Bedroom wall art is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, which makes it worth choosing with more care than art anywhere else in the house. The right piece sets the mood of the room long before the bedding or the lamps do. It also doesn’t need to be expensive, rare or even original. This guide covers how to choose wall art for the bedroom, what size and height works above the bed, and ideas across every style, from calm botanical prints and handwoven textiles to pieces with a sense of humour. For more ways to pull the whole room together, browse our bedroom ideas.
How to Choose Wall Art for the Bedroom
Start with the mood
A living room can take bold, energetic art because it is a room for company and conversation. A bedroom is a room for winding down, so the most successful pieces tend to be the ones that settle the eye rather than excite it. Soft landscapes, botanical studies, gentle abstracts and textile art all suit the room well. That doesn’t rule out colour or character, but the overall effect should be one you are happy to fall asleep to.
Take colours from the room
The easiest way to make art look as though it belongs is to pick out a colour already in the room: the green of a headboard, the rust of a throw, the oak of a bedside table. A print that repeats one or two of those tones will look considered even if it cost very little. If the room is mostly neutral, use art to bring in the one accent colour the scheme is missing.
Get the scale right
The most common mistake with bedroom wall art is choosing pieces that are too small for the wall. A single small frame floating above a king-size bed looks like an afterthought. Either go larger than feels comfortable, or group smaller pieces so they read as one shape. Narrow walls beside windows, wardrobes and doors are the place for small, single pieces.
Bedroom Prints: Why the Bedroom Is the Best Place for Them
Original art is wonderful, but it isn’t within reach for every wall in every home, and nor does it need to be. The bedroom is the most forgiving room in the house for prints. It is private, rarely seen by guests and mostly lit by lamps rather than daylight, so the fine detail that separates an original from a good reproduction matters far less here than in a hallway or living room. What counts in a bedroom is the mood a piece creates, and a well-chosen print does that just as well as a canvas costing ten times as much.
Spend where it shows. A good frame lifts an inexpensive print more than anything else, so choose solid wood or a gilded moulding over flimsy plastic, and add a wide mount for a more considered look. Gallery Direct’s Rural Studies II pair at M&S shows the effect. Two detailed black and white etchings of English countryside, a cat watching a butterfly and a lane winding through fields, sit deep within wide white mounts and pale oak frames. The generous border makes modest prints feel collected rather than bought, and the gentle rural subjects suit a calm bedroom. Hang them on a narrow wall beside a window or above a bedside table. Under £60 for the pair.
If you want something original in the room, keep it small and personal: a limited-edition print from an independent artist, a pencil sketch from a graduate show, or a small oil propped on the bedside table. Mixing one modest original among prints gives a scheme character without the gallery price tag.
Wall Art Above the Bed
The wall above the bed is the main event in most bedrooms, and it’s also where most of the questions come from.
What size art should go above a bed?
As a guide, art above the bed should measure about two-thirds of the width of the bed or headboard. For a standard double that means a piece or group around 90 to 100cm wide; for a king-size, aim for 100 to 120cm. Anything narrower than half the bed’s width tends to look lost. If one piece that large is out of budget, a pair or a set of three hung close together achieves the same width for much less.
A single wide piece is the simplest way to get the scale right. InspirationAbstracts’ large abstract on Etsy spans roughly two-thirds of a double bed: two bands of soft, chalky blue meet at one dark horizon line, like sea and sky on a still day. It’s a museum-quality giclée print in a slim oak frame, and its wide landscape format fills the wall in one go. From under £75, depending on size.
How high to hang art above a bed
Leave a gap of 15 to 25cm between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the frame. Any lower and you’ll knock it when sitting up to read; any higher and the art floats away from the bed and stops looking connected to it. With no headboard, measure from the top of the mattress and allow around 30cm.
Hang a matched pair
A matched pair is one of the simplest ways to fill the wall above a double or king-size bed without hunting for a single oversized piece. Hang the two frames side by side with a gap of 5 to 8cm so they read as one composition rather than two separate prints. Gallery Direct’s Set of 2 Colonial Sketches at M&S shows how well this works: engraved palm landscapes in soft black and grey sit in gilded frames that warm up a neutral scheme. The botanical subject keeps the mood calm, which suits a bedroom far better than anything loud or graphic. Under £150 for the pair.
Try a set of three
Three frames in a row work particularly well above a king-size bed or a wide, low headboard. Keep the frames identical and the gaps even, and let the prints vary in subject but not in palette. A set of three botanical studies or abstract shapes in the same two or three colours is an easy, reliable formula.
Pressed botanical specimens are a classic choice for a trio. Here three framed plant studies, each on aged paper, hang evenly spaced above a cream panelled headboard against walls in Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue. The white frames echo the headboard, and the warm paper tones stop the blue from feeling cold.
Use a picture ledge
A slim picture ledge above the headboard lets you lean art rather than hang it, so you can layer frames of different sizes and swap them with the seasons without filling the wall with holes. Overlap the frames slightly and mix in one small object, such as a ceramic or a postcard, for a relaxed, collected look.
The top rail of wall panelling can double as a picture ledge. In this Victorian bedroom by @tiny_victorian_home, a row of mismatched prints, including a flamingo, a giraffe, a vintage poster and black and white photographs, leans along the panelling above the bed, against walls in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. The black frames tie the different subjects together, and because nothing is nailed in place, the line-up can change whenever the mood does.
Keep it safe
Art above a bed needs to be fixed securely. Use two hooks or D-rings rather than a single wire, choose fixings rated for the weight and wall type, and avoid heavy glass in large frames directly over where you sleep. Acrylic glazing is a lighter, shatter-resistant alternative.
Bedroom Wall Art Ideas by Style
For ideas beyond the bedroom, our wall art ideas hub covers every room in the house.
Abstract and modern
Abstract art suits a bedroom best when it stays simple. East End Prints’ Rising Sun at M&S is a good example: a single terracotta sun setting into a band of deep forest green, with a scatter of birds against a pale, textured sky. The shapes are bold but the palette is earthy and soft, so it brings warmth without being loud. It works especially well in a green or neutral scheme, picking up rust or caramel tones in a throw or cushions. It comes in several sizes, with frames in black, white or natural wood. From under £50, depending on size.
Botanical and coastal
Leaves, flowers and the sea are natural choices for a bedroom because they bring the calm of the outdoors inside. Pairing two different subjects that share a palette is an easy way to build a set. East End Prints’ Botanical Beach Twin Set at M&S puts a striped green and white leaf beside a soft grey shoreline. The muted greens and sea tones carry from one print to the next, so they read as a pair despite the change of subject. Portrait orientation suits the space either side of a bed, and the frames come in black, white or natural wood. Under £150, depending on size.
Landscape and black and white
Landscapes give a bedroom a sense of space and distance, which makes them well suited to small rooms. Black and white landscapes, whether etchings, linocuts or photographs, are among the most flexible bedroom wall art of all, because they sit comfortably in any colour scheme and never compete with patterned bedding or wallpaper. Both the Rural Studies and Colonial Sketches pairs above fall into this camp.
Vintage art, maps and literary prints
An old map of a place that means something to you, a favourite line from a novel or an illustration from a classic book gives a bedroom a personal story. Look for reproductions of antique county maps, Ordnance Survey prints of a home town, or typographic prints of a meaningful quote. They tend to look best framed simply in dark wood or black.
Animal paintings in an old-master or tapestry style bring richness to a bedroom without the cost of an antique. Rockett St George’s Leopard Love print has the faded, painted look of an old fresco: two leopards among vines in warm ochre, rust and olive, with a hand-finished quality that suits dark, moody walls. Hang a piece like this above the bed in a deep green room and pick up its colours in a rust quilt and patterned cushions, and the whole scheme feels collected over years rather than bought in one go. Under £150.
Unusual bedroom wall art: textiles and fibre
Textile art brings something a print can’t: texture you notice even in low lamplight. These handwoven yarn panels from CiciCreativeGifts layer bands of moss, olive and oatmeal cotton in walnut frames, like a field seen from above. Stacked vertically, the pair suits a narrow wall beside a window or wardrobe, and the soft fibres absorb light rather than reflecting it, which keeps a bedroom calm. Made to order, under £130.
Other unusual options include woven hangings, quilted panels, framed vintage fabric and macramé wall hangings, which bring the same softness to a boho or Scandinavian scheme.
Woven baskets and plates make another easy, affordable alternative to framed art. In this bedroom by @hellofloraauk, three round woven plates in black, navy and natural fibre are hung in a loose cluster beside the bed, against walls in Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster. Their geometric patterns pick up the blue headboard and striped curtains, and the natural fibres add warmth to the soft pink walls. Hang them at slightly different heights in an informal triangle; they look best when the arrangement doesn’t feel too measured.
Funny Bedroom Wall Art
A bedroom doesn’t have to be serious. A piece with a bit of wit is often the one that makes a room feel lived in rather than styled, and the bedroom is the ideal place for it: private enough for a joke that is just for the people who sleep there. The trick is to keep the humour gentle and the execution good. A well-drawn, beautifully printed piece with a light touch will last far longer than a slogan print that raises a smile once and then grates.
Rosanna Reade’s Bed Thief strikes that balance. Her A3 risograph, taken from an original linocut, catches a dog in the act, sprawled across an unmade bed while the room is empty. It will make any dog owner laugh, but the detail is what makes it work as art: patterned rugs, orange curtains, a teal room drawn with care. Hang it where you’ll see it when you wake, or prop it on a chest of drawers. Buying from an independent printmaker like this is also one of the most affordable ways to bring an artist’s own hand into the room. Under £30.
Wall Art for Every Bedroom Colour Scheme
Neutral bedrooms: in a cream, stone or oatmeal room, art can either add contrast or add depth. Black and white prints bring definition, and a single warm accent such as terracotta or ochre stops the scheme from feeling flat. The tonal route works just as well. In this room from Farrow & Ball, a large textured abstract canvas in chalky white and stone hangs unframed against walls in Oxford Stone, adding interest through texture rather than colour. See more ideas for a beige bedroom.
Green bedrooms: botanical prints, landscapes and woven pieces in moss or olive sit naturally against green walls, while rust and terracotta add warmth as a counterpoint. In this bedroom by @1894home, a pair of engraved palm landscapes in black frames hangs just above panelling painted in Farrow & Ball’s Mizzle and Pigeon. The sepia tones of the prints soften the green, and the black frames give the scheme definition. For a similar look, the Colonial Sketches pair above works just as well in gilded frames. Explore our full guide to green bedroom ideas.
Pink bedrooms: soft florals and blush abstracts are the obvious match, but deep green, charcoal or black keeps a pink room from becoming too sweet. In this bedroom by @ck_homestyle, a small cluster of line drawings in black and gold frames sits above white panelling, against walls in Farrow & Ball’s Calamine and beneath a dark aubergine ceiling. The simple drawings keep the look fresh rather than sugary. The pink and green bedroom is one of the most popular combinations for a reason.
Grey bedrooms: grey can feel cool, so choose art with warmth, such as gilded or oak frames, sepia tones and earthy colours. In this bedroom by @thedoublefrontedterrace, a pair of Dutch-style floral still lifes in ornate gold frames hangs against panelling painted in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. The dark backgrounds of the paintings melt into the wall, so the blooms and gilding seem to glow. More inspiration in our grey bedroom ideas.
Blue bedrooms: coastal photography, seascapes and indigo textiles suit blue walls, and a touch of mustard or coral keeps the room from feeling cold.
Canvas, Framed or Prints?
Framed prints are the most flexible choice for a bedroom. The frame protects the print, adds structure and can be matched to the furniture, and prints can be changed later without buying new frames. Canvas has a softer, unglazed look with no reflections, which suits a room lit mainly by lamps, but it reads as more informal. Unframed prints on a ledge or clipped to a hanger suit a relaxed or student-style room but can look temporary in a main bedroom. If in doubt, frame it: a mount and a good frame make even an inexpensive print look intentional.
How to Arrange Wall Art in a Bedroom
Grid: a grid of small, equal-sized pieces is the easiest gallery wall to get right. Hang six pieces in two rows of three with even gaps of around 5cm, and the arrangement looks deliberate even though each piece is different. This set of woven squares from CiciCreativeGifts mixes forest green, rust, ochre and chocolate brown, colours that bring warmth to a neutral bedroom. Under £60 for a single square, with larger sets available.
Pairs either side of the bed: two matching frames hung above each bedside table frame the bed and make the room feel balanced. Hang them at the same height, roughly level with or just above the headboard.
Bedside vignettes: a small framed print leaning against the wall on a bedside table, with a lamp and a book, is one of the gentlest ways to use art in a bedroom.
Above a chest of drawers: a chest of drawers or dressing table is the second focal point in most bedrooms and deserves its own piece. Centre the art over the furniture, keep it narrower than the chest, and frame it with a pair of lamps for a balanced, finished look. In this attic bedroom by @olivine_design, a bold figurative print in a slim silver frame hangs between two green-shaded lamps against walls in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue. Its red and pink tones pick up the rug, and the strong subject gives the room a confident second focus away from the bed.
Gallery wall: for a more collected look, mix sizes, frames and subjects, but keep one element constant, such as frame colour, palette or theme, so the wall hangs together. Lay the arrangement out on the floor first, or tape paper templates to the wall before drilling.
Children’s bedrooms are a different brief entirely; for those, see our guide to girls bedroom wall art.
Bedroom Wall Art FAQs
What kind of wall art is best for a bedroom?
Calming subjects tend to work best: landscapes, botanical prints, soft abstracts and textile art. Choose pieces in colours already in the room so the art looks as though it belongs, and save very bold or busy pieces for living spaces.
What size wall art should go above a bed?
Aim for art that measures around two-thirds of the width of the bed or headboard, roughly 90 to 100cm wide above a double bed and 100 to 120cm above a king-size. A pair or a set of three can make up the width if one large piece is out of budget.
How high should you hang art above a bed?
Leave 15 to 25cm between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the frame. Without a headboard, allow around 30cm above the mattress.
Is it fine to use prints rather than original art in a bedroom?
Yes. The bedroom is the most forgiving room for prints, because it’s private and mostly lit by lamps, so the difference between a print and an original is far less noticeable. A good frame and a wide mount make the biggest difference to how a print looks.
How do you arrange wall art in a bedroom?
Centre a single large piece, a pair or a row of three above the bed; hang matching frames above each bedside table; use a picture ledge for a layered look; or build a grid of same-size pieces for an easy gallery wall.