For a housewarming, the best gift is safe, widely usable art: a botanical print, a neutral abstract piece or a landscape in calm colours. A format of 60 by 40 centimetres is the safest choice, because it fits in virtually any room and can hang in several places around the home. Wall art is one of the most appreciated housewarming gifts: it's personal, lasting and quite literally helps turn a house into a home. This guide tells you what works, what to avoid and how to choose the right size.
Why art makes a strong housewarming gift
Anyone who has just moved has bare walls. A new house only feels finished once something hangs on the wall — and wall decoration in particular is often postponed for months after a move. An art gift solves that concrete problem and remains visible for years, unlike flowers or a bottle of wine. Moreover, the piece reminds the recipient of the giver and of the moment of moving in, time and again.
The condition, however, is that the gift doesn't get in the way of the recipient's taste. That's why one main rule applies to art as a gift: choose neutral, and leave the bold choices to the recipient.
The three safest choices
Three categories of wall art fit virtually every interior and virtually every taste:
- Botanical art. Leaves, branches, grasses and flowers in understated colours suit every interior style, from Scandinavian to bohemian. Botanical prints are calming, timeless and rarely controversial.
- Neutral abstract work. Abstract art in earth tones, beige, grey or soft blue carries no pronounced subject and therefore clashes with nothing. It works in modern and classic interiors alike.
- Landscapes. A seascape, dune landscape, forest or mountain scene in muted colours brings calm and depth. Dutch landscapes are a meaningful choice for a new home.
Within these categories, a canvas print is the most commonly given material: it looks warm, is light in weight and therefore easy to hang, even with a single nail in a rental home.
What to avoid
A number of categories are risky as gifts, however beautiful you find them yourself:
- Portraits and faces. A face on the wall is a distinctly personal choice; the chance that the recipient's taste differs is high.
- Bold or provocative art. Nudes, intense colour combinations, political imagery or dark themes belong to the buyer's personal taste, not in a gift.
- Text prints with quotes. Slogans are highly taste-dependent and date quickly.
- Very large formats. A piece of 90 by 60 centimetres or larger claims an entire wall; that's a decision the recipient wants to make themselves.
- Religious or spiritual symbolism, unless you're certain of the recipient's beliefs.
Choosing the right size
The size determines how flexible the gift is. The smaller and more neutral, the more places in the home will suit it.
| Size | Suitability as a gift | Where does it hang? |
|---|---|---|
| 60 x 40 cm | Safest choice | Hallway, bedroom, toilet, office, above a sideboard |
| 70 x 50 cm | Good, slightly more present | Living room, dining room, above a two-seater sofa |
| 90 x 60 cm | Only if taste and space are known | Large living room wall, above a three-seater sofa |
The 60 by 40 centimetre format is the golden mean: large enough to make an impression, small enough to find a place anywhere. If you're unsure about the recipient's space, always choose this size.
Frame and material: keep it neutral
The neutrality rule also applies to frame and material. A black or white frame suits virtually any interior; natural wood is a safe third option for light and natural interiors. Dark wenge is beautiful but style-specific, and therefore less universal as a gift. As for material, canvas is the safest choice thanks to its warm, classic look. Aluminium and acrylic glass are more modern and work best when you know the recipient's home has a sleek style.
The gift card as an alternative
If you don't know the recipient's taste well enough, a gift card for wall art is a fully fledged alternative. The recipient then chooses the piece, the size and the frame that suit the new home. With art, a gift card is not an impersonal way out: the gift remains a lasting artwork on the wall — the choice simply lies where it belongs, with the person who will live with it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good art gift if I don't know the recipient's taste?
Choose a botanical print or an abstract piece in earth tones on canvas, in the 60 by 40 centimetre format with a black or white frame. This combination fits more than nine out of ten interiors. Still in doubt? Give a gift card so the recipient chooses for themselves.
Isn't giving art too personal for a housewarming?
No, as long as you choose neutral. Botanical motifs, landscapes and understated abstracts are deliberately low on taste risk and function as a furnishing aid rather than a judgement of taste. It only becomes risky with portraits, quotes and outspoken colours — and those are the categories you avoid as a giver.
What size wall art do I give at a housewarming?
The 60 by 40 centimetre format is the standard choice for a gift: it fits in any room, is light enough to hang easily and doesn't claim an entire wall. Larger formats such as 90 by 60 centimetres should only be given when you know the recipient's home and taste well.
