How to Choose the Right Size Coastal Print for a Holiday Rental: A Practical Guide for Airbnb Hosts

I get asked this one a lot. Someone's fitting out a coastal Airbnb or holiday house, they've found a print they love, and then they freeze. What size? Will it look too small? Too big? Will it photograph well for the listing? I've helped a lot of hosts work through this, so here's what I've learned.

Getting the size right is honestly one of the most important decisions you'll make when it comes to airbnb wall art australia. The right print in the right spot can make a room feel finished, pull in five-star reviews, and give your listing photos that extra something that makes people click "Book now".

Start With the Wall, Not the Print

Before you even browse prints, measure your wall. Specifically, measure the space you want to fill. A good rule of thumb is that your artwork should take up roughly two thirds of the width of the furniture underneath it. So if your sofa is 180cm wide, you're looking for a print that sits around 120cm across. That points you to something in the L (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) range.

For a holiday rental, I'd almost always recommend going bigger than you think. Small prints on large walls look like an afterthought. Guests notice. And in listing photos, a properly scaled print reads as a deliberate design choice rather than something you grabbed last minute.

Check the size guide if you want to see the full breakdown with visual comparisons.

Room by Room: What Size Works Where

Living Room

This is where guests spend most of their time, so make it count. An L or XL print above a sofa or fireplace becomes the centrepiece of the room. I've had hosts tell me guests immediately comment on the print when they walk in, which is exactly what you want. If the living room has high ceilings or a long feature wall, the EPIC size (100x150cm, that's 1.5 metres wide) is genuinely impressive and photographs beautifully.

For a coastal living room, something like Point Addis Art Print I in an XL or EPIC works really well. The colours are bold and the composition fills the frame. It's my top-selling print for a reason.

Master Bedroom

Above the bed is classic. You want the print to be roughly the width of the bed head or a little narrower. For a queen bed, an M (42x59.4cm) or L (59.4x84.1cm) works well. For a king, an L or XL is usually the right call. Keep it simple and clean. One strong print above the bed reads better than a cluster of small ones.

Hallway

Hallways are tricky because the walls are narrow. An S (29.7x42cm) or M print in a portrait orientation fits well here. I've had customers put a print in their hallway and say it sets the tone for the whole property the moment guests walk in. That's smart decorating.

Kitchen or Dining Area

This space often gets forgotten. An M print here can make the room feel more considered without overwhelming the space. If the dining area opens onto the living room, you can go larger without it feeling crowded.

Location-Specific Prints: The Secret Weapon

Here's something I've noticed from talking to Airbnb hosts: when guests recognise the beach outside the window on the wall, it creates a real moment. It connects them to the place. It's not just decoration, it's part of the experience you're selling.

If your property is in Barwon Heads, hang a Barwon Heads Art Print I. If it's in Torquay, go with something from the Torquay range. If you're on the Gold Coast, Rainbow Bay Art Print I is a standout. Guests love it. They photograph it. And those photos end up on their Instagram, which is free marketing for your property.

For more detail on matching art to specific coastal locations, I've put together a full guide: What to Hang Where: A Room-by-Room Guide to Coastal Wall Art for a Holiday Rental on the Surf Coast or Bellarine.

Framing for a Holiday Rental

For most holiday rentals, I'd recommend the classic frame. It's solid FSC certified timber, comes in black, white or oak, includes archival glass, and has a 10-year warranty. It's my most popular option for good reason. It looks sharp in listing photos and holds up well in a rental environment.

If the space gets a lot of natural light, the floating frame canvas is worth considering instead. There's no glass, so zero reflections, which makes it much easier to photograph. The canvas itself is museum quality 400gsm Hahnemuhle Daguerre, so it looks every bit as good as a framed print.

All prints are made to order, printed in Victoria, and shipped free anywhere in Australia. You don't need to pick anything up.

If you're still weighing up your framing options, this post covers it well: Framed vs Canvas Prints for a Coastal Airbnb: Which Format Works Harder for Your Holiday Rental?

Bring the Coast Inside

The right print in the right size doesn't just fill a wall. It gives guests a reason to linger, to look, to feel like they're somewhere special. And that feeling is worth more than any piece of furniture you could put in that room. Prints start from $89, and compared to what you'd pay at a gallery or a homewares store, the value is genuinely hard to beat.

Browse the full collection at Local Breaks and if you're not sure which size or print is right for your property, reach out. I'm always happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size wall art should I use in a holiday rental living room?

For most living rooms, an L (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) print is the right call. Aim for artwork that fills roughly two thirds of the width of the wall or the furniture underneath it. Going too small is the most common mistake hosts make, and it shows in listing photos.

What size print works best above a bed in an Airbnb?

Above a queen bed, an M (42x59.4cm) or L (59.4x84.1cm) print works well. For a king bed, go L or XL. The print should feel proportional to the bed head and centred above it. A single strong print reads better than a group of smaller ones in a rental setting.

Should I get a framed print or a canvas print for my holiday rental?

Both work well, and the right choice depends on the room. The classic frame (solid timber, archival glass) is the most popular option and looks great in most spaces. If the room gets a lot of direct sunlight or you want zero reflections in your listing photos, the floating frame canvas is a strong alternative. There's no glass, so it handles bright conditions much better