Choosing the right wall art size can feel overwhelming. Too small and it gets lost on the wall; too large and it overwhelms the room. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about selecting the perfect print size for your home, office, or gallery wall — with practical tips, room-by-room recommendations, and styling advice rooted in Scandinavian design principles.
Understanding Standard Print Sizes
Most photography prints come in a range of standard sizes, each suited to different spaces and purposes. Here's a quick breakdown:
- 30×40 cm (12×16 inches): Ideal for small walls, shelves, or as part of a gallery wall. These Norway landscape prints work beautifully in hallways, bedrooms, or cozy reading nooks.
- 50×70 cm (20×28 inches): The sweet spot for most living rooms and dining areas. Large enough to make a statement but not overpowering. This is our most popular size for canvas prints.
- 70×100 cm (28×40 inches): A bold centerpiece for larger walls. Perfect above a sofa, bed, or in an entryway where you want to create immediate impact.
- 100×150 cm (40×60 inches): Gallery-sized prints that command attention. Best for spacious living areas, office lobbies, or rooms with high ceilings.
The Rule of Thumb: Wall Coverage
A general guideline is that your wall art should fill 60–75% of the available wall space (the empty area not covered by furniture). For a blank wall, aim for the print to occupy about 60% of the wall width. If you're hanging art above furniture — like a sofa or sideboard — the print should be about two-thirds the width of the furniture piece.
For example, if your sofa is 180 cm wide, look for a print that's roughly 120 cm wide (or a combination of smaller prints that span that distance). This creates visual balance and prevents the art from looking floating or disconnected.
Room-by-Room Sizing Recommendations
Living Room
The living room is where most people display their largest and most meaningful art. A 50×70 cm or 70×100 cm print above the sofa is the most common choice. If you have a particularly large wall, consider a 100×150 cm statement piece — perhaps a dramatic Norwegian fjord print that transports you to the mountains every time you sit down.
Bedroom
Bedrooms call for calmer, more intimate sizing. A 30×40 cm or 50×70 cm print above the bed or on a side wall creates a serene atmosphere. Consider softer subjects — misty valleys, calm waters, or the gentle glow of the Northern Lights in subtle tones.
Home Office
Your workspace benefits from motivational and inspiring imagery. A 50×70 cm print positioned where you can see it from your desk can boost focus and creativity. The razor-sharp detail of aluminum prints works particularly well in modern office settings.
Hallways and Entryways
Narrow spaces are perfect for smaller prints or a series of 30×40 cm pieces arranged in a line. A row of three Lofoten wall art prints can transform a boring corridor into a visual journey through Norway's most stunning archipelago.
Gallery Walls: Mixing Sizes for Impact
If a single large print isn't your style, a gallery wall offers a dynamic alternative. The key is to mix sizes strategically — combine one or two larger anchor pieces (50×70 cm) with several smaller prints (30×40 cm) around them. Keep the spacing consistent (5–8 cm between frames) and choose a unifying theme, whether that's a color palette, a region, or a season.
For a cohesive Nordic look, stick to a consistent frame style — thin black frames or natural oak work beautifully with Scandinavian interiors. The canvas prints with their frameless presentation also work wonderfully in gallery arrangements, creating depth through varying sizes.
Orientation: Portrait vs. Landscape
Don't forget about orientation. Landscape-oriented prints (wider than they are tall) suit spaces above furniture, beds, and sofas. Portrait-oriented prints (taller than they are wide) are ideal for narrow walls, flanking doorways, or filling vertical spaces between windows. When in doubt, match the orientation to the shape of the wall — a tall narrow wall wants a tall narrow print.
Material Matters for Sizing
The material you choose also affects how size reads in a space. Canvas prints have a soft, matte finish that feels intimate even at larger sizes — a 70×100 cm canvas feels warm and approachable. Aluminum prints have a glossy, high-contrast finish that amplifies presence — the same 70×100 cm on aluminum feels more dramatic and modern. Acrylic prints take this even further with depth and luminosity, making them ideal for statement pieces in the 70×100 cm and 100×150 cm range.
Conclusion: Trust Your Eye
While these guidelines give you a solid starting point, the most important factor is how the art feels in your space. When in doubt, go slightly larger than you think you need — most people underestimate how much wall space a print needs to breathe. A bold, beautiful piece of Norway's landscape, printed at the right size, can transform a room from ordinary to extraordinary.
Ready to find the perfect print for your wall? Explore our full collection of Norway landscape prints, available in multiple sizes and materials to suit any space. From compact 30×40 cm prints for cozy corners to gallery-sized 100×150 cm statement pieces, every image is crafted to bring the wild beauty of Norway into your home.
