Still staring at that blank wall over your sofa? With so many options, choosing wall art can be overwhelming. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about hanging art over the sofa.
Artwork Size
What is the proper art over sofa proportion?
The biggest mistake most people make is choosing art that is too small in proportion to their sofa. In general, the width of your art should measure at least half the width of your sofa. When measuring your artwork, keep in mind that that total size of your art includes matting and framing. So if your artwork is on the small side, you can increase the total size by simply adding a wide matte and frame.
You could also group small artworks together in a harmonious art over sofa proportion.
Can art be too large for over the sofa?
No, oversized art over the sofa can add drama to a contemporary living room. In fact, your art can extend beyond the width of the sofa. This works particularly well with a gallery wall display and is an effective way to integrate areas on a long wall.
Artwork Height
How high should I hang art above the sofa?
Most people hang art too high. Artwork over the sofa looks best placed 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) over the top of the sofa. The goal is to create a connection between the art and the people sitting on the sofa. Obviously you don’t want art hanging so low that people will lean on it or poke it with an elbow.
What if my room has very high ceilings?
Even in a room with high ceilings, you still want to hang your art no more than 10 inches (25 cm) above the sofa. If you want to fill more of the vertical space above the sofa, choose square or vertical oriented art – either one large work or art or a group of pictures.
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