A city map as a wall piece
A city map is an unusual decorative object: abstract from across the room, figurative up close. That is what makes it easy to live with in a living room, where a photograph imposes its subject permanently.
Size decides the spot
A framed A3 takes about 40 x 50 cm of wall. That is right above a console or in a hallway; above a three-seat sofa you need either two posters or a larger size.
Contrast before color
It is the relationship between background and linework that decides legibility at distance, far more than the hue. A high-contrast theme reads from across the room; a soft one needs hanging closer to eye level.
Framing tells the story
A whole city gives a recognizable shape, often drawn by a river or a coastline. A neighborhood zoom gives a more graphic street grid, but is less identifiable.
Series or single piece
Three cities in one theme form a coherent set. Three cities in three themes form a mess: if you go for a series, lock the theme first.
Where to hang it
The poster's center sits at eye level, roughly 145 to 150 cm from the floor in a living space. Above furniture, leave 20 to 30 cm between the top of the piece and the bottom of the frame: closer looks cramped, further and the poster floats.
Hallways are a good spot for a map: you pass close by, which allows a detailed frame you would not use in a living room.
Paper and frame
Heavy matte paper, 200 to 250 gsm, works better than gloss: a map is flat color and fine lines, and gloss adds reflections that get in the way of reading streets.
A 4 to 5 cm mat around the poster changes the result noticeably: it separates the map from the wall and makes the whole read larger without changing the printed size.
Frequently asked questions
What size for a large wall?
The delivered file is A3 at 300 DPI. The SVG included is vector: it can be enlarged beyond A3 without loss, at a printer that accepts the format.
Can the map colors be changed?
All 12 themes are available to everyone. Per-color control of background, water, roads, and parks is part of the Premium plan.