Christmas Gifts for Him

The problem with buying for him

The default gifts for men are consumable — beer, socks, gadgets, whisky stones nobody has ever used twice. They are safe because they are forgettable. The alternative is not a more expensive gadget; it is something with a fact in it that only applies to him.

What tends to land

• The route of a race he finished, or the ride he still talks about, printed as a map.
• The waveform of a song he has played to death, printed as sound wave art.
• A framed photo of him with the dog, the car, the team, or the people he does not say enough about.
• The album artwork and lyrics of a record that means something, printed as one piece.

Frames that suit it

Black metal is the frame most men pick for themselves — thin, matt, no grain, nothing decorative. Black or ash wood does the same job with a bit more warmth. If it is going in a garage, office or shed rather than a living room, go for a plain frame and a slightly bigger size; the room is usually less forgiving than a hallway.

Where it will actually hang

This decides the size more than taste does. Above a desk: 12" x 16" or 30cm x 40cm. On a landing or hallway: 16" x 20". Over a sofa or bed, or as a single statement piece: 20" x 24" and up, otherwise it reads as an afterthought on a big wall.

Order dates

Everything here is made to order rather than pulled off a shelf, so early December is the comfortable window. The banner at the top of this page shows the live last-order date for your country.

For the framing options in full, see Christmas photo frames .