Abstract Movement
Dan Hobday
New
For years, the gallery wall was the answer to every empty wall. Now more and more people are choosing one large piece instead – a single motif in 39.4x55.1 in (100x140 cm) that fills the wall, sets the mood and makes the whole room feel finished. Here’s why XL works, which motifs are made for the big format, and how to make it look like it was always meant to be there.
In short
The gallery wall had a long run, and it still has its place. But a wall of eight frames takes planning, measuring and a lot of holes – and it can easily start to feel busy. One large print does the opposite. It gives the room one clear focal point, lets the motif be seen the way it was made, and makes even a simple room feel considered.
It’s the same idea you see in galleries, hotel lobbies and the homes that fill your feed: fewer things, chosen with more care. An XL print on an otherwise calm wall shows that it was chosen on purpose. Here’s the difference, drawn to scale above a 79 in sofa:
Five frames, about 47 in across: lively, but it takes a plan, a level and a hole for every frame.
One 39.4x55.1 in print above the same 79 in sofa. It’s narrower than the group, yet it holds the wall better – the size does the work.
Not every motif grows with the format. The ones that do have something to discover up close – brushstrokes, texture, soft gradients – and a composition that still reads from across the room. Four kinds that always work in 39.4x55.1 in:
Soft washes and layered color turn the wall into a mood rather than a picture.
One large flower against a quiet background – the scale of a still life in a gallery.
Bold enough to read from the doorway, calm enough to live with every day.
A landscape above the dining table feels like a museum piece, and a horizon works like an extra window.
Above the sofa or bed. Hang the center of the print around 57–59 in from the floor, or let the bottom edge sit 8–12 in above the sofa or headboard. Use two hooks for a frame this size, so it hangs straight and steady. Our guide to hanging wall art has all the measurements.
Lean it. The easiest way to go big: stand the print on the floor against the wall, or on a low sideboard. It looks relaxed, needs no drilling and is easy to move when you want a change. Just make sure it stands steady, especially with children or pets around.
Give it space. XL needs air. Keep the rest of the wall clear and let the print be the only thing there – a lamp, a plant or a chair beside it is all it needs.
Almost every XL motif comes both as a poster and as a canvas. The choice is about the feeling you want:
| Poster | Canvas | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | A crisp print on matte paper, behind shatterproof glazing | Textured canvas with no glass and no reflections |
| Frame | Nine colors, mounted by us | Optional floating frame in oak, dark oak, black or white |
| Arrives | Framed and ready to hang, or unframed | Ready to hang |
| Best for | Graphic motifs and photography | Paintings and soft abstracts |
Mark out 39.4x55.1 in on the wall with painter’s tape and leave it up for a day. It will feel big at first – that’s the point. If you’re torn between 27.6x39.4 in and XL, go for XL: art is far more often too small than too big.
Our XL format is 39.4x55.1 in (100x140 cm). It’s our largest size, and it comes both as a poster and as a canvas.
Yes. Choose "Add frame" on the product page and pick from nine colors: oak, dark oak, black, white, blue, red, yellow, orange and green. The XL frame is only sold together with a poster in the same size – we mount the poster and deliver it ready to hang.
No, mat boards aren’t available in XL.
Yes. Our canvas prints arrive ready to hang. If you like, add a floating frame in oak, dark oak, black or white for a small shadow gap around the edge and a true gallery finish.
Above a sofa or bed, in a hallway with high ceilings, or leaning against the wall on the floor or a sideboard. When you hang it, aim for the center of the print around 57–59 in from the floor.
XL posters in 39.4x55.1 in
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