Which Size to Get? Coastal Art Size Guide
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A Simple Size Guide
Pick the right piece in under a minute.
Picking art size is the #1 thing people get wrong — and the #1 reason a piece gets returned. I'd rather help you get it right the first time.
This whole guide is two ideas:
-
Match the size to the wall it's going on.
-
When in doubt, go a little bigger. "Too small" is the mistake almost everyone makes.
If you'd rather skip all of this and just ask me, reply to any email with a photo of your wall or the width of the furniture below it. I'll tell you exactly which size works. It takes me about 30 seconds.
The one rule
Your art should be about 2/3 the width of the furniture below it.
That's it. If your sofa is 72" wide, aim for about 48" of art above it. If your console is 48" wide, aim for about 32". A pair of pieces counts — two 16" pieces side by side reads as 32" of art.
Exception: if you're hanging it in a narrow hallway, over a bed, or in a bathroom, the rule changes. See the next page.
Where is it going?
Find your situation. The suggested sizes below come straight from what I actually sell.
Above a sofa
Go bigger than you think. An undersized piece above a sofa is the most common mistake I see.
|
Your sofa width |
One piece |
Or a pair / set |
|---|---|---|
|
60"–72" (loveseat or small sofa) |
24x32, 20x40, or 30x40 |
Two 16x24 side by side |
|
72"–84" (standard sofa) |
30x40 or 32x48 |
Two 20x28 or 20x30 Two 18x24 |
|
84"–96" (large sofa) |
32x48 |
Two 24x32 Two 20x40 Three 16x24 |
|
96"+ (oversized or sectional) |
32x48 anchor + flanking pieces |
Three 20x30 side by side Pair of 30x40 |
Hang it so the center of the piece is about 57"–60" off the floor (eye level for most people). The bottom of the frame should sit 6"–10" above the sofa back — close enough that they feel related, not floating.
Above a bed
A little narrower than the bed looks best. A single horizontal piece or a pair works beautifully.
|
Bed size |
One piece |
Or a pair / set |
|---|---|---|
|
Twin (38" wide) |
16x24 or 18x24 |
— |
|
Full (54") |
20x28 or 24x32 |
Two 16x24 |
|
Queen (60") |
24x32 or 30x40 |
Two 18x24 or 20x28 |
|
King (76") |
30x40 or 32x48 |
Two 20x30 or 20x40 Three 16x24 |
Above a console, entry table, or dresser
Medium-sized pieces work here. The furniture is narrower, so the art should be too.
|
Furniture width |
One piece |
Or a pair |
|---|---|---|
|
36"–48" |
18x24, 20x28, or 24x32 |
Two 10x20 or 12x16 |
|
48"–60" |
24x32 or 26x26 |
Two 16x24 or 18x24 |
|
60"+ |
30x40 |
Two 20x28 or 20x30 |
Hallways and narrow walls
Tall and narrow pieces shine here. They draw the eye upward and don't crowd the space.
-
Long hallway: line up 12x36, 16x48, or 10x20 pieces at even spacing.
-
Short hallway or small wall between doors: a single 10x20 or 12x16 is perfect.
-
Staircase wall: 16x48 hung vertically, or a cluster of 12x16 stepped up the wall.
Bathrooms and small spaces
Go small and go specific. These are the spaces where people really notice art because they spend quiet time there.
-
Above a toilet or small vanity: 09x12, 10x10, or 12x12.
-
Above a standard vanity: 12x16 or 16x24.
-
On a blank bathroom wall: a vertical pair of 10x20 or a single 18x24.
On a blank wall, no furniture below
This is the hardest situation to pick for. Two rules:
-
If the wall is under 4 feet wide, treat it like a console wall — 18x24 to 24x32 works.
-
If the wall is wider than 4 feet and empty, you need the piece to anchor the room. Go 30x40 or 32x48, or build a gallery wall with 3–5 smaller pieces.
Shape matters too
Width alone isn't the whole answer. The proportions of the piece should match the proportions of the wall or furniture.
|
Shape |
Sizes |
Best for |
|---|---|---|
|
Wide / landscape |
10x20, 12x16, 16x24, 18x24, 20x28, 20x30, 20x40, 24x32, 30x40, 32x48 |
Above sofas, beds, consoles. The most flexible shape. |
|
Tall / portrait |
12x36, 16x48 |
Hallways, narrow walls between doors, tall staircase walls, flanking a fireplace. |
|
Square |
10x10, 12x12, 26x26 |
Centered compositions, pairs, gallery walls, anywhere a landscape-shaped wall would feel cramped. |
|
Small accents |
09x12, 10x10, 10x20 |
Shelves, bathrooms, tucked into bookcases, grouped into galleries. |
Still not sure?
Don't guess. Do one of these:
Option 1: tape it out
Grab painter's tape and put a rectangle on the wall in the size you're considering. Live with it for an afternoon. You'll know.
Option 2: just ask me
Reply to any of my emails with two things:
-
A photo of the wall (with the furniture below, if there is any)
-
The width of the furniture (or the wall, if it's blank)
I'll tell you exactly which size works. No pressure to buy — I'd rather help you get it right than sell you the wrong thing.
