How to Hang Art Above Dresser

Last Updated on February 10, 2025

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always hung a mirror over my dresser. However, our current bedroom setup has our dresser facing our bed and I don’t want to stare at myself at night!

Plus, I’ve read that mirrors in the bedroom can be bad for feng shui, so I avoid them altogether in the bedroom now. Not that I’m a feng shui expert by any means but I prioritize good sleep, so I don’t want to introduce anything that would disrupt that!

My bedroom (and home) are very much coastal style so I wanted to incorporate something above the dresser that brought in those vibes. I found the perfect framed art at Shutter + Frame. This picture makes me feel so peaceful, so I thought it was the perfect addition to our coastal bedroom. 

What Size Art Above Dresser?

Art above a dresser or any piece of furniture should follow the ⅔ rule. Meaning, your art should be approximately ⅔ the size of your furniture. This is so your art will look proportionally in balance with your dresser. 

My Ikea Hemnes dresser is 63” wide, and ⅔ of that is 42”. My art is 40” wide, so it was close enough to be in the ballpark of the perfect size. 

Side note, if you like the Ikea Hemnes dresser and it’s in stock, buy it immediately! I waited for months for it to be in stock at our local Ikea and it’s already out of stock again.

How High to Hang Art Above Furniture

Art should be hung 4-8” above your furniture. When hanging art, you want your piece to feel connected to your dresser without sitting directly on top of it. Of course, you can opt to lean art on a dresser too! I chose to hang it because art sitting on a dresser collects a ton of dust. Plus, I love clutter-free furniture, so I tend to design more minimally. 

How to Hang Art Above Dresser in 5 Easy Steps

What You’ll Need

• Measuring Tape
• Blue Tape
• Hammer
• Picture Hanging Kit
• Level
• Spackling Paste (just in case!)

1. Measure Your Dresser & Art Width

You want your art centered above your dresser. To do this, measure the width of your dresser first and use blue tape to mark the center of it on the wall behind it (don’t worry about how high the tape is placed). Then measure the width of your art and use blue tape to mark the center.

2. Choose How High to Hang Your Art

If you can enlist a partner to help, have them hold the art above the dresser. You want the center of the art to be about 60” off the floor. It doesn’t have to be exact, but aim for approximately that height. You also want the art to be hung 4-8” above the dresser. 

My husband was gone when I hung this art but it’s not very heavy, so I was able to hold the art with one hand and measure from the floor to the center with the other. With the center of my art 60” off the floor, it was 7.5” above the dresser which is perfect! 

3. Measure the Height of Your Art

Now that you have your ideal inches above the dresser determined, measure the height of your art. You’re going to add them together to determine exactly how high to place your nails. 

My art measures 30” high. Adding that measurement to the 7.5” I want the art to be placed above the dresser, my nail needs to be 37” above the dresser. Note: I subtracted ½” because my hanging hardware is a half inch below the top of the frame. I’ll discuss this more below.

4. Look for Hardware on Your Art

Nine out of ten times, I just use the lip of the top of the frame to hang art. However, this art has such a narrow lip on the frame! But it does come with hardware on the back (both sides), which is where I needed to hook the nails. 

Always account for where the nail will actually connect to the art. If you’re hanging on the lip of the frame, measure the height of the lip. I was using the hardware that came on the back of the frame, which is ½” below the top of the frame. Subtract that amount from the height of your art + the inches above the dresser you’re accounting for. 

Example: 

Distance of bottom of frame to top of dresser = 7.5”

Art = 30” height

Total = 37.5”

Distance of hanging hardware from top of frame = .5”

Total minus hanging hardware = 37”

So, I needed to hang my art exactly 37” above the dresser. I also needed to figure out exactly where to put my nails since I was hanging them on hardware that was located on the back sides of the frame. 

If your frame is similar to mine, it’s really easy to solve for. You should already have the center of your frame marked with blue tape. Measure from the center of your frame to the center of your hardware. For my art, it was exactly 16.5” from the center of the art to the center of the hanging hardware. 

5. Hammer Your Nails & Level Check

Use blue tape to mark the center height of your art. Even if you aren’t placing a nail there, you still need to mark the center. I had already marked the center of my dresser. I simply measured 37” above the dresser, keeping the measuring tape in line with my center dresser blue tape marker. 

From there, I measured exactly 16.5” inches on either side of the top center blue tape. Then I measured from the dresser exactly 37” to the 16.5” blue tape marker and stuck my nails in.

I recommend sticking the nails in just hard enough to leave a dent. Then, go back to it and use the hammer. If your art is heavy or requires screws, follow the same steps as above and use a drill versus a hammer. 

Use your level to make sure your nails are even and your art is hung level. If it’s leaning to one side, you may need to adjust your nail placement. Also, make sure your art is perfectly centered. It’s easy to slide it side to side to get it just right.

Tip: Measure twice, hammer once. I always double to triple check my measurements before putting holes in the wall. Keep your spackle handy in case you make any mistakes!

See my picture below. The red X marks the spot where I hammered my nails.

Art Over Dresser

I highly recommend building a mood board before you buy art for your dresser. Any time I’m designing a space, I always build a mood board to make sure the pieces are coordinating. This allows you to see your furniture and decor together visually before you make major commitments (or spend money on something you won’t end up liking!). Use free sites like Canva to build your mood board.

8×10 Frame \\ Wicker Tray \\ Candle \\ Lamp \\ Plant Pot \\ Wall Art \\ 4×6 Frame \\ Dresser

Hanging art over a dresser is an easy way to make a beautiful design statement in your bedroom. I hope this post gave you some good tips and tricks for hanging your art. Happy decorating!

How to Hang Art Above Dresser FAQ

How Big Should Art Be Above a Dresser?

Art should be roughly 2/3 the size of your dresser.

How High Should You Hang Art Over Furniture?

The center of your art should be approximately 60″ from the floor. Hang your art 4-8″ above furniture aiming to have the center of your art be 60″ from the floor.

What Should I Put Above My Dresser?

Wall art is the perfect decor to put above your dresser. Coordinate your art with the colors and style of your bedroom.

Discover similar posts:
→How to Hang Wall Art Above Bed Like a Pro
→Dreamy Coastal Bedroom Design
→How to Create the Perfect Preppy Coastal Guest Bedroom
→The Best Coastal Headboard Ideas
→The Perfect Dresser Alternative You Need for Maximum Storage & Style

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