The most common mistake with wall art isn't the wrong colour or the wrong style. It's the wrong size. A piece that's too small floats on the wall and makes the whole room feel unfinished. One that's well proportioned anchors the furniture around it and makes the space feel deliberate.
The good news: getting it right takes a tape measure and a few simple rules. Here's how to size a wall tapestry for every room in your home.
The three rules that work almost everywhere
- The two-thirds rule. When art hangs above a piece of furniture, aim for it to be about two-thirds to three-quarters the width of that furniture. Narrower than half, and it starts to look lost.
- Leave breathing room. Hang the bottom edge 6–10 in (15–25 cm) above the furniture below it. Any higher and the two stop relating to each other.
- Eye level is the centre. On an open wall, the centre of the piece should sit roughly 57–60 in (145–152 cm) from the floor, which is the height galleries use.
If you remember nothing else, remember these three.
Quick reference: furniture width to art width
| Furniture | Typical width | Ideal art width |
|---|---|---|
| Loveseat | 60 in (152 cm) | 40–45 in (100–115 cm) |
| Three-seat sofa | 84 in (213 cm) | 56–63 in (142–160 cm) |
| Queen bed | 60 in (152 cm) | 40–45 in (100–115 cm) |
| King bed | 76 in (193 cm) | 50–57 in (127–145 cm) |
| Sideboard or console | 48–72 in (122–183 cm) | 32–54 in (81–137 cm) |
| Dining buffet | 60–72 in (152–183 cm) | 40–54 in (100–137 cm) |
Measure your own furniture. Those are typical figures, and yours may differ.
Living room: above the sofa
The wall above the sofa is usually the most visible wall in the house, and the one most often under-dressed.
- For a loveseat or small sofa, a single medium-to-large piece works well.
- For a full three-seat sofa, go as large as you can. If a single piece doesn't reach two-thirds of the sofa's width, two pieces hung side by side with a gap of 2–3 in (5–8 cm) can read as one composition.
- Portrait or landscape? A landscape piece echoes the long line of a sofa. A tall portrait piece draws the eye upward and suits rooms with high ceilings.
Textured art earns its place here: in a room where you sit and look at the same wall every evening, a wool piece changes with the light in a way a print can't.
Bedroom: above the bed
The headboard is the natural anchor in a bedroom.
- Use the width of the bed, not the headboard, for the two-thirds rule.
- Hang the bottom edge 6–10 in (15–25 cm) above the headboard.
- Keep the piece calm in colour if you want the room to feel restful. Soft, muted palettes and simple shapes work better here than busy, high-contrast designs.
Wool is a natural fit for bedrooms. It's soft, matte and warm, and like other dense textiles it helps quiet a room's acoustics.
Dining room: above a sideboard or buffet
- Follow the two-thirds rule against the sideboard or buffet, not the table.
- If there's no furniture against the wall, centre the piece on the dining table instead, and size it to about two-thirds of the table's length.
- A dining room is a good place for a statement piece. People sit facing it for long stretches, and it gives the room a focal point.
Hallway and entryway
Hallways are narrow, so you see art up close. That makes them perfect for tufted texture, which rewards a closer look.
- In a narrow hallway, choose a piece that fills about half to two-thirds of the wall's width without crowding door frames.
- Above an entry console, follow the two-thirds rule against the console.
- Keep the centre at eye level, since nobody looks up in a corridor.
Home office
- Above a desk, follow the two-thirds rule against the desk.
- Think about your video calls. A textured piece on the wall behind you makes a far better background than a blank wall or a bookshelf, and it softens echo in a small room.
An empty wall with no furniture
When there's nothing below the art, size it to the wall itself:
- A single piece should take up about 60–75% of the wall's width you want to fill, leaving space on either side.
- On a large, empty wall, one big piece almost always looks better than several small ones.
- On a tall, narrow wall (between two windows, for example), choose a portrait piece.
Before you buy: the tape test
This one trick prevents almost every sizing mistake:
- Cut paper or cardboard to the size you're considering, or mark the outline with painter's tape.
- Stick it on the wall at the height you plan to hang it.
- Leave it up for a day and look at it from where you usually sit.
If it looks slightly too big, it's probably just right. Most people underestimate.
Choosing a Hewn Earth size
Our tapestries range from 60 × 80 cm (about 24 × 31 in) up to 120 × 160 cm (about 47 × 63 in), and our Bespoke service makes pieces to fit specific walls.
- 60 × 80 cm: hallways, above a narrow console, beside a bed, or a small wall that needs warmth.
- Medium sizes: above a loveseat, a smaller sideboard, a desk, or a single bed.
- 120 × 160 cm: above a queen or king bed, a full-size sofa, or a large empty wall where you want a real statement.
Because each piece is hand-tufted, even our smallest size has real presence. It weighs around 2 kg (4.4 lb) of wool, with a deep pile that reads clearly from across a room. Read more about how hand-tufted tapestries are made.
How to hang it
Every Hewn Earth tapestry comes with a hook-and-loop hanging strip that supports the piece along its full top edge, the same method museums use for textiles. It keeps the wool from stretching over time and makes it easy to adjust the height until it's exactly right.
Frequently asked questions
What size wall art should go above a couch?
Aim for about two-thirds to three-quarters of the couch's width. For a standard 84-inch three-seat sofa, that's roughly 56–63 inches wide, either as one piece or two pieces hung side by side.
How high should I hang wall art?
Centre it about 57–60 inches (145–152 cm) from the floor on an open wall. Above furniture, leave 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) between the furniture and the bottom of the piece.
Can wall art be too big?
Rarely. Leave a few inches of space on each side so it doesn't touch the edges of the furniture or crowd door frames and corners. Most rooms look better with art that feels slightly too big than slightly too small.
Should I choose one large piece or several small ones?
On most walls, one large piece looks calmer and more intentional. Groups of smaller pieces work best on long walls or along a staircase.
Can I see my tapestry before it ships?
Yes. Every piece is made to order, and we send you photos or video of your finished tapestry before shipping. It only ships once you've confirmed you're happy with it.
Still not sure which size is right for your wall? Send us your measurements and a photo of the space, and we'll help you choose. Or browse the full collection of wool wall art.
