Sizing a Germaine Richier Print for a Small Bedroom

The right print for a compact bedroom is less about wall space and more about viewing distance. Here is how to size a Richier so it holds the room without crowding it.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

For a small bedroom, choose a Germaine Richier print between 40 and 60 cm wide. A single piece at 50 x 70 cm suits most compact rooms, hung at eye level across from or beside the bed. Anything wider than 70 cm tends to dominate; anything under 30 cm disappears from across the room.

Why scale matters more in a bedroom

A bedroom is viewed lying down. That changes everything about print size. From a bed, art is seen at an angle and from close range, so a piece that looks modest in a living room can feel large here. The practical rule is to match the print width to roughly two thirds of the furniture it sits above or beside. A single bed is about 90 cm wide, so a print of 50 to 60 cm sits comfortably over it.

Richier's work adds a second constraint. She was a sculptor, best known for spindly, insect like bronze figures, and works on paper in her circle tend toward dark, wiry forms. A small Richier print can read as a smudge. A medium one, around 50 x 70 cm, gives those lines enough room to register. If you are still deciding on format, the tradeoffs between canvas and framed poster matter here too how to choose between canvas and framed poster.

The real risk is hanging it too low

Most sizing mistakes in bedrooms are actually height mistakes. A print hung too high above a bed looks disconnected and makes the room feel smaller, which is the exact problem the reader is trying to avoid. Hang the centre of the piece at about 145 cm from the floor, or roughly 20 to 25 cm above a headboard. At that height, a 50 x 70 cm print fills the visual gap without spilling into the ceiling.

The other common error is going too small out of caution. A 30 x 40 cm print on a large empty wall looks like an afterthought, and no amount of careful framing fixes that. If the wall is wider than 150 cm, either go up to 60 x 80 cm or hang a pair of smaller prints side by side with 5 to 8 cm between them. For placement and hardware, the same principles apply as in any room how to hang a print without wall damage.

Quick sizing rules

Match print width to about two thirds of the bed or furniture below it
Hang the centre of the print around 145 cm from the floor
Keep 20 to 25 cm of gap between a headboard and the frame
Go to 60 x 80 cm or a pair of prints if the wall exceeds 150 cm

Matching the format to the room

In a small bedroom, the frame depth counts as much as the print size. A slim framed poster sits flat against the wall and keeps walkways clear, which matters in a room where you pass the art every day. Canvas adds depth and a softer edge, and works well if the piece hangs where it will not be brushed against. Both formats are commonly produced in the 40 to 70 cm range that suits compact rooms framed poster editions.

One honest caveat. Richier's graphic output is thin compared with her sculpture, so the available print selection is narrow and much of what circulates reproduces sculptural forms rather than drawings. That limits your sizing choices to whatever editions exist. It is worth checking what is actually available before settling on dimensions where to buy a high quality print online.

A bedroom is the one room where art is mostly seen lying down, and size should follow the bed, not the wall.

Wall or furniture	Print size	Notes
Above a single bed	50 x 70 cm	Centre at 145 cm from floor
Above a double bed	60 x 80 cm	Leave 20 to 25 cm above headboard
Narrow wall or alcove	40 x 50 cm	Works only on walls under 120 cm
Wide wall over 150 cm	Pair of 40 x 50 cm	5 to 8 cm gap between frames

Suggested print sizes for small bedrooms

Key takeaways

A print between 40 and 60 cm wide suits most small bedrooms, with 50 x 70 cm as the default.
Match the print width to roughly two thirds of the bed or furniture it hangs over.
Hang the centre of the print at about 145 cm from the floor, or 20 to 25 cm above a headboard.
If the wall is wider than 150 cm, size up or hang a pair rather than leaving a small print stranded.

Related questions

Is one large print better than several small ones in a small bedroom?

Usually one medium print. A single 50 x 70 cm piece reads as a deliberate choice, while a cluster of small prints needs a wall you can step back from, which a bedroom rarely offers. If you want a pair, keep both prints the same size and hang them 5 to 8 cm apart so they register as one unit.

Should a Richier print go above the bed or on another wall?

Above the bed is the natural spot because it is the wall you see least and the one that anchors the room. The alternative is the wall opposite a window, where side light can flatten dark, wiry forms. Avoid walls that get direct sun, which will fade the print over time regardless of size.

Does canvas or framed poster work better in a compact room?

A slim framed poster is the safer choice in a tight room because it sits close to the wall and keeps clearances. Canvas adds depth and suits a print hung where nothing will brush against it. In either case, keep the outer dimension within the 40 to 70 cm range that fits small bedrooms.

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