Prints as gifts

A print is a great present when it means something specific and a poor one when it is just decoration you liked. The difference is whether the recipient would have chosen it.

The safest versions are a lyric from a song they love, a joke only they will get, or a milestone worth marking.

When a print works

• New home - the walls are empty and buying art is bottom of the list.
• A first flat or student room, where a print is the whole decorating budget.
• Anniversaries and milestones, marked with a date or a lyric.
• Someone whose taste you actually know, rather than someone you are guessing at.

When to buy something else

• You have never seen inside their home.
• They have strong, specific taste and you are not confident about it.
• They are about to move, downsize or are already short of wall space.
• You would be buying it because you like it. That is a present for you.

Frame it or not

• Unframed is cheaper, posts flat and lets them choose - the safer default.
• Framed feels finished and can be hung the same day, but the frame has to suit their room.
• If you frame it, black or oak is the least risky.
• A frame bought separately alongside an unframed print splits the difference.

Wrapping and posting

• Keep the backing board in - it is what stops corners bending.
• Roll larger prints in a tube rather than folding, ever.
• Wrap flat prints in tissue then paper, not bubble wrap, which marks the surface.
• Send a card separately or in the same parcel so the gift has a message with it.

Shop posters and prints

How to write it so it lands

• Specific beats tasteful - a lyric they love beats art you love.
• Unframed is usually the kinder gift.
• Never fold a print. Roll it or send it flat with backing board.

Where to shop next

• How to hang prints without damage
• Gallery wall ideas
• Print sizes explained
• Postcards to send instead of a text
• Shop posters and prints
• Shop postcards
• Posters guide
• Postcards guide
• Funny wall art
• Kitchen wall art
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

Is an art print a good gift?

Yes, when it is specific to the person - a lyric they love, a joke they will get, or a milestone worth marking. It is a poor gift when it is general decoration you happen to like.

Should I frame a print before giving it?

Unframed is the safer choice: cheaper, easier to post, and it lets them match the frame to their room. Frame it only if you know their taste, and stick to black or oak.

What print suits a new home gift?

Something for the kitchen or hallway, which are the rooms people decorate last. A4 is the practical size, and unframed means it fits whatever frames they end up buying.