Scale Paul Reed prints to a 120 by 150 centimetre wall

A wall of that size is wide enough to carry a large print without crowding it. The right size depends on whether the print is framed or on canvas, and on how much breathing room you want around it.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

For a 120 by 150 centimetre wall, the most comfortable fit is a print around 90 by 120 centimetres, which leaves roughly 15 to 30 centimetres of clear wall on each side. A 100 by 130 centimetre print works if the wall is otherwise empty. Go larger than that only if the room is open and the print is the main object on the wall.

How much wall space a print needs

A print that fills a wall edge to edge reads as a wall covering, not as a framed work. Most people want the print to sit inside the wall with room to breathe. For a 120 by 150 centimetre wall, that means leaving at least 10 centimetres on every side, and preferably more. The eye needs a pause between the image and the corner. Without that pause, even a strong image feels crowded.

The framing adds width too. A substantial frame can add 5 to 10 centimetres on each side, which changes the effective footprint. If you are choosing between a thin frame and a deep one, the deeper frame pushes the print closer to the edges of the wall. That is not a problem on its own, but it narrows the margin you thought you had. Measure the outer frame, not just the image.

Canvas and framed poster sizes compared

Canvas and framed poster behave differently on the wall, even at the same image size. A canvas usually sits closer to the wall and reads as one object, while a framed poster has a visible border that changes the proportions. On a 120 by 150 centimetre wall, a canvas around 90 by 120 centimetres tends to feel settled rather than stretched. A framed poster at the same image size will look slightly smaller because the frame claims its own space.

If you want the print to dominate the wall, a canvas is the more direct choice. If you want the print to sit within a room rather than command it, a framed poster gives you a cleaner edge. Neither choice is wrong. The decision is about how much of the wall you want the print to own. buy the framed poster edition is one way to see how a framed print sits at a given size.

Sizes that fit this wall

80 by 100 centimetres leaves generous margin and suits a busy room
90 by 120 centimetres is the most balanced fit for 120 by 150 centimetres
100 by 130 centimetres works if the wall is otherwise clear
110 by 140 centimetres is only comfortable in an open, uncluttered room

What to check before you commit

Before you commit, measure the wall at the height where the print will hang, not just at the floor. A wall that is 150 centimetres wide at the base can narrow higher up if there is a radiator, a switch, or a shelf. Those obstacles change the usable space more than the bare wall measurement does. Mark the print size on the wall with paper or tape and step back. The paper mock-up tells you more than the numbers on a page.

Also check the room around the wall. A 120 by 150 centimetre wall in a narrow corridor feels different from the same wall in a living room. In a corridor, a smaller print often reads better because the eye has less room to rest. In a living room, the same print can disappear if the furniture is large. read the living room guide if you want to weigh the print against the rest of the room.

A print that fills a wall edge to edge reads as a wall covering, not as a framed work.

Print size	Margin on each side	Best suited to
80 by 100 cm	20 to 35 cm	Rooms with other objects on the wall
90 by 120 cm	15 to 30 cm	Most empty or lightly furnished walls
100 by 130 cm	10 to 25 cm	Clear walls with little competing furniture
110 by 140 cm	5 to 20 cm	Open rooms where the print is the main object

Suggested print sizes for a 120 by 150 centimetre wall

Key takeaways

A print around 90 by 120 centimetres fits a 120 by 150 centimetre wall most comfortably.
Leave at least 10 centimetres of clear wall on every side, and more if the room is busy.
A deep frame adds width, so measure the outer frame not just the image.
Mock up the size on the wall with paper or tape before you commit.

Related questions

Can a smaller print work on a 120 by 150 centimetre wall?

Yes, if the wall is not the only surface the eye reads. A print around 80 by 100 centimetres can work well in a room with shelves, furniture, or other wall objects. The smaller print leaves more wall visible, which suits a room that is already visually busy. The risk is that the print can feel lost if the wall is otherwise empty.

Should the print be centred vertically on the wall?

Not always. Centring on the wall itself is a safe default, but the print usually works better when it is balanced with the furniture below it. In a living room, the centre of the print often sits closer to the back of the sofa than to the centre of the wall. Use the furniture as the reference point, not the ceiling and floor.

What if the wall is slightly smaller than 120 by 150 centimetres?

Drop to the next size down rather than crowding the edges. A 90 by 120 centimetre print still works on a wall that is a little narrower or shorter, and the margin around it will look deliberate rather than tight. It is easier to make a print feel settled than to make a too-large print feel right.

From the Auvrique collection

Made to order · Every size