How High to Hang Wall Art in a Nursery (UK & US Guide)

When decorating a nursery or children’s bedroom, one of the most common questions is surprisingly simple:

How high should you hang wall art?

Hang it too high and it can feel disconnected from the room. Too low and it can feel cramped or cluttered.

The good news is that there are a few simple guidelines that work beautifully for most nurseries and kids’ rooms.

The General Rule: Hang Art at Eye Level

A good rule for most rooms is to hang artwork so that the centre of the print sits around 145–150cm (57–60 inches) from the floor.

This is considered comfortable eye level for adults and creates a balanced look across the wall.

In nurseries and kids’ rooms, this rule still works well, especially for prints hung on an empty wall or as part of a gallery wall.

Hanging Art Above a Cot, Bed or Changing Table

When hanging nursery wall art above furniture, the spacing becomes more important than the exact height.

A simple guide:

Leave around 15–25cm (6–10 inches) between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the artwork.

This keeps the print visually connected to the furniture while still giving the wall room to breathe.

Alphabet prints and bold graphic wall art work particularly well above:

  • Cots

  • Toddler beds

  • Changing tables

  • Toy storage units

 Browse my alphabet wall prints here:
[Alphabet Collection]

(All my framed prints use acrylic glaze rather than heavy glass which is a much safer option for kids rooms.For any prints hanging above cots or beds these must be securely fastened to the wall.)

How High to Hang Art in a Playroom

Alphabet wall print in modern nursery with yellow wardrobe

Playrooms are a little more flexible.

Because the space is designed for children, many parents choose to hang artwork slightly lower so it sits closer to a child’s eye level.

This works especially well for:

  • Educational wall art

  • Numbers prints

  • Animal prints

  • Alphabet posters

Lower placement can make the artwork feel more interactive and accessible.

Explore numbers and educational prints here:
[Numbers Print]
[Alphabet Print]

Styling a Simple Gallery Wall

If you’re hanging multiple prints together, think of the arrangement as one larger piece of artwork.

Start by positioning the centre of the whole gallery at roughly eye level (around 145–150cm / 57–60 inches).

Then build the layout around that centre point.

Gallery walls work beautifully with:

  • Alphabet prints

  • Numbers prints

  • Animal illustrations

  • Personalised portrait prints

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can also read my guide on styling alphabet wall prints here:
[How to style alphabet wall prints]

When to Hang Art Slightly Lower

Sometimes hanging art slightly lower works better, especially in children’s spaces.

Lower placement can feel more relaxed and natural when:

  • The room has lower ceilings

  • The artwork sits above a shelf or toy storage

  • You want the prints to feel part of the child’s world

In these cases, hanging the centre of the artwork around 130–140cm (51–55 inches) can work beautifully.

Keep It Simple

You don’t need complicated rules to make nursery wall art work.

A good approach is:

• Centre around eye level
• Leave space above furniture
• Keep layouts balanced
• Choose prints that feel joyful and calm

Often one bold, colourful print is enough to lift the whole room.

Explore my full collection of children’s wall art here:

[All Prints]

A Final Tip

Before hanging anything permanently, try this simple trick:

Cut a piece of paper the same size as the print and tape it to the wall.

Live with it for a day or two.

It’s a quick way to check the height and placement before committing.