The living room is often the cornerstone of family gatherings. The sofa area should be a cosy, inviting oasis where the family can be together or where you can just relax after a long day at work. A painting above the sofa helps set the mood and colors.
When you need a new painting, the size of the painting in relation to the furniture and the space on the wall matters a lot. If you are in doubt about which size painting fits best above your sofa, here are a few tips to follow. Remember that these are just guidelines. If you can see that something else fits better over your sofa, by all means do it.
You usually have a larger wall space behind the sofa, and many therefore choose to buy a large painting for this space. It is often above the sofa that you place the main work in the home, so it is a good idea to spend a little extra effort on choosing this particular painting.
How big a painting should you hang above the sofa?
Many choose a large painting above the sofa. It looks best if the painting hangs centered above the sofa or it aligns with a line such as the edge of a sofa cushion. There should be a little air on each side of the painting, so that the painting appears smaller than the sofa.
You can choose all formats. It can be square, a painting that takes up most of its height (vertically) or one that takes up most of its width (horizontally). Paintings that take up most of the width are also called horizontal oblong paintings. The paintings are the ones that are easiest to place above a sofa, as the lines on the painting fit nicely with the lines of the sofa. Something elongated over something elongated often looks harmonious.
I have three sizes of paintings that are perfect for above the sofa:
Paintings 110x180 cm - are paintings that fit the large sofa
Paintings 100x150 cm fit the middle sofa (here you can often also choose paintings of 110x180 cm if you want a painting that dominates more).
Paintings 70x130 cm are suitable for the small sofa or if you have a very low ceiling height. (here you can often also choose paintings of 100x150 cm if you want a painting that dominates more).
If you have very specific goals, it is also possible to have a painting painted to order.
How high should a painting hang above the sofa?
It is usually said that if it is an area where you sit down, such as the sofa, then the painting should be placed so that you have a good view of it. The angle is different when you sit and look at a painting than when you stand. A painting in a hallway should therefore typically be hung higher than a painting above the sofa.
It often looks nice if the bottom edge of the painting is approx. 15-20 cm above the sofa's backrest. This is regardless of whether you have extra high ceilings, as you want to have the feeling that the painting is connected to the sofa and the surrounding furniture. You usually create a small oasis with the furniture, so that it becomes a sofa area. Where, for example, a carpet makes the coffee table and sofa to be better united.
How far should the sofa be from the wall?
Instead of moving the painting higher on the wall, you can create more air for the painting by moving the sofa 10-20 centimeters away from the wall. It will often be enough to give an airy feeling. It might seem a little strange, but it gives the feeling of more space, and it's actually nice not to sit right up against a wall.
With regard to colors and expressions, it is a matter of taste, and I think the most important thing is to choose a painting that you like. Most people have a sofa in shades of grey, blue or beige, and most colors can work for that. It is the painting that creates life and atmosphere, so think about whether the painting should create light, or be darker grounded for more coziness. Should the colors be dominant or more muted?
See the painting above your couch
Choose two to three paintings on my website and send me a photo of your living room with the dimensions of your sofa and the height of the ceiling, then I can put one or more paintings on your wall digitally on the computer so you can get a feel for , how the painting will look at your home.
If you live near Copenhagen , you can also borrow one or more paintings to try out.
If you live on Funen or Jutland , write to me and find out when I drive to your area. Then I'll be happy to drive past you so you can see the paintings at home.
