Wall art for above bed that follows the headboard
A bed is wide and low, so over the bed wall art works best when it is wide and low too. One panoramic print covers the space in a single line. It needs no spacing plan, unlike a gallery wall or a set of three. This page holds our horizontal wall art for bedroom walls, chosen for calm color and a quiet mood.
What size art goes over a bed
Most over bed art is sized by the bed, not by the wall. A common guideline is art about two thirds the width of the bed. Measure the headboard if it is wider than the mattress. The table uses standard US mattress widths.
| Bed and width | Two thirds | Panoramic size | Gallery wrap | Framed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin, 38 in | 25 in | 8 × 24 in | $90 | $120 |
| Full, 54 in | 36 in | 12 × 36 in | $120 | $150 |
| Queen, 60 in | 40 in | 12 × 36 in | $120 | $150 |
| California king, 72 in | 48 in | 16 × 48 in | $160 | $220 |
| King, 76 in | 51 in | 16 × 48 in | $160 | $220 |
For a queen bed, 12 × 36 sits a little under two thirds and 16 × 48 a little over. Choose 16 × 48 if your headboard is wider than the mattress. For a king bed, 20 × 60 gives a fuller, bolder look.
How high to hang art above a bed
The main rule for above the bed art is spacing. Leave about 6 to 10 inches between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the art. With no headboard, allow a little more room, so you do not bump the frame when you sit up. Center the print on the bed, not on the wall. Framed prints arrive with hanging wire, and two hooks keep a long print level and secure. Canvas has no glass, so nothing can shatter over the pillows. These are guidelines, so adjust them to your room.
What art to hang above your bed
Most people want a calm image over the place they sleep. Soft landscapes and still water are a safe choice. Try Karl Hagemeister's Pond in the Mark with Water Lilies and Reeds (1907). Paul Baum's Sunny, Cloudy Sky over Marshy Meadows with a Stream (1886) is just as quiet. Gustav Klimt's Island in the Attersee is mostly quiet water and reflected light. Snow scenes such as Leonard Ochtman's Snowy Landscape with Lone Tree (Winter Morning) (1911) bring pale, cool color. Carl Moll's Dahlias adds warm garden color. Koloman Moser's Cloud Study (1913) is nearly abstract. Klimt's The Maiden (1913) shows a dreaming young woman among figures wrapped in patterned cloth.
Colors and frames for a bedroom
Good above bed wall art picks up one color from your bedding or walls, so the room feels planned. Blue and green landscapes suit white or gray linens. Warm fields and autumn scenes suit wood furniture, and walnut or oak frames repeat that wood tone. A black frame gives crisp contrast on a light wall. Gallery-wrapped canvas has no frame and keeps a light, simple look.
In a guest room, a neutral landscape suits most visitors. In a small bedroom, an 8 × 24 or 12 × 36 print over a twin or full bed keeps the wall from feeling crowded. Over a daybed, measure the frame of the daybed, not the mattress.
More long art for the home
See every size and subject in Panoramic & Horizontal Wall Art. For the living room, see Wall Art Above Couch. Panoramic Landscape Wall Art has every long landscape we sell. Vintage Floral Prints has flowers in standard sizes.
