What Wall Art Goes Above a Bed? Bedroom Wall Art Guide (Sizes, Height & Layouts)

Short answer: above a queen bed (60 in wide) hang one 16x20 in canvas, centred 57 in (145 cm) from the floor, with 8–10 in of wall showing between the headboard and the bottom of the canvas. A king bed (76 in) takes an 18x24 in canvas, or two 16x20 in canvases side by side. Our canvases come in three sizes: 11x14 ($45), 16x20 ($75) and 18x24 ($99).

What size wall art goes above each bed size?

Bed	Typical width	One piece	Two pieces	Three pieces
Twin	38 in	11x14	—	—
Full / double	54 in	11x14 or 16x20	2 x 11x14	—
Queen	60 in	16x20	2 x 11x14	3 x 11x14
King	76 in	18x24	2 x 16x20	3 x 11x14

The rule behind the table: the artwork should span about 60–75% of the bed width. Below 60% it looks undersized; above 75% it starts to crowd the room.

How high should you hang art above a bed?

Centre the art 57 in (145 cm) from the floor. That is eye level for most adults and it is the single measurement that makes a bedroom wall feel finished.
Leave 8–10 in between the headboard and the canvas. Taller headboards push the art up; keep the gap in that range and let the centre height rise with it.
If you sit up in bed to read, keep the bottom edge at least 8 in above the headboard so you never knock the canvas.
Above nightstands, 30–36 in from the top of the nightstand to the centre of a small piece works well for a 11x14 in canvas.

One, two or three pieces?

One piece is calmest and easiest: a 16x20 in canvas over a queen, an 18x24 in over a king.
Two pieces let you keep the height lower and the wall quieter: two 11x14 in canvases are 22 in of art plus a 2–3 in gap, which balances a 60 in bed better than a single small canvas.
Three pieces fill a wide wall above a king bed; treat the trio plus its two gaps as one block when you check the 60–75% rule.

Our canvases are gallery wraps, 1.25 inch deep, with the artwork continued around the edges — so a pair reads as one composition when the gap is small and even.

Bedroom layouts that work

Centred above the bed

The default. One 16x20 in canvas over a queen, 57 in to the centre, 8–10 in above the headboard.

A pair over the bed

Two 11x14 in canvases, 2–3 in apart, centred as a block. Best for lower ceilings and for rooms where the bed already has a tall upholstered headboard.

A trio above a king bed

Three 11x14 in canvases, 2–3 in gaps, spanning roughly 47 in — about 62% of a 76 in bed.

Above the nightstands

Two 11x14 in canvases, one over each nightstand, hang lower than the main piece so the wall steps down towards the corners of the room.

The wall opposite the bed

This is where you can go larger without competing with the bed: an 18x24 in canvas, or two 16x20 in canvases, centred 57 in from the floor.

What style of art suits a bedroom?

Bedrooms take calmer work than living rooms: lower contrast, softer palettes, and fewer competing elements. In practice that means muted neutrals and quiet texture — see our Japanese zen and minimalist line art collections — or a single soft abstract piece in textured abstract.

Frequently asked questions

What size art for above a queen bed?

One 16x20 in canvas, or two 11x14 in canvases as a pair. A single 11x14 in canvas looks undersized over a 60 in bed; a single 18x24 in canvas works only on a tall wall.

How high above the headboard should art hang?

8–10 in above the top of the headboard, with the centre of the art at about 57 in from the floor.

Should art above a bed be centred on the bed or on the wall?

Centre it on the bed, not on the wall. If the bed is off-centre in the room, centring on the bed is what makes the composition look deliberate.

Is one large canvas better than a set of three?

One large canvas is calmer and easier to hang; a set of three fills a wide wall better and lets you keep the pieces smaller. Neither is wrong — the 60–75% width rule decides.

Can I hang a 18x24 in canvas above a queen bed?

Yes, if the wall above the headboard has room. An 18x24 in canvas is 24 in wide, about 40% of a 60 in bed, so it reads as a focal piece rather than a span — pair it with a taller headboard or a taller wall.

Shipping, production and returns

Production: printed on demand — 2–5 business days before it ships.
Delivery: 3–7 business days in transit after production.
Shipping: free US shipping on orders of $45 or more; below that the flat rate is shown at checkout. We currently ship within the United States only.
Returns: physical canvas prints can be returned or exchanged within 30 days. Digital downloads are non-refundable once delivered.