A question we are asked often is about the size of a piece of artwork and the size of a space it is intended for. As we always say;
“Its Art Love, Size IS Everything.”
We are ArtMarketDirect.com are not interior designers but there are some general guidelines you can follow when you are deciding whether to buy a piece for a space or not.
It should come as no surprise that even when a piece is too big or too small, we say buy it anyway and find the perfect space for it after you get it home.
For those who want to err on the side of caution, whether you are looking for something original, a print, photograph, drawing, collage, sculpture, or even some amazing typography, what follows are our top tips,Finally it’s worth remembering that different countries have different size rooms. In the UK houses and apartments are often very old, with lower ceilings, smaller rooms in general and if the building are that old, there is often nothing straight in the house.
I once lived in Faversham in Kent. My house, built in 1796, had such wonky walls and ceilings, a straight shelf ‘looked’ askew.
On more than one occasion we abandoned the spirit and ‘let the eye be the guide. Such fun!
It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of creating a busy feature wall of frames or selecting that one piece to enhance your life or your home, there are a couple of common errors and a couple of golden rules to keep in the brain bank:
Common Errors:
Creating a tiny art island in a sea of empty space.
Hanging a piece so high that people need a stepladder to look at it.
Golden Rules:
The art should be between 60% (4/7) to 75% (3/4) the width of the furniture it is to hang above or the space it is to fill.
The center of the piece should be about 1.5 meters (58″) which relates to the average height of the people most likely to see it.
Art and Sofas
So, what is a ‘standard’ sofa size?
In the UK, sofas vary in size, from 6 to 8 feet long and 32 to 40 inches deep for a standard size sofa, to 4 to 6 feet long and 28 to 30 inches deep for a love-seat. The actual depth of the seating area is reduced by the depth of the sofa’s arms and back of the sofa. These measurements arr a rule of thumb, in fact with more and more custom options with 2,3,4 or more cushion sofa options on the market the idea of standard is a fast illusive thing.
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
Finding the size that fits your space is important
Step 1.
Measure the furniture width or the width of the wall or space you are looking to fill.
Step 2.
Multiply the figure you have by either 0.60 (4/7) or 0.75 (3/4).
For example:
Let’s assume you have a sofa 213cm (84″) wide.
You will do two sets of maths:
213cm (84″) x 0.60 = 128cm (50.4″)
213cm (84″) x 0.75 = 160cm (63″)
This means the best size for a piece of art to be displayed above this sofa should be somewhere between 128-160cm wide.
Image by Ervin Ng’ang’a from Pixabay
Art and Beds
So, what is a ‘standard’ bed size?
In the UK there are six standard sizes for beds. Depending on the furniture you have, these sizes will help you choose the perfect art for your room, using the same method and maths as when considering art for above the sofa.
Image by Ferenc Keresi from Pixabay
Bed Size
Small Single:
76 x 190 cm / 30″ x 75″ / 2’6″ x 6’3″
Standard Single:
91 x 190 cm / 36″ x 75″ / 3′ x 6’3″
Small Double:
122 x 190 cm / 48″ x 75″ / 4′ x 6’3″
Standard Double:
137 x 190 cm / 54″ x 75″ / 4’6″ x 6’3
King Size:
152 x 198 cm / 60″ x 78″ / 5′ x 6’6″
Queen Size:
183 x 198 cm / 71″ x 78″ / 6′ x 6’6″
Good Size Art
Small Single:
76 x 190 cm / 30″ x 75″ / 2’6″ x 6’3″
Standard Single:
91 x 190 cm / 36″ x 75″ / 3′ x 6’3″
Small Double:
122 x 190 cm / 48″ x 75″ / 4′ x 6’3″
Standard Double:
137 x 190 cm / 54″ x 75″ / 4’6″ x 6’3
King Size:
152 x 198 cm / 60″ x 78″ / 5′ x 6’6″
Queen Size:
183 x 198 cm / 71″ x 78″ / 6′ x 6’6″
Image by DarthZuzanka from PixabayClick edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Gallery Wall vs. Single Piece
Gallary walls can take on a life of their own
You can use lots of smaller pieces of artwork which when measured from the outside edges cover the recommended width.
It’s good to keep the gaps between the pieces between 5-10cm apart but that is a matter of taste.
Image by edvaldocostacordeiro from Pixabay
Art and Dining Rooms
The same equation we provided for the sofa above is also perfect when deciding what size art should be seen across a dining room table or over a sideboard.
It is a generalised rule of thumb, you can just keep hold of if you are not sure.
Image by Solomon Rodgers from Pixabay
Go With The Gut!
Of course, all of this is just a guide.
It does not trump your taste which is paramount, after all, you have to live with whatever you buy.
So we hope we have inspired you to want to buy some art.
Its time to go shopping!!
Browse Art at ArtMarketDirect.com
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@rtMarketDirect
With ArtMarketDirect.com artists are able to take control of their own careers, list their own pieces for sale to collectors and undertake their own fulfillment of orders.
The only stipulation on ArtMarketDirect.com is that the work you list is your own and is original. Where prints are for sale, we ask that all image copyrights belong to you and that you are legally disposed to sell the pieces you have on offer.
The site is FREE to use with only 10% sales commission OR for those willing to bet on themselves with only a nominal subscription (from less than £1/month) to upload unlimited artwork and very low 3% commission on sales.
If you are a creative ArtMarketDirect.com is the best option you have.
