How to Hang Art Prints in Your Nursery

Everyone dreams of the perfect nursery for their new baby and big congratulations to those who pulled it off in time!  I didn’t.  In fact, it never fully came together until I hung Baby Unicorns on my son’s wall!  Then, the nursery magically felt complete. 

Having a focal point in the nursery is as important as any other room when decorating.  Choosing the right art, frame and placement is what makes it stand out and complete the room.  

Whether it’s Baby Unicorns or any other art print, here are my top tips for decorating the perfect nursery or child’s room. 

• Typically, designers hang art work at eye level, which is generally around 5 feet. If you’re hanging a grouping you’ll want the middle of the grouping to rest there too. This allows for someone to lean in to see the picture more closely and feels cosier than when it’s hung too high. 

• Unless you’re leaning a frame on a dresser or shelf, hanging it 6-10 inches above furniture is another basic rule in creating a curated look. But you be the judge when placing it above a crib or in arm’s reach—sometimes rules are meant to be broken!  One thing is for sure, though, I definitely prefer to leave the glass out of the frame or use plexiglass when decorating my child’s room, just to be safe.  

• Choosing frames and deciding whether or not to add a mat to the print or not, is really up to you!  A frame can change everything.  That’s why if buying a print for a friend I recommend that you leave it to them to pick their frame.  Matting adds a little more class to the look.  If you’re wanting the print to take up a larger amount of wall space, then matting also makes sense and pairing it with a thicker frame will add several inches to its overall size. Choosing a thin frame, however, speaks minimalism, and wooden frames work fabulously for that Scandi Boho vibe. 

Above, three 12x16” Ikea Ribba frames sitting just 10” over the crib creates a beautiful balance.

Two 12x16” prints in 16x20” frames shown here elevates the feature wall.  Thin wooden frames with thick 2” matting makes for an overall chic Scandi Boho vibe.

To recap:

 - The middle of the picture or grouping should hang at 5 ft

 - Allow 6-10” between furniture and your art on the wall

 - Remove the glass or use plexiglass in your frame(s)

 - Choose mattes and frames that align with your decor taste

It’s common to find 12x16-inch prints and for those wondering specifically how to display them in your baby’s room, I’ve included visuals here to make life easier. And for all you Baby Unicorn lovers, we’ve added a new section to our website with more Inspiration. 

In hindsight, I wish I completed my feature wall early on so Baba’s nursery would’ve looked pulled together even during its messiest times!  

And, in our case, his Baby Unicorns didn’t just adorn his walls they are his friends, with personalities, and he loves to say good night to them.