How to Choose the Right Size Print for Your Wall (A Simple Guide for Landscape Art)

Key Takeaways

• The easiest way to choose art size is to measure your wall and aim for artwork that fills about 2/3 to 3/4 of the available width.
• Over a sofa, bed, or console, your artwork should typically be about 2/3 the width of the furniture (or wider if you’re doing a gallery-style grouping).
• If your art feels “too small,” it usually needs either a larger piece or a bigger frame + mat—not a different style.
• When in doubt, go slightly larger. Bigger art reads as intentional; small art often reads as temporary.
• Craig Mitchell’s handmade Nevada and Lake Tahoe block prints work especially well as statement pieces because they have strong composition and a clean, graphic presence.

Choosing art is fun—until you’re staring at an empty wall and thinking, Okay… but what size am I supposed to buy? This is one of the most common questions collectors ask, and it’s also one of the easiest to solve once you know one simple rule: art should relate to the size of the wall (and the furniture beneath it).

Whether you’re shopping for Nevada landscape art, Lake Tahoe prints, or a statement piece for a new space, this guide will help you choose a print size that looks intentional, balanced, and “designer-finished.”

The Easiest Rule: Aim for 2/3 to 3/4 of the Wall Width

If your artwork is going on a blank wall without furniture underneath it (like a hallway wall, stair landing, or open living room wall), start with wall width.

Here's a reliable visual target:

Your framed art should fill about 65%–75% of the available wall width.

So if your wall space is 60 inches wide, your framed artwork should usually land somewhere around 40–45 inches wide. This rule works because it creates enough presence to anchor the wall without overwhelming it.

Quick tip: When measuring, think in terms of the final framed size, not just the paper size.

Over Furniture: The 2/3 Rule

If your print is going above furniture—like a couch, bed, buffet, or console table—use the furniture width as your anchor.

Artwork above furniture should typically be about 2/3 the width of what’s below it.

Examples:

• 84" sofa → art that’s roughly 55–65" wide (framed)
• 60" console → art around 40–45" wide (framed)
• King bed (76") → art around 50–60" wide (framed)

This is why small art over a big sofa often looks “floating” and unfinished. It isn’t that the art is wrong—it’s that the scale is off.

The #1 Mistake: Thinking the Print Size is the Wall Size

Most people underestimate how much visual space a frame and mat add—and how much they should add. A medium print with a generous mat can look bold and elevated. The same print in a thin frame can look small, even if the paper size is identical.

As a general guide:

• A 2–4 inch mat adds “breathing room” and makes art feel more collectible.
• A wider mat can help a smaller print feel more substantial on the wall.
• A larger frame profile adds visual weight (especially in big rooms).

If you love a particular print but worry it won’t feel big enough, you don’t necessarily need to size up. You may just need to plan for a larger finished frame size.

Room-by-Room Cheat Sheet: What Usually Works

Living room (above a sofa)

This is where going too small shows the most. If your sofa is standard size (80–90 inches), you’ll almost always want either:

• One larger statement piece, or
• Two similarly sized pieces hung as a pair

If you’re choosing one piece, remember: it should visually anchor the seating area, not hover above it.

Bedroom (above the bed)

Over a bed, you want the art to feel calm and centered. A single piece can look amazing here—especially landscape work—because it reinforces a restful focal point.

General guidance:

• Queen bed: medium-to-large framed piece
• King bed: large framed piece, or a pair

If you have a headboard with height and presence, you can usually go a little larger without it feeling heavy.

Entryway (above a console table)

Entryways are perfect for landscape art because it sets a tone immediately. Stick to the 2/3 furniture-width rule, and keep the bottom edge of the frame 6–10 inches above the console so it feels connected.

Hallways and staircases

Hallways do well with:

• One medium statement piece, or
• A short series of smaller pieces

For staircases, scale matters even more because the viewing distance changes. A piece that feels “fine” up close can feel too small from the bottom of the stairs.

How High Should You Hang It?

A common rule that works well is:

The center of the artwork should be around 57–60 inches from the floor.

That’s roughly eye level for most people.

Over furniture, the “center” rule still applies, but you also want the art to feel connected—so keep it closer than you think:

• 6–10 inches above a sofa back or console
• 8–12 inches above a mantel (depending on ceiling height)

How to Choose Between a Single Statement Print vs. a Pair

If you have a wide wall and want a clean, modern look, a single statement piece usually feels more intentional.

A pair works best when:

• You’re filling a wide space and want symmetry
• You want to build a “set” feel (like two Tahoe scenes, or two Nevada desert palettes)
• You’re working with narrower individual prints but want more total width

Either way, keep spacing consistent. 2–4 inches between frames usually looks crisp.

Why Landscape Block Prints Look Especially Strong as Statement Pieces

Handmade block prints have a unique advantage: they tend to be graphic, structured, and high-contrast—which means they read well from across a room.

Craig Mitchell’s Nevada and Lake Tahoe block prints, in particular, work beautifully as focal points because:

• The compositions are clean and balanced
• The color palettes feel natural and lived-in
• The handcrafted process adds depth without visual clutter

A Quick “Size Confidence” Checklist

Before you buy, ask:

• Will the framed width fill about 2/3–3/4 of the space it’s going on?
• Does it relate to nearby furniture (not float above it)?
• Will you be viewing it from across the room? (If yes, go bigger.)
• Can you use a larger mat/frame to increase presence if needed?

If you can say “yes” to those, you’ll almost always love the result.

Shop Nevada & Lake Tahoe Prints by Size

Ready to choose a piece with confidence? Shop Craig Mitchell’s Nevada and Lake Tahoe block prints. They're handmade and printed in limited editions.

FAQs

What size art should I put above a sofa?

In most cases, your framed artwork should be about 2/3 the width of the sofa. If you have a large sectional, consider a larger statement piece or a pair of prints to create enough visual width.

Is it better to go bigger or smaller with wall art?

When you’re choosing between two sizes, it’s usually better to go slightly bigger. Larger art tends to look intentional and finished, while undersized art can feel temporary or visually “lost” on the wall.

How high should I hang a framed print?

A common guideline is to hang art so the center of the frame is 57–60 inches from the floor. If it’s above furniture, keep the bottom edge of the frame about 6–10 inches above the furniture surface.

How do I make a small print look bigger on the wall?

Use a larger mat and frame. A generous mat adds presence and makes the piece feel more substantial—often without needing to change the print itself.

What’s the best wall art size for a bedroom?

Over a bed, aim for art that’s roughly 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the bed, depending on your headboard height and the overall scale of the room.