Every year, it's the same story. We put it off, tell ourselves we have time, and on December 20th we find ourselves scrolling through scented candle sets wondering if that's really what it means to give someone you love a gift.
The problem with an original Christmas gift isn't a lack of choice. It's that pretty much everything looks the same. The same sets, the same gadgets, the same gift cards that end up expiring in a drawer. A poster, on the other hand, doesn't end up in a drawer: it ends up on a wall, and stays there for years.
Here's how to choose the right one, depending on who you're giving it to.
Why give a poster for Christmas (and not another candle)
A Christmas decor gift has three advantages that few other gifts combine:
- It lasts. A candle burns, chocolate gets eaten, a poster stays hung up for years. It's a gift you see every morning.
- It can be truly personalized. Not in the sense of "putting a name on it," but in the sense that the choice of illustration says a lot about what you know about the person.
- It doesn't take up space. Unlike a bulky decor item you don't know where to put, a poster always finds a wall.
At Les Petites Fesses, every illustration is hand-drawn by Marie Ollier and printed in France on 350 g/m² art paper. No mass-generated visuals, no poster that curls up after three weeks. If you want to compare with what's out there, our comparison of the best online poster shops reviews the market.
Original Christmas gift ideas, depending on the person
The real question is never "which poster is the prettiest". It's "what will this person hang up at home without forcing themselves to". So we start with the person.
For the one who has a sense of humor (and owns it)
This is the natural playground of the home. Our humor posters don't play the card of the motivational quote seen a thousand times: they play on self-deprecation, puns, and a slightly insolent wink.
Two sure bets: the poster of the African proverb "who eats a coconut", which systematically triggers a reaction from guests, and The moods of the little butts, a classic of the house.
Gift tip: humor is the only genre where size really matters. A joke in a discreet A4 format can miss the mark. In 50×70 cm above the sofa, it becomes a conversation piece.
For a couple
A Christmas gift for a couple is a tricky exercise: you have to find something that speaks to both, without favoring one over the other. A poster works well because it hangs in a common space.
Our bestseller in this area is the Kiss Kiss Kiss on the Butts poster, tender and funny at the same time (we have actually dedicated a complete guide to it). To go further, the entire collection of love posters explores the genre and we have written an article dedicated to original gift ideas for a couple if you want to dig deeper.
For someone who has just moved in
Christmas often falls right after a move, and there are always empty walls. It's the most useful gift on the list: the person objectively needs it, but won't buy it for themselves right away.
We detailed all this in our guide to the original housewarming gift, which applies almost word for word to Christmas. If you don't know their decor yet, play it safe with a minimalist poster or a black and white poster: it fits in everywhere.
For parents (or in-laws)
The gift that works: something that refers to a place that matters. A region of origin, a vacation home, a place where the whole family gathers every summer.
Our city and region posters cover this need the Arcachon Bay, the Pilat Dune, or the map of France for the funny patriots.
For the athlete of the family
There is always one. Our sports posters avoid the generic motivational poster: here, we are more into quirky crossfit or black and white surfing. It fits very well in an office, a hallway, or a sports corner at home.
For the one who already has everything: the personalized poster
This is where we bring out the big guns. A personalized poster literally cannot be given by anyone else: names, date, private message, reference that only you understand.
A few ideas depending on the recipient:
- Personalized couple poster names and declaration, for an anniversary of meeting or a Christmas for two
- Personalized BFF poster for the best friend
- Personalized birth poster the gift of new parents, which stays in the room for years
- Personalized cat poster because there is always someone whose cat is the center of the world
Watch the timing: a personalized poster requires a validation of the visual before printing. Allow a few more days than a standard poster. Plan ahead if you are aiming for December 24th.
For the food lovers
The kitchen is the room where everyone ends up. Our kitchen posters bet on tasty puns rather than the black and white vegetable poster Gourmandise or the seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar (that one is also surprisingly useful).
Our guide kitchen poster: decor ideas details where to hang it without it taking the steam of the pots.
For a colleague (especially Secret Santa)
Tight budget, mandatory joke, and it must not be embarrassing. This is exactly the specifications of our WC and toilet posters: funny, quirky, and no one gets offended. The A4 format stays within the classic Secret Santa budgets.
A more sensible alternative for a colleague you don't know well: a quote poster "One butt after the other", which works very well as office decor. Or more simply an original postcard, if the budget is really symbolic.
What format and what budget for a Christmas gift?
The format completely changes the nature of the gift. Here is how we see it:
- 21 × 29.7 cm (A4), from €30 the add-on gift, the Secret Santa, the little decor word. Perfect in a duo or trio to create a set.
- 30 × 40 cm the most versatile format. Big enough to exist alone above a dresser, tame enough not to overwhelm a room.
- 50 × 70 cm the gift that stands out. It's the format that transforms a poster into a real decor piece.
- 70 × 100 cm, €129 our new large format. Here, we are no longer in the add-on gift: it's the main gift, the one that becomes the focal point of a living room.
The right reflex: add the frame. A poster given without a frame is a half-finished gift the person will have to make an extra trip, and often they put it off. Our frames (natural wood or black) make the gift immediately hangable. It's a real differentiator for a gift.
Giving several posters: the gift that impresses
If you want to make a statement, give a set rather than an isolated piece. Our decor wall packs (duo, trio, or full wall) are designed for that: the illustrations are chosen to work together, which avoids the "mismatched collection" effect.
It's also the best option if the person has a large empty wall a living room that has just been painted, an entrance that sounds hollow.
Presenting the gift well (the details that change everything)
- Frame it. Once again: the frame transforms a poster into an object. Our guide framing a poster details the choices of frame and protection.
- Slip in a word. A matching illustrated postcard, it's two minutes of effort for a disproportionate effect.
- Think about hanging. If the person is a renter or doesn't have the right to drill, add the necessary our article on how to hang a poster without making a hole will prevent it from staying in its tube until March.
Ordering on time: the only real risk
The classic trap of the online Christmas gift is to do it on December 18th. Our posters are shipped within 48h, but carriers saturate in December: allow some margin.
Our advice: order before the first week of December for standard posters, and two weeks before for the personalized posters, which require a visual validation step.
And if you are really late: the gift card is instant and leaves the choice to the person. Less romantic, but clearly better than a gift that arrives on the 27th.
FAQ Original Christmas Gift
Is a poster really a good Christmas gift?
Yes, on one condition: that the choice of illustration really corresponds to the person. A generic poster is a lukewarm gift. A poster that refers to their humor, their region, their sport or their couple, is a gift they will keep for years. It's the only decor gift where the effort of thinking is immediately visible.
What budget to plan to give a poster for Christmas?
Count from €30 for an A4 format, and up to €129 for our large format 70 × 100 cm. The 30 × 40 cm format framed remains the best effect/price ratio for a classic Christmas gift. For a Secret Santa, the A4 or an illustrated postcard is more than enough.
Should you give the poster with or without a frame?
With, without hesitation. A poster delivered without a frame forces the person to make an extra step, and in fact many put off the poster stays rolled up in a corner. A natural wood or black frame makes the gift immediately hangable, and the fact of passing from "poster" to "decor piece".
How long before Christmas should you order?
For a standard poster, aim for the first week of December to absorb the saturation of carriers. For a personalized poster, allow two weeks of margin: the visual must be validated before printing. As a last resort, the gift card is immediate.
What poster to give when you don't know the person's decor?
Go for black and white or minimalist: these genres fit into pretty much all interiors, from Scandinavian to industrial. You take much less risk than with a very colorful poster, which assumes knowing their palette. The other safe option is humor: if you know the person, you know their humor.
Can you give a poster to a couple without favoring one of the two?
Yes, it's even one of the few gifts that allows it naturally, since it hangs in a common space. Favor an illustration that speaks of their story together rather than an interest proper to one of them. A personalized poster with their two names definitively settles the question.
In summary
A good original Christmas gift is not the most expensive or the most surprising: it's the one that shows you have thought about the person. A hand-illustrated poster, chosen for its humor, its region or its story, and delivered ready to hang, checks this box better than most sets.
Want to dip in? Start with our superstar posters those that make everyone melt or explore all our posters to find the one that really corresponds. And if you are decorating your own interior for the holidays, our guides living room poster and bedroom poster will give you ideas.
May good cheer be with you 🎄
