The Design South guide
Size it.Frame it.Hang it.
How to pick the right print size, frame it without overspending, and hang it so it looks like it was always meant to be there.
01
Start with the wall,
not the print
The most common mistake is choosing a print you love and then finding it looks tiny on the wall. Measure the furniture the art will hang above first.
The two-thirds rule: art above a piece of furniture should be about two-thirds to three-quarters of that furniture's width. Under half, and it looks lost (Talented Ladies Club, Mixtiles). Measure the furniture, not the wall.
Small dresser · 36"
24–27"
One 18x24 landscape, or one 24x36 portrait
Standard dresser · 48"
32–36"
One 24x36 landscape, or two 16x20 portrait side by side
Twin bed · about 39"
26–29"
One 24x36 portrait, or two 11x14 portrait side by side
Full bed · about 54"
36–40"
One 24x36 landscape, or two 18x24 portrait side by side
Queen bed · about 60"
40–45"
Two 18x24 portrait, with a 3–4" gap
Sofa · about 84"
56–63"
Three 18x24 portrait, with 3" gaps
Widths include the gaps between frames. Frames add a little on each side, especially wide or matted ones.
Try it first
Cut paper to the print size, or outline it on the wall with painter's tape, and leave it up for a day. This one step prevents the most regret.
Kids' rooms
Size up. Kids' rooms usually have one big focal wall, and a 16x20 or larger reads from across the room. A 5x7 or 8x10 works best on a shelf, a nightstand, or as part of a group.
02
Design South sizes at a glance
Six sizes.
All fit store-bought frames.
All Design South prints come in standard US sizes, so they fit ready-made frames. Frame sizes are named by the opening that holds the art, not the outside edge, so an "11x14 frame" holds an 11x14 print (CustomPictureFrames.com).
Drawn to scale, in inches.
03
Mat or no mat?
A mat is the border between the print and the frame. It makes a print look more finished, adds breathing room, and makes a smaller print bigger on the wall.
How it works: buy a frame one size up, and the mat fills the gap. An 8x10 print in an 11x14 frame with a mat is the classic example (Austin Gallery).
Know about the overlap
The mat's window is cut about ½" smaller than the print, so the mat covers about ¼" on every edge. That keeps the print from falling through (Mat Board Plus). A ready-made 11x14 frame matted for an 8x10 usually has a 7½ x 9½ window (Frame Destination). If your print has a name or text close to the edge, check that it sits inside the window.
| Your print | Frame size if matted | Typical mat window |
|---|---|---|
| 5x7 | 8x10 | 4½ x 6½ |
| 8x10 | 11x14 | 7½ x 9½ |
| 11x14 | 16x20 | 10½ x 13½ |
| 16x20 | 20x24 or 22x28 | 15½ x 19½ |
| 18x24 | 24x30 | 17½ x 23½ |
| 24x36 | Usually no mat (or 30x40 with one) | 23½ x 35½ |
Mat windows follow the ½"-smaller rule. Always confirm the exact window on the frame you buy, because brands vary.
Skip the mat
Big prints (24x36), modern or graphic designs, and thin metal frames all look sharp with the print going right to the edge.
Mat it
Small prints you want to look bigger, gallery walls where you want everything to feel the same, and anything meant to feel a little more heirloom.
04
Ready-made, framing counter
or local framer?
There's no wrong answer. It depends on how long the piece will stay up and what you want to spend.
Simple · safe · timeless
Ready-made frames
- Best for Design South's standard sizes, nurseries and kids' rooms that will change in a few years, and anyone who wants to be done tonight.
- Pick a thin, simple frame in black, white, natural wood or gold. Those colors don't date.
- Generally about $10–$100, depending on size and material (Frame It Easy).
Michaels, Hobby Lobby + similar
Chain framing counters
- Best when you want a custom mat color or a specific frame style but don't need a specialist.
- One estimate puts a typical Hobby Lobby custom job at about $80–$300, with large or premium jobs costing more (The Pricer). Prices vary by store, size and sales, so ask for a quote.
For forever pieces
A local, independent framer
- Best for heirloom pieces, a print you'll keep for decades, odd sizes, or expert advice in person.
- Ask for acid-free mats and UV-filtering glazing on anything you care about long-term (Frameology).
My honest take: for most Design South prints, a good ready-made frame is all you need. Save custom framing for the pieces you'll keep forever.
05
Frames I recommend
Only frames I've
bought and used myself.
My top pick
Vossington
They're the cleanest, thinnest frames I've found, and they make a print look gallery-finished without competing with it.
- Black
- White
- Gold
- Old Gold
- Silver
- Oak
- Walnut
Black· White· Gold· Old Gold· Silver· Oak· Walnut
See Vossington frames- Style
One style, the "Thin" frame. Vossington describes it as aluminum and "one of the world's thinnest frames."
- Sizes
4x6 up to 30x40, including every Design South size, plus 24x30 and 30x40 if you want to mat the bigger prints.
- Shipping + returns
Free shipping and 100-day free returns, US only, according to Vossington's site.
- Heads-up
Popular sizes can sell out. Vossington also sells on Amazon, so check there if a size is gone.
06
Hanging it right
- 57–60"From the floor to the center of the art. That's average eye level, and the standard museums use (Austin Gallery).
- 6–10"Between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame (Better Homes & Gardens).
- 3–6"Between frames on a gallery wall. Keep the gaps the same everywhere (Mixtiles).
Where the nail goes: 57" + half the frame's height − the drop from the frame's top to its taut wire or hook (TheCalcs).
Nursery + kids' rooms
Safety first
Rule one
Never over the crib
Anything above where a baby sleeps could fall or get pulled down once they start standing (BabyCenter). Hang it on another wall, or beside the crib and out of reach.
Lighter + safer
Acrylic over glass
Acrylic weighs about half as much as glass and won't shatter into shards (FramingMath).
Hold tight
Anchor it
Use hardware rated for the frame's weight, and wall anchors if you're not going into a stud.
Quick
answers
What size should I order?
Measure the furniture, multiply by two-thirds, and pick the closest size from the size cards above.
Will a store-bought frame fit my print?
Yes. Every Design South size is a standard US frame size.
Do I need a mat?
No. It's a style choice. Use one to make a smaller print feel bigger or more finished.
Glass or acrylic?
Acrylic for kids' rooms and big frames. Glass is fine for small frames in grown-up spaces.
Do your prints come framed?
No. Prints ship unframed in standard US sizes, so they drop right into a ready-made frame.
Still not sure?
Send me your wall.
I'll help you pick the size.
Email a photo of your wall and the furniture underneath to support@designsouthchs.com, and I'll help you choose.
Sources: two-thirds rule: Talented Ladies Club, Mixtiles; frame sizes: CustomPictureFrames.com, Austin Gallery; mats: Mat Board Plus, Frame Destination; framing costs: Frame It Easy, The Pricer, Frameology; Vossington: vossington.com, product page; hanging: Austin Gallery, Better Homes & Gardens, Mixtiles, TheCalcs; safety: BabyCenter, FramingMath.