Paintings at 2B Art Gallery

Why Size Doesn’t Matter In Art

The larger the size, the more value it has – How many times did we hear that?
Well, this particular expression doesn’t mean a lot when it comes to art. The importance of the size of an artwork is sometimes underestimated. It’s not just a matter of the space available, but it’s a question of effect and impact sought after. Although larger paintings can transform rooms, add energy, or even set the mood, it’s the smaller ones that really make a big deal.

Nick Walker & Ben Eine paintings at 2B Art & Toys Gallery
Nick Walker and Ben Eine paintings at 2B Art & Toys Gallery

In fact, smaller pieces are more versatile because they can be hung together, or stand on their own. They can be easily moved around when you want to re-hang your art to achieve that new vibe.

Godfather Digital Room
Shepard Fairey – The Godfather Set Of 4 Prints

But the main question is – How do you decide on one that is not too big, not too small, but just right? How to determine what is a big, medium, or small piece of art?

Generally speaking, there are three major categories:

Small

In this category, every painting under 20 inches (50cm) is considered to be a small piece of art. By using small paintings, there are many ways to utilize your cozy space to make room for beautiful artwork which can brighten and even open up the room, making it appear larger than it really is.
The most common small painting sizes are:

  • 10 x 14 inches
  • 12 x 16 inches
  • 16 x 16 inches
  • 15 x 11 inches

Medium

When it comes to mediums size paintings, everything from 21 to 39 inches (53 cm to 99 cm) falls under the medium-size category. A great room, a master bedroom, or even the end of a large hallway presents the perfect opportunity to make a statement. Scale up to create that eye-catching focal point with a medium-size painting.
Common medium canvas sizes:

  • 28 x 28 inches
  • 31 x 24 inches
  • 24 x 20 inches
  • 20 x 28 inches
Happy Holidays Red Digital Room
El Pez – Happy Holidays

Large

Large paintings are anything above 39 inches (100 cm) and can be an excellent addition to bring a room to life. Enveloping the viewer and dominating interior spaces, large-scale paintings create an impact. Artists and their patrons have utilized size to display power and prestige to impress their audiences. You can definitely make an impact with a single large piece. Large paintings need to be seen from a fair distance to make sure that you get the full effect of the image.
Common large canvas sizes:

  • 39 x 47 inches
  • 39 x 28 inches
  • 79 x 39 inches
  • 52 x 50 inches

Obviously, we have to mention there are also mini paintings and oversized paintings when it comes to the size of the artwork.

Art at 2B Art & Toys Gallery
TwoFlü and Javier Garló paintings at 2B Art & Toys Gallery

Common mistake buyers make is choosing art too small for their wall. Measure the wall of your choice, and keep in mind that for tall, narrow walls, a similarly shaped canvas with a portrait or vertical orientation will work best, while the same is true for horizontal wall spaces where landscape-oriented art works best.

While there are no hard and fast rules to hanging art, your composition is going to be much more pleasing to the eye if the width of the artwork is not wider than the furniture it’s hanging over. The general rule of thumb we use is that artwork should be about 75% of the width of the furniture, and this applies to a single piece of art or a grouping.

Paintings simply enhance the charm of your house. There is a whole lot of variety when it comes to the color, pattern, and theme of paintings. You can choose them according to the interior of the home. Quite to be honest, when you’re decorating your space and you’ve bought all the right pieces, you want to make sure, that at the end of the day, your pieces fit the puzzle, blend perfectly and give your room a new meaning.

With all that in mind, the wall you’re choosing for your art is the ultimate deciding factor on what size art to buy. We at 2B Art & Toys Gallery know paintings play a crucial role in the interiors of the home and totally understand this and offer a huge variety of small and big wall paintings.