Wall art for a staircase or double-height wall

Staircase walls and double-height walls are the hardest walls in a home to fill. They're seen from below, from the side and while moving, and they're far bigger than anything you'd hang in a room. Two approaches work.

One large piece, or a set that reads as one

A single large piece, or a set of panels hung close together, holds a tall wall far better than many small frames, which tend to look scattered at that scale. Sets of panels are also easier to carry up a staircase than one big board.

Following the stairs

• On a staircase wall, hang pieces so they step up with the stairs, keeping the same height above each step.
• Keep the centre of each piece around eye level for someone standing on the stairs below it, roughly 145 to 150 cm above the step.
• A tall, narrow piece suits the wall beside a landing; a long horizontal one suits the wall above a straight run.

Double-height walls

• Size the piece for the distance it's seen from: on a wall seen across a double-height living room, go bigger than feels natural.
• Hang it so its centre sits a little above normal eye level, so it reads from the sofa and from the floor above.
• Tape the outline on the wall, or use “See it on your wall” on a product page, before you decide.

Why relief suits these walls

Deep relief throws long shadows and still reads when seen from an angle or from below, which is exactly how stair and double-height walls are seen. Light from a window or a wall light to one side brings it out; a downlight straight above flattens it less than a light straight in front.

When to commission

If the collection's largest pieces aren't enough for the wall, a commission is designed for it, starting with a photo and its measurements, then a sample panel you approve. Our largest commission so far is 6 ft × 3 ft. Before you order a large piece, check the way in: doors, the lift and the turn of the stairs.

• Large wall art
• Relief wall art on panels
• How commissions work