a sofa?
As a rule of thumb, artwork should be approximately two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the sofa beneath it.
For a 220cm sofa, artwork between 150–180cm wide generally works well.
How high should artwork hang above a bed?
Artwork is typically positioned around 20–25cm above the headboard.
If there is no headboard, aim for a centre point approximately 145–155cm from the floor.
Is one large piece better than a gallery wall?
In many contemporary homes, a single oversized artwork creates a cleaner and more intentional look than multiple smaller pieces.
This is particularly true in open-plan living areas and rooms with higher ceilings.
What is considered oversized wall art?
Artwork wider than approximately 180cm is generally considered oversized.
For large Australian homes, sizes between 210cm and 300cm wide are increasingly popular for feature walls.
Final Thoughts
Getting the size right matters just as much as choosing the artwork itself.
By matching the scale of the artwork to the wall, furniture and proportions of the room, you create a space that feels balanced, cohesive and thoughtfully designed.
Whether you're looking for a subtle addition to a bedroom or a statement piece for an open-plan living area, choosing the correct size will always deliver a better result.
Explore our Large Wall Art Collection to discover premium oversized fabric prints available in square, landscape, portrait and panoramic formats up to 300cm wide.
