Choosing Wall Art for Your First Home: A Guide to Coastal Prints That Make a House Feel Like Yours

Moving into your first home is one of those moments that sneaks up on you. You get the keys, you do the big move, and then you stand in the middle of the living room and think , now what? The furniture is in, the boxes are unpacked, and the walls are completely bare. That's when it hits you. The place doesn't feel like yours yet.

I hear this a lot from customers. One Geelong buyer put it perfectly: she'd just moved into her first home and wanted something local, something that matched the colours already in her space and felt personal rather than generic. She ended up with a coastal print and said it was the thing that finally made the house feel like home. That's exactly what wall art does when you get it right.

If you're in the same spot, here's how to think about it.

Start With a Place That Actually Means Something to You

The best wall art for a first home isn't the most expensive piece or the trendiest frame. It's something that means something to you. A beach you grew up near. A coastline you visit every summer. A place you're already a little bit homesick for when you're not there.

That's the whole reason I started Local Breaks. I'm a Geelong-based photographer and I shoot the coastlines I actually know and love, from the Bellarine Peninsula up the Great Ocean Road and across to Queensland. These aren't stock images. Every single photo on this site is one I took myself, at a real location, usually early in the morning before anyone else showed up.

When someone buys a print of their favourite beach, they're not just decorating a wall. They're putting something up that genuinely lifts their mood every single day. I've had customers tell me they look at it while working from home and it completely changes how the afternoon feels. That's the kind of art worth investing in for your first home.

Think About How the Colours Work in Your Space

You don't need to be an interior designer to get this right. Just look at what's already in the room. What colours are your furniture, cushions, rugs? Coastal photography tends to work well in most homes because the blues, greens, sandy tones and warm light in the images connect naturally with how Australians already decorate.

The key is choosing a print whose palette genuinely complements your space. If your living room has warm timber tones, a print with golden morning light or earthy cliff faces can tie the room together. If you've got a cool-toned space with whites and greys, something with deep ocean blues and bright sky can really sing.

My Point Addis Art Print I is my top seller for a reason. Shot from above on a clear morning, it's got this brilliant contrast between the deep green of the scrubland, the white of the sand, and the shifting blues of the water. It works in a huge range of spaces and I get messages about it constantly.

For something with a warmer, more golden feel, my Torquay Art Print I is a strong choice. Torquay's beaches photograph beautifully and this one has the kind of colour that draws people across the room.

Get the Size Right Before You Order

This is the bit most first-timers underestimate. People tend to go too small. A print that looks large on screen can look tiny on a real wall, especially in a living room or hallway.

As a rough guide: for a living room feature wall, you want to be looking at an L (59.4x84.1cm) as a minimum, or an XL (84.1x118.9cm) if you've got the wall space. For a bedroom, an M (42x59.4cm) or L works well. For a hallway or smaller space, an S or M is usually the sweet spot.

I've got a full size guide on the site if you want to measure up properly before you order, which I always recommend. It's worth taking two minutes to do.

Pick a Frame That's Ready to Hang

For a first home, I'd suggest going framed rather than unframed. It's one less thing to sort out, and the prints arrive ready to hang straight out of the box. All my frames are made from FSC certified solid plantation timber in black, white or oak, and they come with a 10-year warranty.

If you're not sure which frame style to choose, the classic frame is a great all-rounder. It uses 250gsm art paper with giclee archival inks, and comes with a metal hanger and steel wire so hanging is simple. If your room gets a lot of natural light, the floating frame canvas is worth considering because it has no glass at all, which means zero reflections regardless of where the light's coming from.

For a deep dive on frame options, this post breaks it all down clearly: How to Choose the Right Frame for Coastal Wall Art: Classic, Canvas or Shadow Box?

Take the Coast Home

Your first home deserves art that actually means something. Not a generic print from a chain store, not something chosen just to fill a wall. Something that connects you to a place you love.

All my prints are made to order and shipped free anywhere in Australia from Victoria. They're printed on archival materials designed not to fade or yellow over time, so what you put up now can still be looking great in twenty years.

If you're after Point Roadknight Art Print II, one of my most popular pieces on the Surf Coast, it starts from $89 and comes in sizes from XS right up to EPIC (that's 100x150cm, a full 1.5 metres wide). Whether you're after something for a small spare room or a statement piece for your main living area, there's a size that works.

Browse the full range and find the beach that's yours at localbreaks.com.au.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size wall art should I get for my first home?

For a living room, go with at least an L (59.4x84.1cm) so it doesn't disappear on the wall. Bedrooms work well with an M or L, and hallways suit an M. When in doubt, go one size larger than you think you need. A print that fills the wall properly looks intentional. One that's too small looks like an afterthought.

What's the best coastal wall art for a first home in Australia?

The best coastal wall art for a first home is something tied to a place you actually care about, whether that's a beach you grew up near or a holiday spot you visit every year. Prints from real Australian locations like the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula or Great Ocean Road tend to resonate because they feel personal rather than decorative. Starting from $89, they're also genuinely good value compared to other framed art.

Should I buy framed or unframed prints for my first home?

Framed prints are the easier choice for a first home because they arrive ready to hang with no extra shopping required. Unframed prints are a good option if you already have a frame you love or want to keep costs down initially. If you're starting fresh and want everything sorted in one order, go framed.

How do I choose wall art that matches my interior colours?

Look at the dominant tones in your room, including furniture, rugs and cushions, and find a print whose colour palette complements them. Coastal photography naturally includes a wide range of tones, from warm sandy golds