Decor Fit for a Queen
Does your bedroom lack that special something? Perhaps a splash of color or a personal touch? While blank walls offer a clean aesthetic, they often lack personality and fail to evoke any emotional response. Initially serene, they can eventually feel empty or stark. Introducing a painting can infuse both color and emotion into the space. It doesn't necessarily have to depict landscapes, cityscapes, or portraits; even an abstract piece with shapes and colors that resonate with you can work wonders.
Before delving into selecting your ideal painting, let's consider the most suitable artwork size for your beautiful queen-sized bed. In smaller rooms, opting for smaller artworks is advisable as they can be better appreciated from closer proximity. However, if you're blessed with a spacious bedroom boasting high ceilings, ample walking space, or even room for activities like yoga or a sofa, don't hesitate to go big! Large artworks necessitate expansive rooms, allowing you to step back and admire them in their entirety, while still affording the option to appreciate intricate details up close. That said, decorating above a bed can pose challenges due to space constraints, making it tricky to fully appreciate finer details.
Finding the Sweet Spot
Staring at a bare wall often raises questions about how close to position artwork to various elements like the headboard, window frames, curtains, and even existing light fixtures. Our experience suggests that leaving some space between the canvas or frame's edge and these elements helps maintain focus on the painting, avoiding distractions below or around it. To simplify the process, we've designed a diagram indicating our proposed hanging positions, along with suggested clearance zones and an additional green area representing the optimal placement for the artwork.
These guidelines also aid in determining the wall's orientation. While it may seem obvious at times whether to hang a vertical or horizontal painting, in some instances, particularly with more square spaces, the decision isn't always straightforward.
A common query we receive from our clients pertains to the ideal width of artwork above their bed: should it match the bed's width or be smaller?
The width of the chosen artwork holds significant importance in bedroom decor. One crucial guideline to bear in mind is that the artwork should never surpass the width of the bed or the headboard. Ideally, the edges of the painting should align with the width of the headboard or be slightly smaller.
Large Artwork
Large original artwork adds a touch of elegance to virtually any expansive space, particularly above a bed. For rooms boasting large walls and high ceilings, opt for a sizable horizontal or square painting to create a captivating focal point. These expansive walls provide an excellent area for making a statement, especially when paired with beds featuring short, minimalist headboards that seamlessly blend with pillows.
“Large original artwork adds a touch of elegance to virtually any expansive space.”
On the other hand, compact spaces, such as the one we're discussing, are ideal for medium to small canvases, particularly with 8-foot ceilings. In this instance, featuring a bed with a tall, curved headboard, medium-sized artwork is most fitting. To maintain balance, it's advisable to refrain from placing any artwork above the window height, ensuring the room doesn't feel overly weighted at the top. For this scenario, we suggest considering artwork with dimensions no exceeding 36" in height.
60” Wide
If you're dealing with a substantial headboard that accentuates the size of a 60" queen bed, a canvas measuring 60" in width complements the space without overwhelming it. Depending on the wall height and the headboard's elevation, you have the flexibility to hang a canvas measuring 60" wide by 36", 30", or 24" tall.
Considering the unique curvature of this particular headboard, I recommend opting for canvases with heights of 30" or 24" for the best fit in this area. Not only does this choice enhance the perception of width, but it also creates the illusion of a more elongated room.
Although a height of 36" does fit the space, I have concerns that it might appear too large for the wall. Currently, you're only observing an outline, but the painting's style significantly influences its perceived size on the wall. Darker-colored paintings tend to appear larger than their actual dimensions, whereas lighter-colored ones don't impose as much visual weight, making them seem smaller.
Opting for a canvas size of 30" or 24" in height for this area not only allows you to choose a darker or busier composition without overpowering the space but also ensures that there's ample room for the curved headboard, preventing it from feeling crowded. Additionally, these canvas sizes provide enough flexibility to accommodate the addition of a frame.
48” Wide
If a 60” painting feels too long for your space or doesn't match your desired aesthetic, consider downsizing to 48” wide. This width is particularly well-suited for square-shaped walls and horizontal walls. Additionally, it's available in heights of 24”, 30”, and 36”.
The size option of 48” wide by 24” tall leans more towards a horizontal orientation, mimicking the shape of the bed if you prefer that aesthetic. Additionally, it's compact enough not to overpower the space, leaving ample room for a frame.
While technically smaller than the 60” x 36”, the 36” height of this painting still approaches the top barrier (the top of the windows). If the headboard lacked the decorative curve, 36” would be an ideal height. However, the curve presents a challenge, leaving us with two options: 48” x 24” and 48” x 30”, both providing ample space around the canvas.
40” Wide
The 40” x 30” painting aligns perfectly with this wall, ensuring ample space around it to maximize the wall's potential. It maintains a comfortable distance from the established height barrier, allowing room for adding a frame without overwhelming the area. Additionally, its width prevents it from appearing unsteady on the decorative curve of the headboard.
This intermediate size offers the ideal compromise—it's sizable enough to command attention on the wall without dominating the room. It strikes a harmonious balance, precisely what you're aiming for when choosing canvas sizes for your wall.
square artwork
Square artwork adds a delightful touch and can serve as an excellent complement atop headboards, breaking away from the typical matched look prevalent in the rest of the room, such as in the windows, light fixtures, and pillows. To diverge from this repetitive design pattern, consider opting for a single piece.
“Ultimately, choose the size that feels most appropriate for you.”
However, in the realm of square artwork positioned over queen or king size beds, it's typical to opt for a set of square canvases arranged side by side. Why? Because it mirrors the horizontal configuration of the bed itself.
36 Wide x 36” Tall
Had the bed featured a flat headboard without the curve, we would suggest a 36” x 36” canvas size. However, as previously mentioned, a 36” height isn't suitable for this space due to its proximity to the top barrier, giving the impression that the painting is precariously balanced on the headboard's curve.
If you're drawn to the aesthetic of a 36” height in this setting, we recommend selecting a minimal, light-colored piece to prevent it from appearing visually cumbersome in the space. Ultimately, choose the size that feels most appropriate for you; after all, it's your bedroom, and your enjoyment is paramount. While our recommendations serve as guidelines, your preference is what truly matters.
Small Artwork
In the studio, we're not particularly fond of small paintings on relatively expansive walls, especially when juxtaposed with large furniture. Our concern lies in the possibility of the artwork being overshadowed by the surrounding décor elements. Nevertheless, if you're keen on introducing an unexpected element and experimenting with scale, consider injecting just the right amount of intrigue into a space by positioning a small painting atop a sizable bed frame.
36” Wide x 24” Tall
36” Wide
If the 40” wide by 30” tall painting feels too large for this area, you might want to consider the 36” wide by 24” tall option. It's the smallest size we'd suggest for this space while still providing ample presence without being overshadowed by the windows or headboard. You'll still be able to enjoy the painting from various angles within the bedroom without needing to get too close to fully appreciate it. Additionally, this size allows flexibility for framing, and if you prefer a slightly larger presentation, a floating frame could be a great option to consider.
Artwork Sets
The quantity of art pieces adorning your wall can fluctuate based on factors such as wall size, surrounding decor, and, most significantly, the desired aesthetic. For smaller beds like queens and fulls, we suggest contemplating two vertically hung art pieces. Conversely, for California king beds with wide headboards, two horizontal paintings are an excellent choice.
Alternatively, if the top wall space is narrow or you're dealing with high ceilings, two vertical paintings hung side by side can also create a striking effect.
20” Wide
A set of paintings measuring 20” in width by 24” in height would suit this wall perfectly. There's ample space around them, allowing for a gap of five inches or more between each piece. Additionally, there's sufficient room for framing the artwork without it feeling too large for the area. Positioning them vertically echoes the arrangement of the windows and naturally draws the viewer's gaze upward, creating the illusion of a taller room.
22” Wide
For a more extensive coverage of the wall and a greater visual impact, contemplate a set of paintings measuring 22” in width by 28” in height. This height is ideal, situated just below the barrier, and provides ample space on the sides and bottom, ensuring the arrangement doesn't feel cramped. Opting for this size maximizes the utilization of the wall space. There's still enough space to incorporate a frame, but it's advisable to select a slim frame to maintain cohesion within the wall decor boundaries. Moreover, this size elevates the artwork from merely being an accent to becoming the focal point of the room.
11” Wide x 14” Tall
gallery wall
A practical approach to utilizing space effectively while maintaining a relatively modest budget is to explore limited edition prints. In this demonstration, we showcase the effect of a gallery wall comprising six 8x10” prints mounted on 11x14” mats adorning the wall. Consider opting for a frameless presentation with glass to ensure the gallery wall remains within the confines of the wall decor boundaries; adding frames might elevate them too high on the wall. This option is particularly suitable for rental properties as it eliminates the risk associated with displaying original paintings. Prints offer an attractive decor solution at a fraction of the cost, providing the added benefit of easy replacement in case of accidents.
