Choosing the right art size for your living room wall is one of the most important decisions when decorating a space. A painting that is too small can look lost, while one that is too large can overwhelm the room. The goal is to find a size that feels intentional, balanced and integrated with the architecture and furniture.
Why Art Size Matters in a Living Room
The living room is usually the main social space of a home. It’s where architecture, furniture, light and decoration come together, and the artwork often becomes the visual anchor of the room. The right scale helps the space feel cohesive, while the wrong size can break the visual balance.
Start with Your Wall and Furniture Proportions
Before thinking about specific measurements, look at the relationship between the wall and the main piece of furniture (usually the sofa or a sideboard).
The 2/3 Rule: A Simple Guideline
A simple rule used by interior designers is that the artwork (or group of artworks) should usually take about two-thirds of the width of the furniture below it. For example, if your sofa is 240 cm wide, the ideal artwork width would be around 150–170 cm.
This is not a strict rule, but it’s an excellent starting point.
Common Art Sizes for Living Room Walls
Medium Walls
For medium-sized walls or apartments, artworks around 120–150 cm wide often work very well, especially above a sofa or sideboard.
Large Walls and Statement Pieces
For large walls or open spaces, don’t be afraid of scale. Formats like 200 × 100 cm, 200 × 75 cm, or even 300 × 150 cm can transform a room and give it real presence. In many cases, a single large piece works better than several small ones.
If you are working with very large walls or representative spaces, you may want to explore our Projects section for large-scale and custom artworks.
Single Large Painting vs Multiple Pieces
Both approaches can work depending on the space and the effect you want to achieve:
- A single large painting creates a strong focal point and a clean, confident look.
- A diptych or triptych (two or three pieces) can work well on very wide walls or when you want rhythm and movement across the space.
The key is that the total width still respects the overall proportions of the wall and furniture.
How High Should You Hang the Artwork?
A very common mistake is hanging art too high.
As a general rule, the center of the artwork should be around 145–155 cm from the floor, depending on ceiling height and furniture.
When hanging above a sofa, the bottom of the artwork should usually be 15–25 cm above the back of the sofa.
Choosing the Right Orientation: Horizontal or Vertical
The architecture of the room should guide this choice:
- Horizontal formats work best above sofas, sideboards and long walls.
- Vertical formats are better for narrow walls, columns or spaces between windows.
What If You Need a Custom Size?
Not all walls fit standard formats. If your space is very specific, a custom-sized artwork can solve proportion problems perfectly and make the piece feel designed for the space rather than placed in it.
This is especially useful for very large walls, unusual proportions or architectural features. You can learn more about how custom projects work in our Projects section.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing art that is too small for the wall
- Ignoring the relationship with furniture
- Hanging the artwork too high
- Trying to fill a large wall with many small pieces instead of one strong one
Let the Space Guide the Artwork
The right art size should feel natural, balanced and confident. When in doubt, it’s usually better to go slightly larger rather than too small. The space itself will tell you what it needs.
If you’re unsure about proportions or formats, getting advice or choosing a custom piece can make all the difference.