How to choose the size of a macramé wall hanging
A simple rule, a table for each piece of furniture and the actual measurements of our pieces, to help you get the size of the wall hanging right the first time.
The question we're asked most often before a purchase is "won't this wall hanging be too small?". A macramé wall hanging that looks great in a photo can seem lost on a large wall, or cramped above a narrow piece of furniture. This guide helps you choose the right size before ordering, with the actual measurements of our pieces.
The two-thirds rule
When the wall hanging goes above a piece of furniture (sofa, bed, chest of drawers or sideboard), choose a piece around two-thirds the width of that piece of furniture. A sofa of 180 cm calls for a wall hanging of around 120 cm; a chest of drawers of 100 cm, a wall hanging around 65 to 70 cm.
Below half the width of the piece of furniture, the wall hanging tends to look small. Wider than the furniture, it looks cramped. Between half and three-quarters, almost anything works.
What size for each piece of furniture
| Above | Typical width of the furniture | Wall hanging to look for | Saline pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-seater sofa | 200 to 220 cm | 120 to 150 cm | Horizon (130 × 60 cm) |
| 2-seater sofa | 150 to 170 cm | 90 to 110 cm | Savanna (100 × 75 cm), Reef (100 × 70 cm) |
| Double bed | 140 to 180 cm | 90 to 130 cm | Savanna, Reef, Horizon |
| Single bed | 90 to 100 cm | 60 to 70 cm | Ocean (60 × 75 cm), Coral (70 × 75 cm), Salt (70 × 70 cm) |
| Chest of drawers or sideboard | 100 to 120 cm | 65 to 80 cm | Coral, Salt, Roots (80 × 100 cm), Empa (80 × 100 cm) |
| Console table, desk or bedside table | 40 to 80 cm | 30 to 50 cm | SUN collection (30 to 35 cm), Forest (50 × 70 cm) |
The measurements of the pieces are approximate: each wall hanging is handmade and the branch is always different. Allow for 2 to 3 cm of difference.
Horizontal, vertical or square
The shape matters just as much as the size.
- Horizontal, wider than it is tall, follows the line of a sofa or a headboard. This is the case with the Horizon (130 × 60 cm) and the Savanna (100 × 75 cm).
- Vertical, taller than it is wide, elongates narrow walls: between two windows, in a hallway, beside a door or a full-length mirror. The Blossom (50 × 80 cm), the Roots and the Empa (80 × 100 cm) work well here.
- Square, like the Salt (70 × 70 cm) and the pieces from the SUN collection, is the easiest to match: it looks great on its own or alongside frames on a gallery wall.
What height to hang it at
Above a piece of furniture, leave 20 to 30 cm between the top of the furniture and the end of the fringe. With more space than that, the wall hanging stops looking connected to the furniture.
On a bare wall, with nothing underneath, position the centre of the piece at eye level, around 145 to 155 cm from the floor.
Above a bed, factor in the headboard and pillows: the end of the fringe should sit above them, so they don't touch.
Small pieces: alone or in a group
A wall hanging of 30 to 35 cm alone on a large wall disappears. Small pieces work best in small spots (on a shelf, above a desk, next to a mirror) or in a group.
The SUN collection was designed for this: Sunrise, Sunset and Sunshine together take up around 1,2 m in width. Line them up at the height of the branch and leave 10 to 15 cm between each one.
Test it before ordering
Cut a sheet of wrapping paper to the size of the wall hanging (or join sheets of newspaper together) and tape it to the wall with painter's tape. Leave it there for a day. If you still like what you see, the size is right.
If the paper looks small, go up a size. If it covers too much, go down. And if none of the pieces in the shop have the size you're after, we'll make one made to order.
Quick questions
What size of macramé wall hanging looks good above a sofa?
About two thirds of the sofa's width. For a three-seater sofa (200 to 220 cm), a wall hanging of 120 to 150 cm, like the Horizon. For a two-seater, a wall hanging of 90 to 110 cm, like the Savanna.
What height should a macramé wall hanging be hung at?
Above a piece of furniture, with 20 to 30 cm between the furniture and the end of the fringe. On a bare wall, with the centre of the piece at 145 to 155 cm from the floor.
Horizontal or vertical wall hanging?
Horizontal above sofas, beds and sideboards; vertical on narrow walls, between windows or in a hallway; square when you want to pair it with frames.
What if my wall is a different size?
We make wall hangings to measure in Ericeira. Tell us the width and height you have available on the Customise page and we'll get back to you with a proposal, usually within 2 working days.
