Original Art Gifts for New Homeowners: 2026 Holiday Gift Guide

How to Choose Art for a New Home

Boston scenes connect a home to its city. Ann Gorbett’s Acorn Street and Beacon Hill Brownstone show two of Beacon Hill’s best-known subjects, and Jan Shapiro’s Where Shawmut Blooms is a 30 x 30 inch oil of a brick building beside a tree. They suit an entryway, a stairwell, or a living room.

Interiors and gardens bring a room’s worth of color indoors. Carole Rabe’s Open Door, Bathroom, Piano Stool, and Red Wall are paintings of rooms, and Caryl Hull Leavitt’s Secret Garden and My Corner of the World mix plants, pots, and still life. Florals include Ellen Rolli’s Textural Vessel with Garden Cosmos, Gretchen Warsen’s Let’s Use the Blue Vase for These Tulips, and Christina Chang’s Joyful Bouquet. For something looser, there’s Lisa Libretto’s Garden Triptych, Margi Smith’s A Bath of Light, and Eiko Tabata’s Lavender.

Wall-filling pieces do the most for a bare room. My Corner of the World is 48 x 60 inches, Garden Triptych is 36 x 72 inches, and Mark Abercrombie’s Waterfront is 40 x 30 inches. Beacon Hill Brownstone is 36 x 12 inches, a tall, narrow shape that works on a slim wall or beside a door.

If you know the room, tell us the wall size and the colors, and we’ll suggest works that fit. If you don’t, choose a subject the person loves, such as Boston, gardens, or music, and ask us about size. For a whole house or several rooms, our art advisory service can help.

More Original Art at Galaray House

These 15 works are a starting point, and available works change as pieces sell. If you see something you like, contact us soon. For more at other prices, see original art $500 and under or $1,000 and under, or browse all available artwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good housewarming gift?

Original art. A painting of a favorite place, a garden, or a room gives a new home something personal, and it stays on the wall for years. This guide features 15 works from $1,100 to $7,400.

Is art a good closing gift for a new homeowner?

Yes. A Boston scene or a garden painting makes a lasting closing gift, and a larger work can anchor a main room. Real estate agents, lenders, and builders can see our corporate gifting program or contact us with a budget and quantities.

How do I choose art for someone else’s new home?

If you know the room, tell us the wall size and the colors, and we’ll suggest works that fit. If you don’t, choose a subject the person loves, such as Boston, gardens, or music, and ask us about size.

What size art should I buy for a wall?

A common guideline is art about two-thirds the width of the furniture beneath it, such as a sofa or a console. On an open wall, a larger painting can stand on its own. Send us the measurements and we’ll help you choose.

When do I need to order for Christmas?

Order by December 15 if you want the artwork shipped, or plan to pick it up at our Boston gallery by December 23. For larger works, contact us early so we can confirm shipping options, costs, and timing.

Can I see the artwork in person before I buy?

Yes. Galaray House is at 450 Harrison Avenue, Suites 37-39, in Boston’s SoWa Arts District. We’re open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 12 to 4 pm, or by appointment.