Best Wall Art for a Coastal Bedroom: How to Choose the Right Print, Size and Frame

The bedroom is personal. It's the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, so the art you put in there actually matters. I've had so many customers tell me they spent weeks deciding on the right coastal print for their bedroom, and I get it. It's not like picking something for a hallway where you walk past it once. This is the room where you want to feel something every time you look up.

Here's what I've learned from shooting coastal wall art across Victoria and Queensland, and from talking to the people who hang it in their homes.

Start With Size (Get This Right First)

The most common mistake in a bedroom is going too small. People pick an XS or small print, hang it above a bed, and then wonder why it looks a bit lost. As a general rule, aim for a print that's at least half the width of your bed head. For a queen or king bed, that usually means going for a medium (42x59.4cm) at minimum, and honestly a large (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) is going to look a lot better.

If you want a single statement piece above the bed, go big. An XL is a proper centrepiece. Anything smaller and it can look like an afterthought. Not sure what size to go? Check the size guide on the site, it's got a visual that makes it easy.

Which Frame Works Best in a Bedroom?

This depends on the light in your room. If you get a lot of natural light coming in, the floating frame canvas is a great option. There's no glass, so you get zero reflections no matter what angle the light hits. It uses museum quality 400gsm Hahnemuhle Daguerre stretched canvas, which means the colours really hold their own. I've had customers tell me the print has become the centrepiece of their whole room, which is exactly what you want above a bed.

If you want something with a bit more depth and detail, the shadow box frame is worth a look. The glass sits 20mm off the print, which creates a subtle floating shadow effect that looks really sharp in a bedroom setting. And if you want the absolute best, the premium shadow box uses 308gsm Hahnemuhle Rag Mount Smooth paper, 11-colour giclee inks, and Tru Vue Museum Glass with 99% UV protection and virtually no glare. It's the one I'd choose if I was hanging something I really loved and wanted it to last.

You can read more about the different frame options in my post on Floating Frame Canvas vs Framed Print: Which Is Right for Your Coastal Wall Art?

What Kind of Coastal Print Works in a Bedroom?

I shoot real beaches, not stock imagery. Every print on my site is a place I've actually been to, usually multiple times until I got the shot right. That matters in a bedroom because the art needs to mean something. A generic beach photo is fine, but a print of your actual favourite beach is something else entirely.

Some of my most popular bedroom prints are aerial shots, which give you a perspective of the coastline that most photos simply don't show. The Point Addis Art Print I is my top selling print and I can see why. Shot from above on a still morning, it shows the full sweep of the bay in a way that stops people mid-sentence when they walk into a room. A few customers have told me they bought it because Point Addis is their favourite beach, and having it on the wall every day means they get to take that feeling home with them.

For something a bit different, the Rainbow Bay Art Print I is a strong seller too. It's got a warmth and energy to it that works really well in a bedroom, especially if you've got memories tied to the Gold Coast.

Take the Coast Home

A lot of the people who buy from me aren't just decorating a wall. They're hanging a place. A beach they love, a holiday they want to remember, somewhere that means something to them. That's what makes coastal bedroom art different from any other kind. It's not just about filling space. It's about looking up in the morning and feeling like you're somewhere good.

All my prints are made to order and printed here in Victoria on archival materials that won't fade or yellow over time. Free shipping anywhere in Australia, and every frame is FSC certified timber. Browse the full range at localbreaks.com.au and find the print that means something to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size wall art should I get for above a bed?

For a queen or king bed, aim for a large (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) print as a single statement piece above the bed head. A medium (42x59.4cm) can work for a smaller bed or in a pair. Going too small is the most common mistake, and it tends to make the art look like an afterthought rather than a feature.

Is canvas or framed print better for a bedroom?

A floating frame canvas is a great choice for bedrooms with lots of natural light because there's no glass, which means no reflections at any angle. A framed print or shadow box works well in rooms with softer or more controlled light. Both options are available in black, white or oak frames to suit different bedroom styles.

What type of coastal wall art works best in a bedroom?

Prints of beaches and coastlines that have personal meaning tend to work best in a bedroom, because you're looking at them every day. Australian coastal wall art from real locations, rather than generic stock imagery, gives the room a sense of place that generic decor simply doesn't. A large aerial coastal print above the bed makes a strong focal point without needing anything else around it.

Does beach wall art suit a bedroom or is it better for living areas?

Beach wall art works really well in bedrooms, and it's one of the most popular uses I see from my customers. The key is choosing a print that's large enough to hold its own in the room and a frame style that suits your lighting. Living areas get a lot of attention but the bedroom is where people often end up loving their art the most, because they spend real time with it every day.

Still not sure which print or size is right for you? Feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help.