A painting above the sofa should be 60-75 % of the sofa's width. If your sofa is 220 cm wide, for instance, the painting should be roughly 130-165 cm wide. The rule applies to other furniture too: bed, dining table and chest of drawers. Here is the complete size guide with examples of the most popular painting dimensions - 50x50, 60x40, 70x50, 70x70 and 100x70 cm.
The rule of thumb: 60-75 % of the furniture's width
The most important rule when choosing the size of a painting is that it should be in visual balance with the piece of furniture it hangs above. A painting that is too small "floats" and looks random. A painting that is too large takes over the room and feels heavy.
Take the furniture's width and multiply it by 0.6 and 0.75 - that gives you your range.
Examples:
- Sofa 200 cm: Painting 120-150 cm wide
- Sofa 220 cm: Painting 130-165 cm wide
- Sofa 240 cm: Painting 145-180 cm wide
- Double bed 160 cm: Painting 95-120 cm wide
- Double bed 180 cm: Painting 110-135 cm wide
- Dining table 140 cm: Painting 85-105 cm wide
- Dining table 200 cm: Painting 120-150 cm wide
- Chest of drawers 100 cm: Painting 60-75 cm wide
- Console table 120 cm: Painting 70-90 cm wide
Height above the furniture: 15-25 cm gap
Leave 15-25 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the painting. This creates visual coherence without the painting "sticking" to the sofa or bed.
If the ceiling is high (over 270 cm), you can go up to 30-40 cm. If the ceiling is low (under 240 cm), stick to 15-20 cm.
Centre of the painting at eye level
If the painting will NOT hang above a piece of furniture but stand alone on a wall, place the centre of the painting at eye level - typically 145-155 cm from the floor. It is the same rule art museums use.
Popular sizes and where they fit
50x50 cm - the small one
A 50x50 cm painting is compact and works well:
- As part of a collage of several paintings
- In an entrance or hallway
- Above a smaller chest of drawers (up to 80 cm)
- In children's rooms or smaller bedrooms
Price with us: 495 CHF - frame and shipping included.
60x40 cm - the classic
Our most chosen size for solo portraits. It works:
- Above a medium-sized chest of drawers (90-110 cm)
- As a standalone work on a smaller wall
- For portraits with 1-2 people
- As a pet painting
Price with us: 495 CHF - frame and shipping included.
70x50 cm - the mid-size
A good size when you want a clear eye-catcher without the painting dominating the room.
- Above a smaller sofa (180-200 cm) - combined with several smaller works
- Above a 140 cm bed
- In a cosy nook or reading corner
- For family portraits with 2-3 people
Price with us: 645 CHF - frame and shipping included.
70x70 cm - the statement size
When you want one large, dominant work on the wall.
- Above a standard sofa (200-220 cm) - as a standalone work
- Above a 160 cm double bed
- As the main feature in the living room
- For family portraits with 3-5 people
Price with us: 795 CHF - frame and shipping included.
100x70 cm - the gallery size
Our largest standard size - a real eye-catcher.
- Above a large sofa (240+ cm)
- Above a queen-/king-size bed (180+ cm)
- In large living rooms with high ceilings
- For large group portraits or wedding paintings
Price with us: 1'095 CHF - frame and shipping included.
Specific rooms: what suits where?
The living room (the sofa wall)
The living room's main wall is often the most important in the home. This is where the work your guests see first hangs. We recommend:
- One large single painting, 70x70 to 100x70 cm
- Or a gallery wall with 3-5 smaller paintings (50x50 to 60x40 cm)
A family portrait painting or wedding painting at 70x70 cm is a classic.
The bedroom (above the bed)
Above the bed you want something that creates calm and a personal mood.
- Double bed 160 cm: painting 100x70 cm horizontally or 70x50 cm with plenty of breathing space
- Double bed 180 cm: painting 100-120 cm wide
- Single 90 cm: painting 60x40 cm
A portrait painting of your partner or family is popular above the bed.
The dining room
Above the dining table or on the wall beside it.
- Dining table 140-180 cm: painting 70-100 cm wide
- Dining table 200+ cm: painting 120-150 cm wide
Choose a subject with warm colours that invite togetherness - for example a family portrait or a large pet painting.
The entrance hall
The entrance hall is narrow but important - it is the first thing guests see. Keep the paintings smaller.
- 50x50 cm to 60x40 cm
- At eye level (centre about 150 cm from the floor)
- Preferably portrait format (taller than wide)
The staircase
Many paintings in a row can look lovely up a staircase. Use 3-5 pieces at 50x50 to 60x40 cm. Keep the gap between them at 5-10 cm.
Landscape, portrait or square?
Landscape - wider than tall
Best for:
- Above sofa, bed, chest of drawers, dining table
- Family portraits with several people side by side
- Wedding pictures where the couple stand next to each other
Portrait - taller than wide
Best for:
- Solo portraits (one face)
- Narrow walls - for example between two windows
- Entrance hall or narrow hallway
- Full-length portrait of a pet
Square
Best for:
- Modern, minimalist rooms
- As part of a collage with mixed formats
- Centred portrait of a face
Test before you order: tape paper to the wall
Before you order, you can test the size by taping brown wrapping paper or newspaper to the wall in the size you want. Step back 2-3 metres and see whether it feels right. It's a free sanity check, and it catches mistakes before you have ordered.
Common mistakes people make
Too small a painting above a large sofa
The biggest problem we see. Many people choose 50x50 cm above a 220 cm sofa - it "disappears". Stick to at least 100 cm width for a sofa over 200 cm.
Hung too high
Many people hang paintings too high - more than 25 cm above the sofa. This creates a visual disconnect. Stick to 15-25 cm.
Too many small paintings instead of one large one
Three 50x50 cm paintings in a row can look cluttered. One large 70x70 cm painting is often more effective and elegant.
Ready to choose?
Once you know your size, you can go straight to order your painting. The price is one fixed amount per size, so you know the price immediately - and floating frame and free shipping are included.
Check out our collections for inspiration: portrait paintings, family paintings, pet paintings and wedding paintings.