How to choose a gift picture: six questions for birthdays, new homes and Christmas

A picture is one of the most personal gifts there is: the person receiving it will see it every day. So it helps to think a few things through before choosing. We have gathered them into six questions.

1. Who is it for?

For someone with a calm, bare wall, a single symbol works well; for someone in a busy, colourful home, a set of small pieces side by side. Try to remember which colours dominate their room; the colours of the blocks should talk to it.

2. What should it mean?

Meaning is what turns a thing into a gift. The nazar goes to a new home or a new job as a wish for protection. The tulip speaks of spring and Anatolia, and the Galata Tower or the Maiden’s Tower of Istanbul, a strong choice for someone who lives far from the city. A Van cat simply makes people smile.

3. Which size?

Small pieces (about 24–33 cm) can lean on a table, a console or a shelf; nobody has to make room on a wall. Large pieces become the focus of a room. If you are unsure, start small; a small picture finds a place on any wall. For measurements, see our size guide.

4. What frame?

The natural oak frame is included; black and white frames are +₺500, and going unframed is −₺300. If you don’t know, choose natural oak; it suits most rooms. The Christmas collection also has a red frame.

5. Is there enough time?

Every piece is made to order and delivered in 10 days. If there is a date, such as a birthday or Christmas, order before it. When your piece is finished we send you photos and a video of it; if the gift is a surprise, simply don’t tell the person.

6. Something ready, or something to make?

Sometimes the nicest gift is one you make together. Make-it-yourself kits send small, low-block pieces in a box; tick the “gift wrap” option and the box arrives wrapped in paper, without a price tag.

If you want something more personal still, we can make a custom picture from a photograph: a pet, a face, a view of a city.