The wall above the bed is the biggest blank space in most bedrooms, and it’s often the one left bare the longest. Choosing wall art for bedroom walls feels like a big commitment, but with a few simple rules on size, height and mood it gets a lot easier.
This guide covers what to hang above the bed, how to pick calming pieces you won’t tire of, and how to make prints look finished rather than stuck up as an afterthought. We’ve also picked a few prints from our own range that fit the ideas below.
Above bed wall art: getting the size right
The most common mistake is going too small. A single A4 print floating above a double bed looks lost, while a piece that’s in proportion makes the whole bed wall look deliberate.
A reliable guide is to aim for art that’s roughly two-thirds the width of your bed or headboard. That can be one large piece, a pair side by side, or a group of prints that together fill the same width.
| Bed size (UK) | Approx. mattress width | Aim for art around |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 90cm | 60cm wide |
| Small double | 120cm | 80cm wide |
| Double | 135cm | 90cm wide |
| King | 150cm | 100cm wide |
| Super king | 180cm | 120cm wide |
If your headboard is much wider than the mattress, use the headboard width instead. And these are starting points, not strict measurements, so trust your eye once you’ve held things up.
How high should you hang it?
Hang art about 15 to 25cm (6 to 10in) above the top of the headboard. Any higher and it drifts away from the bed and looks like it belongs to the ceiling. If you don’t have a headboard, picture where one would sit and work from there.
One piece, a pair or a gallery wall?
A single large piece feels calm and grown-up. A pair or set of three in matching frames brings neat symmetry, which suits traditional rooms and beds with matching bedside tables. A loose gallery wall adds personality but can feel busy right above your head at bedtime, so it often works better on another wall.
Calming wall art for a restful bedroom
The bedroom is the one room where art should help you switch off. That doesn’t mean everything has to be beige, but some subjects and colours are naturally more soothing than others.
- Botanicals and leaves: soft greens and natural shapes bring a bit of the outdoors in.
- Landscapes and seascapes: wide horizons and gentle colour create a sense of space.
- Muted abstracts: soft shapes in dusty blues, sage or warm neutrals add interest without shouting.
- Black and white: photography or line drawings in monochrome feel calm and suit most schemes.
Pull one or two colours from your bedding or curtains into the art and the room will feel connected. If your walls are pale, a print with a slightly deeper accent colour gives the eye somewhere to rest.
Save bold, high-energy pieces, such as bright pop art or busy typography, for a dressing area or the wall opposite the bed rather than right above it.
Bedroom prints: framed, unframed or canvas?
Each has its place, and the right choice partly depends on your budget and how often you like to change things.
Framed prints
Framed art looks finished straight away. Thin black, white or natural wood frames suit most bedrooms. For above-bed art, consider acrylic glazing instead of glass, or go for canvas. That’s especially worth doing in children’s rooms.
Unframed prints
Unframed bedroom prints are usually cheaper and let you pick frames that match the rest of your room. When you’re choosing frames, stick to one or two finishes across the room and consider a mount (the card border), which makes even a small print look more considered.
Canvas
Canvas is light, has no glass and gives a soft, painterly finish. It’s a sensible choice above a bed because there’s nothing to break if it gets knocked.
Bedroom wall decor beyond the bed
Once the main wall is sorted, think about the other spots that catch your eye.
The wall opposite the bed is what you see when you wake up, so it’s a good place for something you really love. A narrow wall beside a wardrobe can take a tall, slim print or a vertical pair. Above a chest of drawers, lean a print on the top alongside a lamp for a relaxed, layered look.
Mirrors count as bedroom wall decor too, and they’re especially useful in small rooms because they bounce light around. Our small bedroom ideas cover more ways to make a compact space feel bigger.
Making bedroom wall art personal
The best wall art for bedroom spaces usually means something to you. A map of a city you loved, a print with words that matter to your family, or a botanical that reminds you of a garden all add warmth that generic art can’t.
Map prints are a nice middle ground: personal but still graphic and tidy. Word prints work best in a set, where the words and design feel like a piece of art rather than a slogan. And if you have children, their rooms are the perfect place for something playful, like space, animals or bright colours.
Hanging tips that save you a second attempt
- Lay frames out on the floor or tape paper templates to the wall before you drill.
- Keep the gaps between frames in a group even, around 5 to 8cm.
- Use proper wall fixings for your wall type, especially above a bed.
- Renters can try picture ledges, leaning art on furniture or removable adhesive strips for lightweight pieces.
- Light it well: a warm bedside lamp or wall light nearby makes art glow in the evening. See our bedroom lighting ideas for options.
Our picks of wall art for bedroom walls
These all come from our wall art and prints collection.
Best for calm: VIYYIEA dusty blue framed floral pair
The VIYYIEA dusty blue framed wall art set is a pair of soft floral prints in a vintage, William Morris-inspired style. Dusty blue is restful and works beautifully with white bedding and natural wood.
Best budget botanicals: INFUNLY set of 6
The INFUNLY botanical plant wall art prints are six unframed 25 x 20cm canvas prints of different leaves, including eucalyptus. Frame three as a row above a single bed, or use all six as a neat grid.
Best for frame lovers: Instant Wall Art botanical book
Instant Wall Art: Vibrant Botanical Prints is a book of 45 ready-to-frame illustrations. It’s a clever way to build a gallery wall and swap prints with the seasons.
Best personal touch: This Is Us set of 3
The This Is Us set of 3 prints reads “Our Life, Our Story, Our Home” across three A3 prints on 300gsm card. A nice choice above the bed in a couple’s room or a first home.
Best for kids’ rooms: Eviepops space prints
The Eviepops space wall art set features an astronaut, Earth and a rocket ship as three A4 unframed posters, perfect for a young explorer’s bedroom.
Best map print: Chicago street map canvas
For something graphic, the Chicago street map canvas print is a large 50 x 75cm (20 x 30in) unframed canvas with a modern, colourful finish.
Wall art for bedroom FAQs
What kind of wall art is best for a bedroom?
Calming subjects tend to work best: botanicals, landscapes, soft abstracts and black and white pieces. Pick colours that echo your bedding or curtains so the room feels joined up. Most importantly, choose something you’ll enjoy seeing first thing in the morning.
What size art should go above a bed?
Aim for art that’s around two-thirds the width of the bed or headboard. For a standard 135cm double, that’s roughly 90cm across, whether that’s one large piece or a set of two or three prints.
How high should art be above a bed?
Around 15 to 25cm above the headboard is a good rule. That keeps the art visually connected to the bed without being so low that you knock it when you sit up.
Is it safe to hang art above a bed?
Yes, as long as it’s fixed properly. Use fixings suited to your wall, choose lighter pieces like canvas or prints in frames with acrylic glazing, and avoid heavy glass frames above children’s beds.
What should I consider when choosing photo frames?
Think about finish, size and consistency. Sticking to one or two frame colours across the room keeps things calm, and a mount around the print adds breathing space. Check the frame suits your print size before ordering.
Start with the wall above the bed, get the size right and the rest of the room tends to follow. Browse our wall art and prints or the wider bedroom collection to find pieces that suit your space.
