Updated September 16, 2026 — by César, editor at AestheticPoster
In an entryway or hallway, a poster must be readable while walking. The rule follows the width of the passage: under 1 m, a series of M (30×42 cm) aligned; in an open entryway or hall, a single L (42×60 cm) or XL (60×84 cm). Center at 1.52 m from the ground, a single clean line, a subject readable at a glance.
Key takeaways
- The format depends on the width of the passage, not the wall: less than 1 m → M in series (3 to 5), entryway or hall → L or XL as a single piece.
- Center of the poster (or line) at 1.52 m from the ground, with no exceptions specific to hallways, 6 to 8 cm between frames.
- Matte paper, no reflections near a glass door. Adhesive strips provided, or thin frame (+€50 for M, +€70 for L, +€100 for XL).
What format depending on passage width?
An apartment hallway is 80 to 100 cm wide. At shoulder height, an L reduces the perception of width; an XL blocks the perspective. The M (30×42 cm, ≈ A3) is the only comfortable format under 1 m, and it makes sense in series: 3 to 5 posters aligned rhythm a long wall. Beyond 120 cm, or in an open entryway on a hall, the logic reverses: a single piece in L (42×60 cm, ≈ A2), or in XL (60×84 cm, ≈ A1) if the wall exceeds 2 m. The format guide details the calculation based on viewing distance.
| Passage width | Format | Layout | Space between frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 80 cm (very narrow) | M 30×42 cm | 1 poster alone or vertical pair | 8 cm |
| 80-120 cm (standard hallway) | M 30×42 cm | Horizontal line, 3 to 5 posters | 6 cm |
| More than 120 cm / wide entryway | L 42×60 cm | Line of 3, or 2×3 grid | 6-8 cm |
| Open hall, high ceiling | XL 60×84 cm | Single piece, centered | — |
Which images are readable while passing?
A face or dense illustration demands a pause that the hallway doesn't offer. Three families hold fast reading, even from the side:
- Cities and travel: an urban silhouette is recognized in a fraction of a second. Collections City Posters and Vintage Travel Posters.
- Black and white: strong contrast carries far, even in peripheral vision. Collection Black and White Posters and guide black and white posters.
- Minimalist patterns: simple shape or flat color, instantly readable, which doesn't tire. Collection Minimalist Posters.
In series, keep a thread: same family, same palette or same frame.
Height, alignment and lighting
Height: the center of the poster, or the horizontal axis of the line, is placed at 1.52 m from the ground, as on any other wall (exceptions in the hanging height guide). Don't raise the poster because the hallway is narrow: viewed from below, it accentuates the tunnel effect.
Alignment: two layouts, detailed in the frame wall guide. The horizontal line (3 to 5 M, 6 cm spacing, top edges aligned) for an average hallway; the vertical pair (2 M stacked, 8 cm spacing) between two doors. A dense grid like a living room crushes a passage, and irregular spacing is noticed before the subject.
Lighting: a glass door or nearby window sends direct light at certain hours. The 250 g/m² matte paper with PVC coating doesn't reflect that glare (there is no glossy version). Still avoid a very detailed image facing the door: backlit, it becomes a gray rectangle.
Frame or adhesive strips?
Each poster arrives with adhesive strips: installation without tools or holes, removal without marks on a smooth wall. It's the logical choice for a series of M in rental or a line you renew.
The optional frame (black, white, light wood, dark wood) costs +€50 for M, +€70 for L and +€100 for XL. In a narrow hallway, stick to a thin profile: bags and strollers rub against a wide frame, and a mat reduces visible surface (reserved for passages over 1 m). Also see IKEA frames compatible and the mounting guide.
FAQ
Can you mix formats in a hallway?
Yes, by aligning the centers on the same horizontal at 1.52 m and sticking to two formats, for example an L flanked by two M. Three formats on a short line look messy.
Should you light posters in a hallway?
Not essential, but a hallway without windows benefits from a sconce aimed at the wall. Matte paper allows it without glare; avoid a forward-facing spot, which flattens the contrasts of a black and white image.
A poster in landscape or portrait in a hallway?
Portrait follows the vertical of doors and takes up less wall: it's the default choice in series. Landscape suits a single piece at the end of the hallway or above an entryway piece of furniture, where the eye stops.
To compose your entryway line, start with the collections City Posters, Black and White Posters and Minimalist Posters; to extend into the living room, see living room wall decor ideas.
César, editor at AestheticPoster — in my 85 cm hallway, three M in black and white at 6 cm spacing replaced an L that visually narrowed the passage.
