The other month, my teenage daughter asked if I could help her print a photo of her for graduation. I said “of course,” and when I asked what size she wanted, he just stared at me and said, “I don’t know… regular?” That moment made me realize…what feels obvious to me as a photographer is actually confusing for most people.

If you’ve ever tried to order a photo print and felt totally unsure what size to get, this post is for you!

My goal as a Huntington Beach Newborn Photographer is for this to be your cheat sheet to know exactly what size print you need for every part of your home!

Let’s first talk about 8x10s!

For the record, 8×10 isn’t big enough to hang on the wall. Full stop.

Over the years as a Huntington Beach Newborn Photographer, clients will tell me an 8×10 sounds big enough, but hang an 8×10 above a couch or fireplace and I promise… it’ll look like a postage stamp.

I had a client once who showed up excited to order an 8×10 for her living room. And when I held up a sample … we both laughed. It was cute, but it was way too small to be on the wall.

Here’s the thing: 8x10s are beautiful, but they belong on desktops, nightstands, bookshelves… not as the centerpiece of a wall.

If you’ve ever thought “that wall just feels empty” even after hanging a photo, the size is probably why.

When it comes to wall art, the regret I hear from clients is: “I wish I’d gone a little bigger.”

What Size to Choose for Different Rooms in Your Home

Different spots in your home need different size prints!. 

For one photo over your couch – go big. Like 20×30 or 30×40 (depending on the size of your living room) big. Or a triptych (fancy word for 3 side-by-side prints) of 16x20s.

For one photo over a fireplace, you’ll want at least 24×36 to feel like it belongs. 

In a hallway you can go a little smaller, usually a clean row of 11x14s or 8x10s. 

For bedrooms, 8×10 or 11×14 is perfect for dressers or above a kid’s bed.

For the entryway (again depending on the size) go for around 24×36! 

Your Huntington Beach Newborn Photographer’s hack for choosing prints to go behind the couch:

Your artwork should be roughly 2/3 the width of the furniture beneath it. 

So if your couch is 90 inches wide, your art should be about 60 inches across (either one large print or a combo of smaller ones that add up to that width).

I always use this formula when helping clients design gallery walls or pick statement prints!

When Bigger Doesn’t Mean Better

I am a big fan of large family portraits, and I mean LARGE.

But let me tell you, there have been a time or two I’ve printed a little bigger than I should have and I regretted it! 

Super tight close-ups (like your baby’s face filling the whole frame) is not ideal at 30×40.

My rule is: don’t print a head bigger than it is in real life. 

Example: A group photo of 10 people can go big, just make sure the biggest head isn’t larger than it is in real life!

If you take nothing else away from this post, remember this: prints smaller than 11×14 belong on a table, shelf, or desk. Not on the wall. If you’re hanging something, go at least 16×20. And if you’re using an 8×10 or 11×14 on the wall, make it part of a group (not solo). That’s the cheat code right there!

And hey, the fact that you’re even thinking about printing your photos already puts you ahead of the game. Most people leave their memories stuck on a phone or buried in a social media post. But you’re turning them into something you can actually see and enjoy every day! That matters.

So bookmark this post and come back to it next time you need to order prints. And if you’re stuck, reach out. I’m happy to help you figure it out!

I hope reading The Best Print Sizes for Every Room in Your Home | Huntington Beach Newborn Photographer has given you some solid ideas!

If you’re still looking for a Huntington Beach Newborn Photographer, click here to see my portfolio of newborn images.