How to Choose the Right Size Framed Tapestry
A framed tapestry in the right size settles a wall. Too small, and it floats above the sofa like an afterthought. Too large, and it crowds the room. The right size is easy to find with a tape measure and a few simple proportions.
This guide is how we advise our own clients at Lale Studio & Shop, a family weaving studio in Chrzanów, Poland, working since 2016. Every tapestry is woven by hand on a loom in 100% wool, and every framed piece is stretched and fitted into its frame in our own workshop. All the designs mentioned here are in our framed tapestries collection.
Can you frame a tapestry?
Yes. A handwoven tapestry is a soft textile, so before it goes into a frame it needs a firm support that holds the weave flat and even. This is how we do it in our studio:
- Weaving. The tapestry is woven by hand on a loom, row by row, in two-ply wool yarn.
- Stretching. The finished weave is stretched on a wooden stretcher bar, so it lies flat and keeps its shape on the wall.
- Framing. The stretched piece is set into a solid wood frame that we build and sand by hand in our workshop. We do not use MDF.
- Ready to hang. Four mounting brackets go on the back of the frame, and the piece travels to you in a wooden crate made in the same workshop.
The frame gives the soft wool a clear edge, so the piece reads as a finished work on the wall. If you prefer a softer line without a frame, many of our designs hang from a bamboo rod instead: see our rod hanging tapestries.
Start with the wall, not the tapestry
Measure the width of the furniture the piece will hang above, and the free wall around it. Then mark the size you are considering with painter's tape and leave it up for a day. A rectangle of tape answers more questions than any photograph.
The proportions below are common rules of thumb. Take them as general guidance, not fixed rules: ceiling height, windows, light and your own taste matter just as much.
Above a sofa, bed or sideboard
Aim for art that spans about two thirds of the furniture's width, and no more than three quarters. Leave 6in to 10in (15cm to 25cm) between the top of the furniture or the headboard and the bottom of the frame, so the two read as one composition. When you hang two pieces side by side, keep about 3in to 4in (8cm to 10cm) between them.
On an open wall
With nothing beneath it, hang the piece so that its center sits about 57in to 59in (145cm to 150cm) from the floor, roughly at eye level. On a section of wall between a door and a corner, or between two windows, a piece or a pair that fills about half to two thirds of the width usually looks settled.
Tall walls, stairwells and narrow spaces
A tall, narrow wall wants a tall, narrow piece. Linea, at 20in x 79in (50cm x 200cm), suits the space beside a staircase, between two doors or at the end of a corridor.
When in doubt, size up
A piece that is too small above a long sofa looks hesitant. A generous one looks decided. If you are torn between two sizes, tape out the larger one first.
Our six standard framed sizes, and where each one works
Most of our framed designs come in six standard sizes, given as width x height:
- 18in x 30in (45cm x 75cm). A slim vertical for a narrow wall, beside a door or a window, above a nightstand, or as a pair.
- 24in x 24in (60cm x 60cm). A compact square for a small console or a bedside wall, or for a row of two or three.
- 24in x 39in (60cm x 100cm). A tall rectangle for a hallway or the wall between two windows, and a strong pair above a sofa.
- 32in x 32in (80cm x 80cm). A generous square above an armchair or a sideboard, or as a pair above a long sofa.
- 32in x 48in (80cm x 120cm). A vertical statement for an open wall, an entrance or a dining area.
- 39in x 39in (100cm x 100cm). Our largest standard square, for a bed, a sofa or a wall that needs one calm focal point.
Quick examples with real furniture widths
This is how the two-thirds rule works out in practice. Again, take it as general guidance.
- Nightstand or narrow console, about 24in (60cm) wide: 16in to 18in (40cm to 45cm) of art, so one 18in x 30in (45cm x 75cm) piece.
- Console or dresser, 36in (90cm): 24in to 27in (60cm to 68cm), so 24in x 24in (60cm x 60cm) or 24in x 39in (60cm x 100cm).
- Sideboard, 48in (120cm): 32in to 36in (80cm to 90cm), so 32in x 32in (80cm x 80cm) or 32in x 48in (80cm x 120cm).
- Queen bed, 60in (152cm): 40in to 45in (101cm to 114cm). One 39in x 39in (100cm x 100cm) square comes very close.
- King bed, 76in (193cm): 51in to 57in (129cm to 145cm). Two 24in x 24in (60cm x 60cm) squares hung 4in (10cm) apart come to 52in (130cm). A horizontal piece or a custom width also works here.
- Sofa, 79in (200cm): 53in to 59in (133cm to 150cm). Two 24in x 39in (60cm x 100cm) pieces hung 4in (10cm) apart come to 52in (130cm), close to two thirds.
- Long sofa, 91in (230cm): 61in to 68in (153cm to 173cm). Two 32in x 32in (80cm x 80cm) squares about 3in (8cm) apart come to 67in (168cm).
Beyond the standard sizes
Some designs go further than the six standard formats. Huek, in its largest framed edition, measures 43in x 73in (110cm x 185cm). Linea, Magran and Vitre are tall formats at 20in x 79in (50cm x 200cm).
For a very long wall, the large set of Mist Triptych places three framed pieces side by side as one soft gradient: 24in x 39in, 32in x 39in and 24in x 39in (60cm x 100cm, 80cm x 100cm and 60cm x 100cm).
Our biggest pieces, framed and on a rod, are gathered in large woven wall hangings. Every piece there has a longer side of 47in (120cm) or more.
Choosing the frame
Every frame is solid wood, built in our workshop. On most designs you choose between three finishes, and selected designs add a fourth.
Natural pine. Pale and warm, with a soft grain. It lets the wool lead and suits white walls, light floors, linen and calm Japandi or Scandinavian rooms.
Walnut-stained pine. Solid pine with a dark walnut-color finish. The wood is pine, and walnut is only the color. It draws a darker line around the piece, suits walnut furniture, dark floors and mid-century rooms, and gives a pale tapestry more definition on a white wall.
Natural oak. Solid oak with a visible grain and the most substantial presence of the three, for rooms where wood is already a main material.
Black-finished pine. Available on selected designs, for a crisp graphic outline in a monochrome or contemporary room.
Pieces from Oak Mosaic are framed in oak only, because oak is part of the composition. For everything else, a simple test: match the frame to the largest wooden surface in the room for calm, or contrast it for definition.
What wool does on a larger wall
At small sizes, texture is a detail. At 39in x 39in (100cm x 100cm) it becomes part of the room. Two-ply wool holds its structure, catches side light and casts small shadows, so the surface changes from morning to evening. Wool also softens echoes in a room.
Custom sizes and turned formats
If none of the standard sizes fits your wall, we weave to your dimensions. A custom tapestry starts with a photo of the wall, its measurements and a conversation about colors and frame. We agree the design, colors, finish, quote and timing with you before anything is woven.
Rectangular formats can usually be turned from portrait to landscape, but a turned piece is built differently, because the frame and its mounting brackets change with it. A turned piece is therefore always made to order and never ships from stock. A few designs list a horizontal version as standard, such as Imperfectio III at 48in x 32in (120cm x 80cm).
Delivery, duties and production time
Shipping is free worldwide with FedEx, and every framed piece travels in a wooden crate built in our workshop. Delivery usually takes 4 to 7 business days after dispatch.
- United States: the price includes import duties, which we pay. We ship delivered duty paid (DDP), so there is nothing extra to pay on delivery.
- United Kingdom: the price includes import fees, which we pay.
- European Union: the price includes the VAT of your country, and there are no customs duties inside the EU.
Production time is shown on each product page. It is typically 1 to 2 weeks, and longer for large pieces and custom work. Pieces that are already woven and in stock are in our Ready to Ship collection and leave the studio within 1 to 4 working days.
For interior designers and architects
Send us the elevation or a photo of the wall, the furniture width, the finish palette and the light. For design and architecture projects we reply with size options and a mockup of the piece on that wall, so the decision is made before anything is woven. Trade pricing and project quotes are described on our For Designers page and in the Trade Program.
Hanging and care
Each framed piece has four mounting brackets on the back of the frame. Use all four, with wall fixings suited to your wall and to the weight of the piece, and hang large formats with two people. Our guide to hanging heavy wall art covers wall types and heights.
Care is simple: now and then, dust the surface gently with a soft, dry cloth. Do not clean the tapestry with water, and keep it out of prolonged direct sunlight. There is more in our guide to caring for a wool tapestry and on the Installation & Care page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you frame a tapestry?
Yes. A woven tapestry is first stretched on a wooden stretcher bar so the weave lies flat, and then set into a frame. We stretch every framed piece ourselves and fit it into a solid wood frame built in our workshop, with four mounting brackets on the back.
What size framed tapestry should I hang above a sofa?
As general guidance, about two thirds of the sofa's width, and no more than three quarters. For a 79in (200cm) sofa that is 53in to 59in (133cm to 150cm) of art, for example two 24in x 39in (60cm x 100cm) pieces, with 6in to 10in (15cm to 25cm) between the sofa back and the frames.
What size tapestry goes above a queen or king bed?
Above a 60in (152cm) queen bed, one 39in x 39in (100cm x 100cm) square comes close to two thirds of the width. Above a 76in (193cm) king bed, aim for 51in to 57in (129cm to 145cm), for example two 24in x 24in (60cm x 60cm) squares or a custom width.
How high should a framed tapestry hang?
On an open wall, place its center about 57in to 59in (145cm to 150cm) from the floor. Above furniture, leave 6in to 10in (15cm to 25cm) between the furniture and the bottom of the frame.
Can I order a framed tapestry in a custom size or orientation?
Yes. We weave to your dimensions and can usually turn a rectangular format. A custom or turned piece gets its own frame and mounting, so it is always made to order.
Are import duties included in the price?
For the United States, yes: the price includes import duties and we ship delivered duty paid, so there is nothing extra to pay on delivery. UK prices include import fees, which we pay, and EU prices include the VAT of your country.
Find the size for your wall
Weighing two sizes for one wall? Our product pages have a See it on your wall tool that places a design on a photo of your own wall. Or send us a photo and the furniture width through our contact page, and we will suggest a size, a frame and a placement.