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Personalized wall art gifts

Updated

Good personalized wall art uses a detail that belongs to one person or couple, and still looks good in their home without an explanation: a star map of the night they met, a street map of their hometown, or a painting of their house.

The test is simple. It should still suit their walls in five years, and it should mean something when a guest asks about it. Each idea says what details you need and who it suits.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of a real nightA couple's bedroom wallFrom $49 per print
A street map of a place that mattersSomeone proud of their hometown$25–$75
A painting of their homeNew homeowners$75–$150
Framed song lyrics or sheet musicA couple with a song$25–$75
A family name print with a dateNewlyweds or a new family$25–$75
A custom pet portraitA devoted pet owner$75–$150
A framed handwritten noteSomeone who keeps old letters$25–$75
A sound wave printSomeone who misses a voice$25–$75
One great photo, printed largeA family with a favorite photo$75–$150
A coordinates printA minimalist home$25–$75
A child's drawing, framed properlyGrandparents and proud parentsUnder $25

  1. A star map of a real night

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above any place, at any date and time from 1900 to 2100. It is a giclée print on 200gsm enhanced matte art paper with archival pigment inks, in four sizes, from 12 × 16 in to 18 × 24 in, framed in black, white or natural, or as a print only. For a couple, choose the night they met or married.

    What a cute and funky way to cherish special moments (and a great gift for people)! I was very impressed with the quality of the print and will be recommending Star Crossed Skies to my friends.
    Emily, Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: A wedding star map

  2. A street map of a place that matters

    A printed map of a town, a neighborhood or a campus, with one spot marked. Choose a scale that shows the street names. It pairs well with a star map of the same place.

  3. A painting of their home

    An artist draws or paints the house or apartment building from a photo. Choose an artist whose style suits the home. Allow time for drafts and changes.

  4. Framed song lyrics or sheet music

    The words or the sheet music of their song, printed with the date they first heard it together. Check the exact version they mean. It suits a couple with a song they call theirs.

  5. A family name print with a date

    A print with a family name and the year the couple married or the family began, set in simple type. Check the spelling and the year with a relative. Keep the design plain so it suits any room.

  6. A custom pet portrait

    An illustrator draws or paints a pet from your photos. Send several clear photos taken in good light. It suits a devoted pet owner and also works as a memorial.

  7. A framed handwritten note

    Frame a short note, a recipe or a signature in the handwriting of someone they love. Scan the original and frame a print, so the original stays safe. It suits someone who keeps old letters.

  8. A sound wave print

    A print of the sound wave of a voice message, a vow or a song. Some versions link to the recording with a code. Test the code before you give it.

  9. One great photo, printed large

    Choose one excellent photo, print it large on good paper, and frame it. Check the resolution first, because a phone photo may not print sharply at poster size. It suits a family with one photo everyone loves.

  10. A coordinates print

    A plain print with the latitude and longitude of a place that matters, and a name or date underneath. Check the coordinates on a map before you order. It suits a minimal home.

  11. A child's drawing, framed properly

    Frame a drawing by a child or a grandchild with a mat and good glass. Write the child's name and age on the back. It costs very little if you already have a frame.

How do you choose personalized wall art as a gift?

Look at their walls before you choose. Note the colors, the frames and how much space there is. A print that matches what they already hang is more likely to go up.

If you do not know their style, give a print only and let them frame it, or choose a plain design in a neutral frame.

What size should personalized wall art be?

Above a bed or a sofa, choose a larger size such as 18 × 24 in. For a hallway, a desk or a shelf, 12 × 16 in fits better.

A set of prints in the same size, such as the nights each child was born, hangs well in a row.

What details do you need before you order?

Exact spellings, dates and places. Personalized prints are made to order, so a mistake is printed for good. Check with a close friend or a relative.

For a star map, you need the place, the date and roughly the time. The nearest hour is fine if nobody knows the minute.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

Create your map