Wall decor above the sofa
The hardest wall in the house, solved: what to hang over a couch, and at what size.
The wall behind a couch is the one people look at longest and get wrong most often. Two mistakes account for nearly all of it: the piece is too small, and it is hung too high. Wall decor above the sofa should span roughly two thirds of the sofa width, with its centre about 145 to 150 cm from the floor.
Leave 15 to 25 cm between the top of the backrest and the bottom of the frame: closer feels cramped, further breaks the visual link between the two. One large horizontal piece is almost always easier to live with than a grid of small ones.
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Dorian Verdier
Founder of L'Original · HEC academic author on the democratization of art
Dorian Verdier founded the first gallery of its kind in North America and has spent ten years making original art accessible. His academic work at HEC focuses on the democratization of art, the same conviction that guides every collection on L'Original.
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Frequently asked questions
What size artwork goes above a sofa?
Aim for about two thirds of the sofa width.
A three-seater of 210 cm calls for roughly 140 cm of artwork, whether that is one piece or two hung with a small gap. Going smaller is the single most common decorating mistake on this wall.
How high should I hang it above the couch?
Keep 15 to 25 cm between the top of the backrest and the bottom of the frame.
The centre of the piece then lands near eye level for someone standing, which matches the museum convention of about 145 to 150 cm.
One large piece or several small ones?
One large piece, in most cases.
A group of small works needs tight, consistent spacing and a shared palette to read as deliberate; a single canvas gets there on its own and is far less sensitive to being knocked out of alignment.
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