Ever wonder how on earth you are going to come up with some sort of art to put above the bed? Coming up with ideas for art above the bed can be a tricky thing because a lot of pieces don’t end up looking quite right in that awkward area. The headboard usually takes up a good amount of space, but it also looks a little naked without anything too. There is also the issue of price. No one really likes to spend a ton of money on wall décor, especially in the bedroom where only immediate family members are going to be looking at it. To take the guesswork out of the task, here are a few foolproof ideas for art above the bed that are easy to do and don’t break the bank.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may earn a commission. Thanks!! Featured image source: Gallery Wall Art Set of 8 Paris and Botanicals by NLS Design
How to Hang Art Above the Bed
First, let’s get the how-to out of the way. The main mistakes people make when hanging artwork above the bed is that they hang it too high and don’t make it big enough. A good rule of thumb is to hang artwork 5 to 9 inches above the headboard, seemingly around eye level. If you don’t have a headboard, use the top of your pillows as a starting point and you’ll generally need to go bigger in the artwork to fill up more of the wall. A king bed is around 76 inches wide and a queen is 60 inches. You will want the width of whatever artwork or wall décor you choose to come within several inches of that.
Above the Bed Art Ideas
Horizontal Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is an easy and affordable way to cover a large wall area without enduring expensive printing or framing costs. You can find printable artwork on Etsy that fits in with your bedroom décor and then print out several corresponding images on your home computer or at any photo printing place. Consider using a collection of travel art of the places you’ve visited, soothing abstract beach landscapes, or classically chic botanicals. There are a lot of Etsy sellers that already have gallery wall downloads set up so you don’t have to mess around with trying to figure out what works together. Frames in various sizes can easily be found on Amazon or at hobby stores like Michaels. (Check out my post the Lazy Way to Create a Gallery Art Wall for more info.)
Rug or Tapestry
When most people think of using a rug or tapestry as wall art, images of college dorm rooms and first apartments start coming to mind. There is a way to make rugs and tapestries look grown up and modern. Choosing a rug that is similar in size to what a headboard would be in a modern stripe or contemporary pattern can make it look like it was always intended to be there.
Shelves
Shelves are versatile and functional wall décor. You can find a streamlined or more farmhouse style shelf and place it several inches above the headboard. Then simply fill it with knickknacks you already have around the house – small plants, sculptures, framed art, books, etc… for an eclectic wall display.
You are not limited to a single shelf, however. There are geometric or cube floating shelves, or even free-standing open bookcases that you can place behind the bed as a stand-in headboard.
Wallpaper or Wall Mural
Go big or go home. Wallpaper is not the pink peeling floral you remember from your grandma’s bathroom. Wallpaper is now made to be peel and stick so it doesn’t damage your wall, or incase you change your mind a week later. If you pick a bigger, modern design, you can cover one accent wall behind you bed and call it a day. You can also frame a section of wallpaper for a less time-consuming option.
Architectural Interest / Wall Trim
Head down to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s and go to the wood trim section. You can create a board and batten pattern, or create frames on the wall in varying sizes, no artwork needed. Paint the same color as the wall or go for a contrasting color for more of an impact.
Mirrors
The key with mirrors used as art above the bed is to get several styled mirrors and place them in more of a scattered pattern. You don’t necessarily want them to be mirrors that you are going to use to check your makeup.
Flat Metal Wall Sculpture
3D metal sculptural wall décor is a high impact low-cost option for artwork above the bed. You can find everything from faux antlers to birds on a wire to flowers to words. Just make sure to secure it to the wall well so it won’t come crashing down mid-sleep!
There are many things you can come up with for art above the bed, but sometimes it’s nice to have some surefire options at the ready so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Hopefully these ideas will help you save some money and stress before you head out shopping.
