Above couch wall art in one long piece
A sofa is the widest piece in most living rooms, and over the couch wall art should follow its line. One panoramic print fills the wall above it in a single line, where a small print would look lost. It also saves the measuring that a gallery wall of six frames needs. This page collects our horizontal wall art for living room walls, with bolder color and more abstract work than our bedroom picks.
What size art goes above a sofa
The most common mistake with over the sofa wall art is a print that is too small. A common guideline is art about two thirds the width of the sofa. Measure from arm to arm. For a sectional, measure the side the art hangs over.
| Sofa and width | Two thirds | Panoramic size | Gallery wrap | Framed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loveseat, about 60 in | 40 in | 12 × 36 in | $120 | $150 |
| Apartment sofa, about 72 in | 48 in | 16 × 48 in | $160 | $220 |
| Standard sofa, about 84 in | 56 in | 20 × 60 in | $200 | $250 |
| Large sofa, 96 in | 64 in | 20 × 60 in | $200 | $250 |
For a standard sofa, 16 × 48 also works if the wall is narrow or crowded. For large horizontal wall art for living room walls, 20 × 60 is our largest size.
How high to hang art above a couch
Leave about 6 to 10 inches between the top of the sofa back and the bottom of the art. Any closer and heads will touch the frame. Much higher, and the art drifts away from the sofa. Center the print on the sofa, not on the wall. On a tall wall, keep the same gap, because the sofa sets the height. Framed prints arrive with hanging wire, and a long piece is steadier on two hooks. These are guidelines, not fixed rules.
What art to put above a sofa
Art above sofa seating sets the mood of the whole room, so it can carry more color than bedroom art. For a bold, modern look, try Wassily Kandinsky's Squares with Concentric Circles (1913) or Paul Klee's Geometric City (Polyphonic Architecture) (1930). Sea views add movement. Ivan Aivazovsky's Constantinople and the Bosphorus (1856) glows with sunset gold. Karl Hagemeister's Waves Crashing on a Rocky Shore (1908) shows surf breaking on rocks. For warm color, see Alfred Thompson Bricher's Late Autumn in the White Mountains or Carl Moll's Heldenplatz with Lilacs (1900). Gustav Klimt's Lakeside Village (Litzlberg on the Attersee) (1914 to 1915) suits a green or blue sofa.
Match the art to the room
Pick one color from a rug, pillow or chair and look for it in the print. Cool blues and grays suit a gray or navy sofa. Ochre, rust and autumn greens suit leather and wood. Black frames give crisp edges in a modern room. Walnut and oak suit mid-century and traditional furniture. Unframed gallery-wrapped canvas keeps the look light.
In an open-plan room, the sofa wall is often seen from the kitchen or dining table. Choose a print that reads from across the room. Strong shapes and clear contrast carry further than fine detail.
More long art
See every size and subject in Panoramic & Horizontal Wall Art. For bedrooms, see Above Bed Wall Art. For a mantel, see Art Above Fireplace. For more by one of these painters in standard sizes, see Paul Klee Prints.
