A guy's guide to buying art she'll love
Buying art for someone else feels risky. It doesn't have to be. Art makes a great gift for her because it's personal without being something she has to wear, and with a few rules you'll get it right.
Here's what we'd tell any guy standing in front of a wall of prints with no idea where to start.
By Marie, Kitsune Design Studio
Rule one: look at her walls first
Before you choose anything, notice what she already has. Soft colours and florals? She'll love the flower-market cities and cherry blossom. Bold, fun and a little extra? Disco balls. Lots of plants and old furniture? William Morris–style botanicals.
Match the colours of the room it will go in, and you can't go far wrong.
Quick picks by personality
The traveler gets her favourite city. The foodie gets oysters, lemons or champagne. The dog mum gets her breed. The one who's always first on the dance floor gets a mirror ball. The romantic gets a love note in a matchbox.
Rule two: when in doubt, 12 × 16 in
A 12 × 16 in print fits almost any wall: beside a bed, above a desk, in a hallway. It's big enough to feel like a real gift and small enough that she can find a place for it. Go bigger only if you know exactly where it will hang.
Rule three: give it framed
A rolled poster is homework; a framed print is a present. Choose a framed print in black, white or oak (oak is the safest bet), add a white mat for a gallery look, and it arrives ready to hang.
Rule four: make it about you two
The best version of this gift is a place from your story: where you met, your first trip, the city you moved to together. Find it in the travel collection, or have it painted.
Out of time?
Buy the download, print it at an office store or photo lab the same day, and pick up a frame on the way home. Nobody needs to know you bought it this morning.
Questions
- What kind of art should I buy for my girlfriend?
- Look at the colours and style already in her home, then choose by personality: her favourite city, her dog, something for her kitchen, or a playful disco-ball piece. A framed 12 × 16 in print is the safest size.
- Is art a good gift for her?
- Yes, when it's personal. Art of a place from your story, or something that matches her style, shows you pay attention, and it stays on the wall for years.
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