A poster above the sofa finishes your living room, but only if the size is right. Too small looks lost, too big overwhelms. Three simple rules of thumb help you get it right first time.
Rule 1: two thirds of the sofa width
Your poster, or group of posters, should cover roughly two thirds of the sofa width. So measure your sofa first. A 210 cm sofa calls for an arrangement about 140 cm wide; a 150 cm loveseat for about 100 cm.
Rule 2: 20 to 25 cm above the backrest
Hang the bottom of the poster 20 to 25 cm above the backrest. Higher and it seems to float, lower and you'll hit it with your head. With nothing below, the centre of the poster sits at about 150 cm.
Rule 3: one large or several smaller
One large poster gives calm and a clear focal point. Two or three posters side by side add rhythm, especially above a wide sofa. Leave 5 to 8 cm between frames.
Which size for which sofa?
- Loveseat or 2-seater (140 to 170 cm): one 60x90 cm poster, or two 50x70 cm.
- 3-seater (190 to 220 cm): one 70x100 cm poster, or two 60x90 cm side by side.
- Corner or large sofa (from 240 cm): three 50x70 or 60x90 cm posters in a row, or a gallery wall.
A 30x40 cm poster is nearly always too small on its own above a sofa, but works well in a gallery wall around a larger centrepiece.
Portrait or landscape?
Above a long sofa, a landscape poster or a row of portrait posters works best. A single portrait poster above a wide sofa quickly looks too narrow.
Frame or dibond?
A black frame with plexiglass gives a clean, calm look. Prefer no frame? A poster on aluminium dibond hangs flat against the wall and looks modern. Need inspiration? Browse our bestsellers.
