How to Choose and Hang Coastal Wall Art
The right artwork can bring the calm, light and colour of the coast into any room. Whether you're choosing a single print or a gallery wall, here are our tips for picking and hanging coastal wall art.
Pick a feeling, not just a picture
- Calm and minimal: soft sea tones, simple waves and plenty of white space. Lovely in bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Bright and joyful: colourful seaside scenes, beach huts and harbours that make you smile, perfect for kitchens and hallways.
- A place you love: a print of a favourite beach or holiday spot, which always makes a meaningful gift.
Choosing the right size
- Above a sofa or bed, aim for artwork (or a group of prints) about two-thirds the width of the furniture.
- Small prints look best grouped together rather than on their own on a large wall.
- In a small room or narrow hallway, a single A4 or A3 print is often just right.
Hanging it at the right height
A good rule of thumb is to hang art so its centre sits at roughly eye level, around 145 to 150cm from the floor. Above furniture, leave a gap of about 15 to 25cm between the top of the sofa or headboard and the bottom of the frame.
Sets of three and gallery walls
- Sets of three prints look best in matching frames, hung in a row with equal gaps of around 5 to 8cm.
- For a gallery wall, lay the frames out on the floor first, or tape paper templates to the wall, before putting any nails in.
- Keep one element consistent, such as frame colour or a colour palette, so a mix of prints still feels joined up.
Framing tips
Many prints come in standard sizes, so ready-made frames are easy to find. A white or light wood frame suits a fresh coastal look, while a mount gives a smaller print more presence on the wall.
Find your print
Browse our coastal wall art, or find a print of a favourite place among Becky Bettesworth's seaside prints of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Wales. Free UK delivery on orders over £75.
Sue and Andy