The bedroom is the one room built entirely around rest, so the bedroom wall art you choose should help you wind down rather than wake you up. The right painting above the bed softens the space, settles the eye, and gives the room a sense of calm you feel the moment you walk in. This guide covers how to choose it — the right mood, the right size above the bed, and where to hang it.
Start with mood, not motif
In a living room you might want a piece that sparks conversation. A bedroom asks for the opposite: calming art that quiets the mind. In practice that means soft, low-contrast palettes and unhurried compositions rather than bold, high-energy colour.
Muted, tonal works do this best. Our Crème and Subdued Tones collections are built around exactly this — warm off-whites, sand, and gentle neutrals that recede rather than demand attention. For something a little softer and dreamier, Dreamy Pastels brings the same calm with a touch more warmth.
What size art to hang above the bed
The space above the headboard is the natural home for your main artwork, and getting the proportions right matters more than anything else. A single large painting almost always looks more intentional here than several small pieces scattered across the wall.
The rule to remember: art above a bed should span roughly two-thirds of the width of your headboard or bed. Anything much narrower looks lost on the wall. For a standard double bed that usually means reaching for something generous — browse Large paintings for the anchor, with 70x100 cm and 50x70 cm being the most popular sizes above a bed. For exact measurements, see our complete wall art size guide.
How high to hang art above a bed
Hang the piece so it reads comfortably when you're standing, but leave it breathing room above the headboard. Aim for around 15–20 cm between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the frame — close enough to feel connected to the bed, far enough not to crowd it.
Texture for quiet depth
Calm doesn't have to mean flat. A painting with visible brushwork or relief adds a tactile, restful depth that reads as warmth rather than noise — ideal for a room you experience up close, every morning and night. Our Textured Art and Wabi Sabi pieces lean into this: softness, imperfection, and a surface that catches the changing light through the day.
Bedroom art and feng shui
If you follow feng shui principles in the bedroom, the same instincts apply: choose serene, balanced imagery, favour single calm pieces or symmetrical pairs over busy clusters, and avoid stark or turbulent motifs directly above the bed. Soft abstract forms and gentle, harmonious palettes sit comfortably within these guidelines.
Pulling the room together
The most restful bedrooms feel cohesive — the art, the bedding, and the walls all speak the same quiet language. If your room leans Scandinavian or Japandi, Harmonic Minimalism and Japandi keep that uncluttered calm intact while still giving the wall a clear focal point.
Choose the mood first, get the size right, and let the piece breathe. A bedroom doesn't need much — one well-chosen painting above the bed is often all it takes to make the whole room feel finished.
Frequently asked questions
What size should wall art be above a bed?
As a rule, the artwork should span about two-thirds of the width of the headboard or bed. Above a standard double bed, a single large piece around 70x100 cm or 50x70 cm works well.
How high should you hang a painting above the bed?
Leave roughly 15–20 cm between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the frame, so the art stays visually connected to the bed without crowding it.
What colour art is best for a bedroom?
Soft, low-contrast and tonal palettes are most restful — warm neutrals, off-whites, sand and gentle pastels. Save bold, high-energy colour for livelier rooms.
Is abstract art good for a bedroom?
Yes. Soft, flowing abstract forms read as calming rather than busy, which makes them a natural fit above the bed.
Should bedroom art match the bedding?
It should feel cohesive, not matchy. Pick art that shares a palette or mood with your bedding and walls so the room reads as one calm, considered space.
Looking for a place to start? Explore calm, bedroom-ready pieces in Crème and Subdued Tones, or see the full range of Large paintings.
