You want them to work seamlessly while complimenting each other. You don't want your artwork fighting the general contour of your wall. This seems like a fairly obvious thing to think about but you would be surprised how many people easily overlook this basic principal. When it comes to canvas or acrylic artworks, the size that's given is usually the finished size but it’s always best to play it safe and double check regardless. When it comes to framed art, sometimes an artist can display the print or image size and it’s easy to forget that the frame will be added onto this and this will increase its size. What do we mean by finished? This is the overall measurement from the outside edge of the frame to the other. Tip: Double check with the artist that the measurements that are displayed or that have been given to you are the finished size of the artwork.
For example, if the space you are planning a large piece for, only allows you to step back 1.5 metres and you cannot achieve an overall view of the piece without moving your head around then maybe a smaller piece would be more suitable. When it comes to selecting the correct size, you also need to think about how far you are going to be able to stand from the piece of artwork in order to view it comfortably. This is a factor many people don't seem to talk about. Like the prints seen above, shop the Traditional Dance print here or the Kolmanskop print here
This will prevent the artwork from looking lost and allow the remaining area of wall to frame the artwork nicely. How big is the room that you’re intending on hanging the piece of artwork in? Is it a living room or are you planning on decorating a hallway? How high are the ceilings, do you have grand ceilings or are you working with a standard 2.4m ceiling height? All these factors should be taken into account but as a general rule, for a wall with no furniture the artwork should take up approximately 50% - 75% of the space. Tip: If you're ever in doubt about a certain size, it’s always safer to lean towards a slightly bigger size, rather than a smaller size. If you hang a small piece on a large wall it will give the appearance that the artwork is lost and if the piece of art is too big it will look like it’s trying to take over the room and will look equally strange. While there is no definitive answer as to exactly how big or small your piece should be, there are guidelines to help you make the right decision when it comes to purchasing a piece for your room.
Maybe you're looking to purchase a new piece of art for your room or maybe you already have a few pieces and are wondering where you should hang them. There are so many factors that can come into play when it comes to selecting the correct size artwork for your wall.