The bedroom is the room you see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Still, bedroom wall art is often whatever was left over. A print that did not fit anywhere else. Or nothing at all. And the wall above the bed is usually the biggest free wall in the whole room.
What kind of bedroom wall art works?
Art that feels good the hundredth time you look at it. Not too loud, not too busy, but not random either. Calm does not mean a picture has nothing to say. Lots of white, light surfaces and clean lines settle the eye. A face or a line of text gives it something to hold on to.
So the rule for bedroom art is the same as everywhere: choose what makes you feel good. Whether it matches your bedding comes second.
Bedroom wall art above the bed: size and height
Two rules of thumb for wall art above your bed:
- The artwork should be about two thirds as wide as the bed or the headboard. One large piece looks calmer than many small ones.
- Leave about a hand’s width, or 6 to 8 inches, between the headboard and the bottom edge. That way it reads as part of the bed and not as an afterthought.
If you are looking for large wall art above the bed, measure first. A strip of painter’s tape on the wall shows you right away whether it works. For more on size and height, see Welsh Design Studio.
One practical thing: it hangs above your head. Use anchors and hooks that suit your wall and the weight.
Styling the wall behind your bed: three ideas
These three ideas for bedroom wall art work almost every time:
- One large piece, centered. The classic solution and almost always right.
- Two pieces of the same size side by side. Good for wide beds. Keep the gap even.
- One piece slightly off center. Feels more relaxed, for example above one side where a nightstand with a lamp stands.
Bright bedroom wall art for calm rooms
If you like it bright and tidy but do not want a soulless wall, have a look at White Elegance. The artworks use lots of white and carry lines like “YOU ARE WORTH IT”, “SMILE. IT SUITS YOU.” or “OWN THE LIGHT.”. The piece in the picture above is “PHOEBE / WHITE NOISE”. It is quiet art that still says something. Every piece is based on an original of mine. The prints come unframed or framed.
If you would like a one of a kind piece, have a look at my original paintings.
Three questions before you decide
Before you buy or hang bedroom wall art, run through this short check:
- Do I want to see this first thing in the morning?
- Does the size suit the wall, the bed and the room?
- Is it hung securely?
If you say yes three times, you have found your piece. If you are still unsure, my article Which art suits me can help. More ideas for furnishing with art are in Furnishing with art. And you can see all series at a glance in the Collections.