Wall Art Size Guide

Wall Art Size Guide

Decorating your walls with art can feel tricky. You might have read lots of guides but still dont know how to make them work for your space. Its not your faultthose guides often make it seem easier than it is.

Thats why I made this guide. Ill show you how to use the art you already have to create a balanced, beautiful layout. You dont need to stress over exact measurements or perfect sizes. All you need is a basic sense of size—oversized, big, medium, or small—to create stunning, balanced arrangements.

Before we begin, if you're interested in the arts I use in the following examples, please check Here to have a quick look.

Let’s take this one step at a time.

  1. Confirm the Space

The first step is to decide which wall you want to decorate. You probably already have a spot in mind. For this guide, I’ll use the living room as an example to make things easy to follow. Start by picking a rough area on the wall for your art.

Now, you might be wondering how to determine the exact width and height of this space. The good news is—You dont need to measure this area perfectly. Think of this area, along with the surrounding furniture or decor, as part of a cohesive “group.” Instead, think of it as part of a group with the furniture or decor around it. The goal is to make sure the art fits in and doesnt look out of place. 

[“group” of living room wall art]

[“group” of living room wall art]

[“group” of dining room wall art]

  1. Two Lines and One Point

Next, draw two key lines to guide your layout. These lines will help you place your art in the right spots.

  • Horizontal Line: Place this line slightly above eye level. Its a height that feels natural for people to look at. If youre unsure, 5760 inches from the floor is a good rule.
  • Vertical Line: You can put this in the center or at the golden ratio point (around 0.618) on one side.

For this guide, Ill use a horizontal line at eye level and a vertical line on the right golden ratio point—out of my personal preference.

  1. Place Your Largest Artwork at the Cross Point

The cross point of these two lines is the best spot for your largest art piece. This will naturally draw attention and set the tone for the layout.

If you only have one piece, this is the perfect spot for it. Just make sure it’s not too small, or it might look out of proportion. An oversized wall art could be a good choice here.

[In this case, Ive placed this large abstract wall art on the right golden ratio point, paired with a ceiling-hung lamp on the left to balance the overall composition. When using the golden ratio point with just one artwork, its essential to add decor or furniture on the opposite side. This ensures the space feels cohesive and visually harmonious.]

If you’re using multiple pieces, start with the largest one here. While you might want to put your favorite one for this spot, keep in mind that doing so could shift the overall focus away from the balance we established in Step 2. Prioritize size here to maintain harmony in the arrangement.

[Here I put this big vintage wall art on the spot, and its colors match the vibe of this living room perfectly.]

  1. Place Two Artworks at the Left and Right Ends

Next, place two pieces of art on the left and right ends of the area you picked earlier. Make sure the center of each piece lines up with the horizontal guide you set in Step 2. This creates balance and gives the layout a clean, organized look.

[A mix use of vertical wall art and horizontal wall art can help increase the richness of the room.]

  1. Fill in the Blank Areas with Smaller Artworks

Now, fill in the empty spaces with your smaller pieces. You don’t need to align every single piece to the horizontal line. Instead, you can treat groups of small pieces as one unit and align their center with the line. This will maintain balance and ensures your display feels cohesive and thoughtfully arranged.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—a simple way to create beautiful wall art layouts for any room. You don’t need to stress over exact sizes or measurements. Just use these steps to make your space look dynamic and balanced.

Whether you’re turning your wall into a home gallery or keeping it clean and minimal, this method will help you get it just right.

[With a colorful abstract art placed on the left focal point, complemented by small horizontal wall arts and vertical wall arts, this 5-steps method can make a dynamic and balanced gallery wall art as above easily.]

I’ll also share more examples in future posts to inspire your creativity and show how this method works in different spaces. I can’t wait to share more ideas with you soon!

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