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A 50x70 cm poster sits in a sweet spot: large enough to feel like “real art” in a room, but still easy to live with, move, and frame. It is also one of the most common European poster sizes, which means you can find frames and mounts without going fully bespoke. The difference between “nice print” and “wow, this wall feels designed” usually comes down to two things: layout (how it relates to furniture and space) and framing (how it’s presented and protected).
Below are practical, room-tested layout and framing tips specifically for posters 50x70, with simple proportions you can measure in minutes.
First, know what 50x70 looks like in real rooms
50x70 cm is a vertical rectangle by default, but it works equally well landscape. What matters is how it reads against common furniture widths.
- Over a sofa, sideboard, or bed: 50x70 is ideal as a single statement on narrower pieces, or as part of a pair or grid on wider furniture.
- In hallways and stairwells: it is large enough to anchor a space without feeling like you are dodging it as you walk by.
- In home offices: it gives a strong focal point behind a desk or on the wall opposite your screen.
A quick mental model: 50x70 feels “intentional” when it relates to nearby lines, sofa backs, headboards, shelves, door frames, and not just the empty wall.
Layout: the simplest rules that make 50x70 look expensive
Centre height: the calm baseline
A widely used gallery baseline is to hang art so the centre of the piece lands around eye level. In many homes, that ends up roughly 145 cm from the floor to the centre of the artwork (adjust slightly if you are very tall, very short, or often seated in that room).
For a 50x70 poster, that usually means the top edge will sit high enough to breathe, but not so high that it floats.
Distance from furniture: keep it visually connected
If you are hanging a 50x70 above furniture (sofa, headboard, console), the most common mistake is leaving too big a gap. Aim for:
- 15 to 25 cm above the top of the furniture as a practical starting range.
Smaller gaps feel more cohesive and “styled”. Larger gaps can work in very tall rooms, but you typically need either a bigger artwork or a second piece to fill the visual distance.
Width relative to what’s underneath
When placing a single 50x70 above a sofa or sideboard, it should not look like a postage stamp in the middle of a wide surface.
A reliable proportion is:
- Your art grouping should span roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the furniture width.
A single 50x70 often suits a compact sofa, a reading nook chair, a bar cart, or a small console. For a wider sofa or a king-size bed, consider a pair (two 50x70s), or build a trio where 50x70 is the “hero” and smaller pieces support it.
50x70 layout formulas that rarely fail
1) One 50x70 as a statement piece
This is the cleanest look, especially in minimalist or Scandinavian interiors.
Where it shines:
- Above a narrow console table
- Next to a window (creating a vertical counterbalance)
- In a home office where you want one strong focal point
Make it feel intentional by matching at least one element to the room (a colour in the print, a frame tone that echoes flooring, or a mount that matches wall paint).
2) Two 50x70 posters as a balanced pair (diptych)
Two 50x70 posters side by side is one of the easiest ways to scale up for larger furniture without going oversized.
Spacing guideline:
- 5 to 8 cm gap between frames for a crisp, contemporary look.
- 8 to 12 cm gap if you want the wall to feel more airy and editorial.
A practical trick: treat the pair as one “combined artwork” when you measure centre height. Measure the total width including the gap, find the centre point, and hang around that.
3) A 2x2 grid for impact (four pieces)
A grid looks especially good with graphic work, photography, or a cohesive colour palette. If all four are 50x70, it will be a commanding wall feature, so it suits bigger walls and taller ceilings.
Keep it sharp by:
- Using identical frames
- Keeping identical gaps horizontally and vertically (consistency matters more than the exact number)
4) One 50x70 anchored with smaller pieces
If you love variety but do not want a full gallery wall, use one 50x70 as the anchor, then add one or two smaller prints that echo its colours.
This creates hierarchy without complexity: the 50x70 does the heavy lifting, the smaller pieces add rhythm.
Framing 50x70: choose the look first, then the materials
Framing is not just decoration. It affects perceived quality, colour, and longevity.
The three most flattering framing styles for 50x70
1) Full-bleed in a 50x70 frame (no mount)
This is the most modern look: the image fills the frame.
Best for:
- Bold graphic posters
- High-contrast photography
- Interiors where you want crisp lines
Watch out for:
- Very light prints on white walls can look “thin” without a mount. If that happens, choose a frame with more visual weight (slightly wider profile or darker colour).
2) Mounted in a larger frame (gallery-style breathing room)
A mount (mat) creates white space that makes a poster feel more like a print you would see in a gallery.
Common, easy-to-source step-up option:
- 50x70 poster in a 60x80 frame with a mount.
This gives you a clean border without going huge. It can also help if your wall colour is strong, because the mount creates separation between the art and the wall.
3) Float-style look (for a curated, design-led feel)
A float-style presentation (where the work appears to sit within space rather than being tightly boxed) can look very high-end, especially with textured or minimalist art. This is usually done with specific frames and mounting techniques, so it is the most “designed” option.
Best for:
- Simple compositions where negative space is part of the art
- Interiors with fewer objects and more intentional details
A practical mount and frame sizing guide (with real numbers)
If you want a mount, you need a frame bigger than 50x70. Here are common combinations and what they do visually.
| If you want… | Frame size idea | Approximate mount border | Visual effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean, modern, minimal | 50x70 | None | Bold, poster-forward, very contemporary |
| Gallery feel without going huge | 60x80 | ~5 cm each side | More “art print” presence, better separation from wall colour |
| Statement presentation | 70x100 | ~10 cm each side | Premium, spacious look, strong focal point on large walls |
Note: Mount borders can be slightly larger at the bottom for a classic gallery look, but even borders are simpler and still look excellent.
Frame colour: how to match without overthinking
A useful approach is to decide what you want the frame to “do” in the room.
Black frames
- Make posters feel sharper and more graphic.
- Work brilliantly with monochrome photography, typography, and high-contrast art.
- Add structure to eclectic rooms.
White frames
- Feel light, clean, and Scandinavian.
- Work best when there is enough contrast between print and wall. On a pure white wall, a white frame can disappear (sometimes that is the point).
Natural wood frames
- Warm up modern art.
- Tie in with oak floors, rattan, linen textures, and neutral palettes.
- Are forgiving if you mix styles over time.
Metallic frames (brass, silver, chrome)
- Look great in glam, mid-century, or modern interiors.
- Need consistency. If you introduce metal, echo it elsewhere (lamp, mirror, handles) so it does not feel random.
Glazing choices: glass vs acrylic (and why it matters)
The front layer affects both safety and colour.
- Glass tends to feel premium and is scratch-resistant, but it is heavier and can shatter.
- Acrylic (plexi) is lighter and safer for high-traffic areas, kids’ rooms, and stairwells, but it can scratch more easily.
If you have a bright room, consider UV-protective glazing. Sunlight can fade prints over time, especially if the piece gets direct daylight.
Where to place 50x70 posters in each room (and what to avoid)
Living room
Best placements:
- Above a console, sideboard, or radiator cover (with enough vertical clearance)
- Over a sofa as a pair of 50x70s
Avoid:
- Hanging too high to “protect it” from the sofa. It will look disconnected.
Bedroom
Best placements:
- Above bedside tables as a symmetrical pair
- Over a dresser as a single statement
Tip: bedrooms often have softer lighting, so a mount can help the print feel crisp rather than visually muddy.
Hallway and stairs
50x70 is excellent here because it reads from a distance.
Key tip: in staircases, follow the line of the stairs. Keep the centreline of the frames parallel to the stair angle rather than forcing strict horizontal alignment.
Home office
Best placements:
- Behind your desk, centred to your chair (not the desk)
- On the wall opposite your screen to give your eyes a restful focal point
If your office is small, a single 50x70 with a mount can look more intentional than several small pieces.
Quick hanging checklist (so it ends up straight the first time)
- Measure the wall width and mark the midpoint with painter’s tape.
- Decide the artwork centre height (often around 145 cm) and mark it.
- If using a pair or grid, measure the total width including gaps before you start.
- Use a spirit level (or a reliable level app) for the final alignment.
- For heavier frames, use proper wall fixings for your wall type (plasterboard needs different anchors than brick).
A note on “ready-to-hang” vs DIY framing
If you like the flexibility of changing art seasonally, DIY framing is great: you can swap posters in minutes.
If you prefer a finished, polished look without extra steps, choosing a ready-to-hang option (with the right frame and mount look) removes the fiddly parts: sourcing the correct frame size, ensuring the mount window is cut cleanly, and keeping everything dust-free behind the glazing.
dreamprint.art focuses on made-on-demand art prints with multiple size options and framing available, which can be helpful if you want the 50x70 format but would rather skip the frame-matching process.
The main takeaway
To make posters 50x70 look intentionally designed:
- Hang to an eye-level centreline and keep the piece visually connected to furniture.
- Use 50x70 as a single statement on narrower surfaces, or scale up with pairs and grids for larger walls.
- Choose framing based on the effect you want: full-bleed modern, mounted gallery-style, or float-style curated.
If you get the proportions right, 50x70 becomes one of the easiest sizes to style across a whole home, and one of the most forgiving sizes to refresh as your tastes evolve.
