Exterminate! Dalek Print Display Ideas for Small Spaces
By Pixel Empire - Where Pop Culture & Design Unite! | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
A practical, step-by-step guide to hanging the Exterminate! Dalek poster in a small room, with placement, scale, and lighting tips for a clean sci-fi gallery wall.
Quick answer
Hang the Exterminate! poster where it can be seen from the doorway, at eye level, and keep the surrounding wall quiet so the Dalek graphic does the talking. In a small room, one bold sci-fi print works better than a crowded gallery wall. Measure the wall, pick a size that leaves breathing room, and light it without glare.
Choose the wall before you choose the size
In a small room, the best wall for a Dalek print is usually the one you face when you walk in or sit down, not the one above a busy desk or radiator. A narrow wall between a door and a corner can hold a single vertical print without crowding. If the room has a low ceiling, keep the top edge of the frame below the ceiling line so the space still feels open.
Match print size to the furniture below it
A common mistake is hanging a large print over a small piece of furniture, which makes the art look like it is floating. As a rule of thumb, the artwork should span roughly half to two-thirds of the width of the sofa, desk, or bed it sits above. The Exterminate! poster comes in multiple sizes, so you can pick a smaller format for a tight corner or a larger one for a main wall. If you are unsure, tape paper templates to the wall first and live with them for a day.
Set the height and keep it consistent
Museum standard is center the art at about 57 inches from the floor, which is roughly eye level for most adults. In a small room, you can go slightly higher if furniture blocks the lower part of the wall, but avoid hanging near the ceiling. If you add more than one print later, align the centers so the group reads as one unit rather than scattered pieces.
Light the print without washing it out
A Dalek print with a retro propaganda look has strong contrast, so harsh direct light can create glare and hide the graphic. A small wall-mounted picture light above the frame, or a floor lamp angled toward the wall, gives even light without hotspots. Avoid placing the print opposite a window that gets direct sun, since fading is a real risk over time. If you cannot control the light, choose a spot that stays in soft shade.
Build a small gallery wall with one anchor piece
If you want more than one print, treat the Exterminate! poster as the anchor and add pieces that share a palette or theme rather than competing with it. Keep spacing between frames to about 2 to 3 inches so the group feels intentional. In a small room, a tight cluster of three or four prints on one wall looks better than spreading them across every surface. You can mix in a nature-inspired print like The Grass Flower Within for contrast, but keep the total number low.
Step-by-step hanging plan
- 1. Measure the wall and furniture: Use a tape measure to note the width of the wall and the width of the furniture below it. Write down the available height from the furniture top to the ceiling. Checkpoint: you should have at least 6 inches of clear wall above the furniture for a balanced look.
- 2. Pick the print size: Choose a size that spans about half to two-thirds of the furniture width. For a narrow wall, go smaller; for a main wall, go larger. Mistake to avoid: ordering a large size for a small wall because it looks impressive online.
- 3. Mark the center height: Measure 57 inches from the floor and make a light pencil mark. This is the center point for the print. Checkpoint: stand back and confirm the mark feels right at your eye level.
- 4. Test with a paper template: Cut paper to the exact print size and tape it to the wall. Leave it up for a day to see how it feels in different light. Mistake to avoid: skipping the template and drilling holes you later regret.
- 5. Hang and level: Install the hook or nail at the marked point, hang the print, and use a level to check it is straight. Checkpoint: the print should sit flat against the wall without tilting.
- 6. Add light and adjust: Turn on a picture light or floor lamp and check for glare. Shift the light angle until the Dalek graphic is evenly lit. Next step: if the print looks too small or too large, you can swap sizes without changing the hook position.
Product facts for this display
- Exterminate!: The Exterminate! poster by StudioM6 features a Dalek-themed graphic with a vintage poster aesthetic and is available in multiple sizes. Multiple sizes let you fit a small wall without custom framing, and the retro style reads clearly from across a room.