Ballet-inspired framed art in a bedroom

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What Art Should I Hang Above My Bed?

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Choose art for above your bed with practical advice on headboard proportions, subjects, colour, frame finishes and safe hanging. Compare a statement print, a pair and a smaller gallery.

What art should I hang above my bed?

Choose a generous framed print, a balanced pair or a restrained gallery wall that relates to the headboard. As a visual starting point, aim for a combined artwork width of around 60–75% of the headboard. Abstracts, botanical studies, birds and still lifes can all suit a bedroom; the right subject is the one you want to live with, and safe installation is essential.

Think of the bed, lamps and adjacent furniture as one composition rather than treating the wall as an isolated rectangle. A tall upholstered headboard may need no picture directly above it; artwork opposite the bed or above a chest of drawers may create a better view.

A room with patterned wallpaper or colourful bedding can benefit from one composed image. In a quiet room, a more expressive work may introduce a welcome note of character. Choose what appeals to you rather than assuming bedrooms must always contain pale or supposedly calming imagery.

Measure the finished frame, including its outer profile, before ordering. A print can look substantial on screen but small above a king-size bed. Paper templates let you judge the actual footprint in the room.

Framed art in a Scandinavian-style bedroom

How big should art above a headboard be?

Measure the complete headboard rather than the mattress. For a hypothetical headboard 150 cm wide, an arrangement approximately 90–113 cm wide offers a useful trial. For a 180 cm headboard, try 108–135 cm. These figures are starting points, not universal design rules.

Include the full frame widths and the gaps between pieces. Two frames each 45 cm wide, with a 7 cm gap, make a 97 cm-wide arrangement. If a frame includes a mount, the overall dimension may differ substantially from the printed image size.

Cut paper templates to the proposed framed sizes and position them temporarily using a method appropriate to your wall finish. Check the view from the doorway, from the bed and alongside bedside lamps. A very tall headboard, sloping ceiling or narrow alcove may call for a different proportion.

A gap of around 15–25 cm above the headboard can be a visual starting point, provided the resulting position is safe and comfortable. Do not prioritise a decorative measurement over clearance or the ability to fix the frame securely.

Framed wall art in a pink bedroom

Which artwork subjects work in bedrooms?

Abstract artwork offers colour and composition without dictating a literal theme. Westloft’s Grey & Mustard abstract is one option to compare with timber, cream linen and charcoal accents. The contrast and density of the image matter as much as the colours.

Botanical art can introduce a recognisable natural form. Compare Westloft’s Fern Leaf, Monstera Leaf and Palm Leaf prints: each offers a different silhouette. One botanical print can provide a focal point, while two related leaves can form a quieter pair.

A Bird of Paradise print or a Pomegranate Fruit study can bring a more individual subject into the room. There is no requirement to choose artwork labelled specifically for bedrooms. A picture that has personal meaning or rewards repeated viewing is often more satisfying than a generic matching set.

If the headboard or wallpaper is busy, consider a composition with breathing space. A sparse bedroom can accommodate a stronger image. Look at the artwork in relation to the furniture and textiles rather than deciding by subject alone.

Perfume-themed framed artwork in a bedroom

Should I choose one picture, a pair or a gallery?

One substantial picture creates a clear visual centre and is especially useful above a shaped headboard. A landscape-format image can echo the bed’s horizontal proportions, but a portrait may work if the ceiling and neighbouring furniture provide balance.

A pair introduces rhythm without requiring identical images. Choose works with a shared colour, frame finish or drawing style. Begin with a gap of roughly 5–10 cm for medium frames and adjust according to their actual sizes. Measure the pair as one composition.

A small gallery wall can mix drawings, photographs and art collected over time. Establish the outer silhouette before placing individual frames. A regular grid creates order; a looser arrangement feels more informal when the overall visual weight remains centred.

Arrange the frames on a protected floor and transfer the layout with paper templates. Westloft’s published guide to hanging a gallery wall offers further advice on spacing and fixings. Do not add pictures simply to fill every patch of available wall.

Bright bedroom with framed artwork

How do colour and framing affect the result?

Begin with materials already in the bedroom. Oak, rattan and oatmeal linen may sit comfortably with greens, ochres and warm neutrals. Burgundy walls might benefit from a pale botanical or a contrasting blue. A pink bedroom can be balanced by charcoal drawing or darker timber.

Avoid matching the duvet exactly. Bedding changes, while framed artwork should feel at home throughout the year. Look for smaller visual connections in a lamp, rug, bedside table or curtain rather than repeating the room’s dominant colour in every picture.

Slim black frames can define pale or graphic artwork. Natural wood relates easily to timber furniture, while darker walnut adds depth beside vintage pieces. Gold may complement brass lamps, but it need not match every fitting. Always check the options available for the specific print.

Daylight and bedside lamps can change the perceived colours. A window opposite the bed may also produce reflections on the glazing. Check the actual product’s framing specifications rather than assuming an anti-glare finish.

Bumblebee artwork in a yellow bedroom

Where should bedroom art go, and how can I hang it safely?

Above the headboard is only one option. A picture opposite the bed becomes the view on waking, while artwork above a chest of drawers can form a composition with a lamp and a few objects. A narrow wall beside a wardrobe may suit a portrait-format print.

Artwork positioned directly above sleeping people needs particular care. Assess the fully framed weight, wall construction, hardware and the possibility of knocks or movement. Plasterboard, masonry and older lath-and-plaster walls require different fixings.

Use fittings rated for the actual load and substrate, follow their installation instructions and check for concealed services before drilling. Do not rely on adhesive strips or improvised hooks for heavy overhead frames. Where safe fixing is uncertain, use a competent installer or choose another location.

A lighter frame or non-glass glazing may reduce some risks, but cannot compensate for insecure mounting. Once installation is resolved, look again at the room from its usual viewpoints. A considered picture should give the bedroom character without crowding the wall.

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Written by

Hannah Fraser

Hannah Fraser writes for Westloft on interiors, art, vintage furniture and seasonal living. Her features focus on practical decorating ideas, collected homes and the ways artwork and objects shape how a room feels.

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