Triptych Gallery Wall with IKEA Frames: Sizes by Room

A triptych gallery wall is simply three pieces hung together as one group — the easiest gallery wall to start with, and one of the most timeless.

The one-line size rule: above a sofa or on a dining-room wall, buy three same-size 50 × 70 cm (≈ 20 × 28 in) frames. Three side by side with spacing come to about 174 cm wide — enough to hold a main wall. Only in small spots — above a desk, on a narrow wall — do you drop to a small 30 × 40 cm (≈ 12 × 16 in) trio.

This guide answers three things: where to hang it, what size to buy, and which frames to get — all currently in stock at IKEA.

Where to hang a triptych — and what size

Rule of thumb first: size follows the wall, not the frame. The usual mistake is defaulting to a 30 × 40 frame that “looks big enough,” hanging it above a sofa, and leaving a wall of empty space. Match the size to the spot below.

Rooms that work

Above a sofa — the living-room feature wall, and the most common home for a triptych. Buy three same-size 50 × 70 cm frames: each outer frame is about 54 cm wide, so three side by side with ~6 cm gaps come to roughly 174 cm — landing at two-thirds to three-quarters of a two- or three-seater sofa’s width. That’s the safe zone.

Dining-room wall — same idea, three 50 × 70. You read a dining wall from farther away, so a wide triptych holds together as one piece.

Entryway / hallway — a tall, narrow wall. Use 50 × 70 (or 70 × 50 in landscape); you’re not limited to three — add more as the hallway runs longer, so the total width stays flexible while the wall still gets presence.

Above a desk or piano — a small spot viewed up close. Three 30 × 40 cm is just right, about 106–110 cm wide as a group; go bigger and it feels cramped.

Rooms to size up

Above a bed — beds are usually much narrower than the wall behind them, and a headboard is often only 1.5–1.8 m wide. A 40 × 50 trio (about 140 cm) reads as small from across the room. Over a bed, two 50 × 70 pieces usually look better — or an off-standard mix such as 50 × 70 + 60 × 90, where going bigger simply looks better.

One general ratio: keep the group’s width at about two-thirds to three-quarters of the furniture below (or a touch narrower) — more natural than matching the furniture exactly. And keep it big enough to read from across the room; too small looks stingy on a large wall.

Buyable IKEA triptych sets

The buying rule in one line: three same-size frames are the easiest, the best-looking, and the easiest to plan. Every set below uses an IKEA series that’s currently in stock (RIBBA is discontinued — don’t go looking for it). Prices are anchored to IKEA AU; re-check the current product page before you buy.

Top pick · sofa / dining — KNOPPÄNG 50 × 70 cm × 3. Clean lines, enough coverage; the default for a main wall.

Mid-size · bedhead / medium wall — KNOPPÄNG or RÖDALM 40 × 50 cm × 3. One notch down from 50 × 70, good for a slightly narrower wall.

Small spot · desk / small wall — RÖDALM 30 × 40 cm × 3. The cheapest starter, and it fits A4 (next section).

Want some variety without changing sizes? Keep all three frames the same and let the content create the rhythm — photos on the sides, a piece of type or line art in the middle.

A few things to get right on the wall

Height — put the group’s visual centre at 57 inches (150 cm). When all three are the same height, the middle frame’s centre is the group’s centre, so you place it once. Above a sofa, also keep the bottom of the group about 15–25 cm above the sofa back — that beats sticking rigidly to 57 inches.

Spacing — leave 5–7 cm (2–3 inches) between frames, the same on both gaps.

Alignment — the payoff of a same-size triptych is order: line up the top edges and the centre line, and tape a paper template to the wall before you drill.

Fitting A4 in a 30 × 40 (only matters at the small sizes) — with the mount kept in, a RÖDALM 30 × 40 cm has a Picture with mount of 21 × 30 cm, which fits A4 (21 × 29.7 cm); take the mount out and the frame is meant for a 30 × 40 cm print. For the full frame-size breakdown, see our standard picture frame sizes guide.

Try it on your wall first with HangPlanner

The easiest thing to get wrong before buying is size: 50 × 70 feels big in your head but just right on the wall; 30 × 40 feels like enough until it’s up and swimming in empty space.

In HangPlanner, upload a photo of your wall, scale it with your sofa, a door frame or a desk width, then drag a 50 × 70 and a 40 × 50 triptych onto it and compare — which group width lands at two-thirds to three-quarters of the furniture. Ruling out one wrong size in 60 seconds saves you a return and a few extra holes in the wall.

FAQ

Prices and availability were checked against the IKEA AU pages at time of writing; they vary by country, colour and promotion. Before publishing, re-check current prices for KNOPPÄNG 50 × 70 / 40 × 50 and RÖDALM 30 × 40, and convert AUD references to a single USD price (decision #35). IKEA field names follow the official Measurements labels: Frame width / height, Frame depth, Mount opening, Picture with mount, Picture without mount.

Last reviewed: 2026-07