A large aerial beach print hanging in a white hallway

How to Choose the Right Print Size

You've found the perfect coastal print. The colours match your room. The composition is stunning. But then comes the question: what size should I order?

It's one of the most common questions we hear at Kess Gallery and one of the most important decisions in the buying process. Get it right, and your print becomes the focal point of the room. Get it wrong, and even the most beautiful image can feel lost on the wall or overwhelming in the space.

The good news? There's a straightforward approach to sizing that works for most rooms. This guide walks you through the principles we use when helping customers choose print sizes, from small apartments to statement feature walls.

The simplest starting point: your wall art should occupy roughly two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the furniture it sits above.

If you have a 2-metre sofa, aim for a print (or grouping of prints) that spans 130–150cm in width. This creates visual balance without overwhelming the space.

This rule works for:

  • Prints above sofas and couches
  • Art above beds (use the headboard width as your guide)
  • Pieces above console tables or sideboards

Exception: In minimalist or gallery-style spaces, you can push this to 80–90% of the furniture width for a bolder, more contemporary look.

Living rooms offer the most flexibility. If you're creating a feature wall above a sofa, our 150×100cm or 182×121cm prints work beautifully in most Australian homes.

For smaller living spaces or apartments, the 76×50cm or 81×121cm sizes provide impact without dominating the room.

Kess Gallery Tip: Our 76×76cm square acrylic mounts are a sweet spot, large enough to make a statement, compact enough for tighter spaces, and the square format works in almost any room.

Above the bed is one of the most impactful locations for wall art. Measure your headboard width and aim for a print that's 60–75% of that width.

For a queen bed (typically 150–160cm wide), that means a print about 90–120cm wide: our 121×81cm landscape or 100×100cm square prints.

For smaller bedrooms or above side tables, 50×76cm prints create intimacy without overwhelming the space.

Narrower spaces like hallways and dining room feature walls suit vertical or panoramic formats.

Our 50×76cm vertical prints work well in hallways where wall space is limited.

For dining room feature walls, consider the 182×121cm or 150×100cm sizes: large enough to anchor the room, but not so large they dominate conversation.

Standard Australian ceiling height is 2.4 metres. If your ceilings are higher (2.7m+), you have more flexibility to go larger without the print feeling overwhelming.

High ceilings (2.7m+): Our largest sizes, 121×182cm portrait or 182×121cm landscape, work beautifully and help fill vertical space.

Standard ceilings (2.4m): Stick with the 76×76cm, 150×100cm or 81×121cm range for balance.

Low ceilings (2.1m or lower): Landscape or square formats in the 76×50cm or 76×76cm range prevent the room from feeling compressed.

Here's a guideline from gallery curators: the ideal viewing distance for a print is 1.5 to 2 times its diagonal measurement.

For a 76×76cm print, the diagonal is roughly 107cm, so the ideal viewing distance is 160–215cm (about 2 metres). Perfect for a lounge room where you're sitting across the room.

For a 182×121cm print, the diagonal is roughly 219cm, so the ideal viewing distance is 328–437cm (3 to 4 metres). This works for large living rooms or open-plan spaces where the print will be viewed from further away.

Practical takeaway: Measure the distance from your sofa to the wall. If it's 2–3 metres, the 76×76cm or 150×100cm sizes will feel natural. If it's 4+ metres, you can confidently go larger.

Go Big When:

  • You have a large, empty feature wall that needs anchoring
  • The room has high ceilings (2.7m+)
  • You're creating a gallery or statement piece
  • The space is open-plan and the print will be viewed from distance
  • You want the print to be the hero of the room

Stay Moderate When:

  • The wall already has architectural features (windows, doors, built-ins)
  • You're hanging above furniture in a compact room
  • The print will be viewed up close (hallways, staircases)
  • You're working with a rental and want flexibility for future moves
  • You plan to create a gallery wall with multiple prints

Choosing the Format

Square (e.g., 76×76cm, 100×100cm):

  • Versatile: works in almost any room
  • Modern, balanced aesthetic
  • Ideal for compact spaces or gallery walls

Horizontal/Panoramic (e.g., 121×81cm, 150×100cm, 182×121cm):

  • Best for wide walls (above sofas, beds, console tables)
  • Emphasises the expanse of the scene (beaches, horizons, ocean pools)
  • Creates a cinematic, sweeping feel
  • Works beautifully in open-plan living areas

Vertical/Portrait (e.g., 50×76cm, 81×121cm):

  • Ideal for narrow walls (hallways, staircases, beside doorways)
  • Draws the eye upward, great for rooms with high ceilings
  • Creates intimacy in smaller spaces

Three Sizes Worth Knowing

76×76cm Square

The Goldilocks size. Not too big, not too small. Works in apartments, townhouses, and family homes. The square format is contemporary, and in acrylic it gains depth and vibrancy.

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, above console tables

150×100cm Landscape

Statement-making but not overwhelming. Ideal for feature walls above sofas or beds in standard-sized Australian rooms.

Best for: Living room feature walls, above queen beds, dining rooms

182×121cm Landscape

Our largest size in this shape. Reserved for large walls, high ceilings, or true statement pieces. When you want the print to be the hero of the room.

Best for: Open-plan living areas, feature walls in large homes, commercial spaces

Still Not Sure? Here's What to Do

1. Measure Your Wall

Use painter's tape to mark out the dimensions on your wall. Live with it for a day or two. Does it feel balanced?

2. Photograph the Space

Take a photo of your wall and use a photo editing app to overlay rough rectangles at different sizes. This gives you a sense of proportion.

3. Get in Touch

Send us a photo of your space and the wall dimensions. We'll recommend a size based on what has worked in other homes.

Need a size that isn't listed? We also make custom sizes.

Choosing the right print size isn't about following rigid rules, it's about what feels right in your space. That said, the two-thirds furniture width guideline and the viewing distance rule will get you 90% of the way there.

When in doubt, go slightly larger than your first instinct. Undersized art is the most common mistake we see, and it's much easier to fill a wall confidently than to wish you'd gone bigger after the fact.

Browse our full collection of Sydney coastal prints at kess.gallery. Every product page lists the sizes and shows the print in a room to help you picture the scale.

Related Products:

Back to blog