The housewarming poster, the gift that turns a house into a home
What gift for a housewarming party? Choose a poster based on the city, the passion or the colors of the new home.
Key points
- 353 posters in the French cities posters collection, the 20 from this article in the table below.
- From 17,80 € in A4, up to 69,37 € in A0, 5 sizes for each poster.
- Printed in Europe on demand, free delivery from 59 €.
The table
The 20 posters at a glance
A housewarming poster is the gift that transforms a home. More lasting than a bouquet, more personal than a candle, more visible than a book. A poster chosen with care and nicely framed becomes the decor piece the hosts will keep for years.
The golden rule: choose a subject that speaks to the recipients’ city, region or passion. A Marseille poster for a housewarming in Provence, a Belle Époque poster for a Haussmann-style apartment, a botanical plate for plant lovers. The ideal size is A3 or A2, already framed if possible.
Our catalog covers every region and mood. See our posters or our French cities posters. You can prepare gift wrapping suited to the size you choose.
Why a poster makes a better housewarming gift than a candle
The housewarming party is that moment when you discover the empty living room of friends you’ve known for 10 years, the sofa still in its plastic, the microwave sitting on the floor. It’s the perfect time to give something that will fill a wall, that will turn off-white drywall into a real home. A candle gets burned, a throw blanket ends up on the sofa. A poster will stay facing the entrance for 5, 10, 20 years.
The most important rule for this particular gift: give a subject that speaks to the room they’ve just moved into, not one that you like yourself. Here is how to get it right depending on the newcomers’ profile, their region, their budget and the wall they have to dress.
Choosing a poster based on the first room they’re decorating
The reflex: discreetly ask (a friend or relative, not the people concerned) which wall is going to be a problem for them. The entryway, 9 times out of 10. The living room, next. The kitchen, almost always bare at first. An entryway poster should catch the eye as soon as the door opens. A kitchen poster should make you hungry without shouting. A living room poster should be able to sit behind a sofa without competing with the TV.
For the kitchen, we recommend our Provence collection and our Kitchen posters collection. The Provence Lemon and Lavender Poster in A2 works particularly well above the countertop.
Which size to choose for a housewarming gift
The size depends on the wall and the budget. A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) at €19.95 for a kitchen or a narrow hallway. A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) at €29.95 for a living room or entryway wall. A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) at €39.95 for a large bare wall. Avoid the A4 trap: too small for a gift, it feels like a gadget.
Organizing a group housewarming gift
When 5 to 10 friends pitch in together, the simplest approach is to choose several coordinated posters together, all shipped in a single package. An entire wall taking shape, rather than a lone poster lost on a big empty stretch of wall.
To keep the collection from dragging on, appoint a single coordinator who gathers the contributions (online pot or a simple bank transfer), suggests 2 or 3 subjects before deciding, and places the order with a comfortable margin before the housewarming date.
Framed or unframed: the golden rule
Leave it unframed. The frame is a personal decision, which has to match their other frames and the style of their baseboards. A poster in its kraft tube is the promise of a project they’ll finish themselves. It also spares them the misstep of a frame that clashes with their decor. Add a discount voucher for the neighborhood framer, and you have a complete gift.
The special case of a housewarming in a new region
If the newcomers have just settled in Provence, Lyon, Marseille or Brittany, give them the subject of their new city. It gives them a souvenir poster that anchors their move. See our Marseille guide and Lyon guide. Emotional effect guaranteed, especially if you were the friend who pushed them to dare to make the move.
Personalizing the housewarming gift beyond the poster itself
A few words scribbled by hand on a card turn the gift into a keepsake: “We can totally picture it in your new entryway, above the console you found secondhand.” The note personalizes the object and turns the kraft tube into a letter. That’s what sets a chosen gift apart from one bought the night before.
Pitfalls of a poster as a housewarming gift
A subject that clashes with the decor: a Scandinavian poster at the home of Baroque lovers jars. The wrong size: an A1 in an 18 m² studio overwhelms the room. A frame given without having seen their decor: 9 times out of 10, you’ll miss the mark.
For a housewarming, take a look at: the lavender, lemon tree and Provençal house with blue shutters poster, the lavender, cedar and Provençal house poster, or the game of pétanque at the Vallon des Auffes in Marseille. Also discover our Provence collection.
For other gift occasions, see our guides for weddings, Mother’s Day, birthdays, Father’s Day and newborns.
Also read in the journal: wedding gift guide, gift for a newborn, entryway decor.
The poster for this part
Lavender, lemon tree and Provençal house with blue shutters poster
from 19,79 €
Build this wall
3 posters from this article, at true scale
All 3 posters: 99,02 €
Frequently asked questions
You often ask us
What budget should I plan for a housewarming poster gift?
Check the current price of the chosen size on the poster’s page and add the cost of a frame if you’d like to give one. For a group gift, you can put together a duo by choosing each poster separately. A subject tied to the recipients’ tastes makes the gift personal, whatever the budget.
Should I give the poster framed or not?
Unframed in the vast majority of cases. Choosing a frame is personal, and it has to match their home. Instead, include a discount voucher for a neighborhood framer, or a card suggesting a specific frame.
Which size should I choose for a housewarming?
A3 for the kitchen or a hallway, A2 for the living room, A1 for a large entryway wall. Avoid A4, which feels like a gadget. For a studio, stick with A3 or A2.
Which poster subject should I choose for friends settling into a new region?
A view of their new city, a landscape they love or a subject tied to their hobbies can accompany the move. Also look at the colors of their interior and the space available before choosing the size.
How far in advance of the housewarming should I order?
Check delivery times and destinations in the shop’s shipping terms, then allow a buffer before the holiday. If you have the print framed separately, ask the framer about their turnaround time too.
Can you give a poster together with a plant or a decor item?
Yes. A poster paired with a potted plant works very well: the plant furnishes the space right away, and the poster takes its place on the wall a few weeks later. Combining the 2 in a single gift creates a much-loved “moving-in pack” effect.
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