Moving Into Your First Home? Here's How to Choose Art That Actually Means Something
I remember the feeling of moving into a new place and standing in front of a bare wall thinking, right, now what? You want it to feel like yours, not like a display home or a rental you're just passing through. For a lot of first home buyers, that's when they start searching for something local, something real, something that's going to make that wall feel lived in.
I've heard this exact story from customers more times than I can count. One recent buyer from Geelong told me she'd just moved into her first home and wanted something local, and she chose a print because the colours already matched what was in her space. That's the kind of purchase that makes sense. Not decorating for a magazine, just putting something on the wall that you genuinely love.
So if you're doing up your first place and you're not sure where to start with coastal wall art, here's my honest take.
Start With a Place That Actually Means Something to You
This is the most important thing. Don't just pick a beach because it looks nice. Pick the one you grew up going to, the one your family camped at every January, or the one you drove to after a hard week just to clear your head.
Art that's connected to a real memory does something different in a room. One of my customers put it perfectly: "The print evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, bringing memories of one of our favourite holiday places to life each time we look at it." That's the difference between a print and a piece of decor.
If you're from Victoria and the Surf Coast is your happy place, I've got you covered. The Point Addis Art Print I is my top seller for good reason. It's a shot that captures the scale of that coastline in a way that stops people in their tracks. Shot from above with my drone on a still morning, the aerial perspective gives it a quality you just don't get from standing on the beach with a phone.
For something a bit more sheltered and characterful, Point Roadknight Art Print II is another favourite. It's got that artistic quality customers keep mentioning when they describe why they chose it over other options.
Think About Where It's Going Before You Buy
A print that works in a bedroom feels different from one that anchors a living room. Here are a few practical things worth thinking through before you order.
- Living room: Go bigger than you think. An M or L size (42x59.4cm or 59.4x84.1cm) tends to get lost on a full wall. An XL at 84.1x118.9cm usually holds its own much better as a centrepiece.
- Bedroom: Something above the bed works well at M or L, depending on your bedhead and ceiling height.
- Hallway: Portrait orientation prints are great here. Even an S or M can make a real impression in a narrow entry.
- Home office: This is underrated. Customers tell me all the time that having a favourite beach on the wall genuinely lifts their mood when they sit down to work.
If you want a more detailed breakdown, I've written a full guide here: What Size Wall Art Should You Choose for Each Room? A Practical Guide for Coastal Homes.
Framed or Unframed? Here's the Honest Answer
If you've already got a frame you love, the unframed print on 250gsm premium matte art paper is a great option. It arrives rolled in a protective tube and you're ready to go.
But for most first home buyers, the shadow box frame is the easiest win. The glass sits 20mm off the print, which creates a subtle floating effect that looks genuinely impressive on the wall. It comes in black, white or oak, and the solid FSC certified timber frame means it's built to last. All prints and frames carry a 10-year warranty, and archival inks mean the colours won't fade or yellow over time.
If your new place gets a lot of natural light, the floating frame canvas is worth a look too. There's no glass at all, so you get zero reflections, and the 400gsm Hahnemuhle Daguerre canvas has a texture that looks great in bright rooms.
For a full rundown of every product option, the Framed vs Unframed Prints guide covers it all clearly.
Take the Coast Home
Every print I make is shot by me personally, at locations I know and have spent real time at. There's no stock library involved. When you buy a Bells Beach Art Print I or a Barwon Heads Art Print I, you're getting a photo taken by someone who actually stood at that beach, or hovered above it, and waited for the right moment.
Prints start from $89, free shipping anywhere in Australia, and everything is printed to order in Victoria. No filler, no mass production.
Browse the full collection at localbreaks.com.au and find the beach that's yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size beach print should I get for a living room in my first home?
For a living room, an XL print (84.1x118.9cm) is usually the right call if you want the art to be a real feature of the space. An M or L can work above a sideboard or in a smaller room, but on a large wall, bigger almost always looks better than you expect. Check the size guide for wall-to-print ratio tips.
What's the best type of frame for coastal wall art in a new home?
The shadow box frame is the most popular choice and works well in most rooms. The glass sits 20mm off the print, giving it a clean floating look, and the solid timber frame comes in black, white or oak to suit most interiors. If your room gets a lot of direct sunlight, the floating frame canvas has no glass at all, which means no reflections and great colour in bright conditions.
Are beach prints from Australia a good housewarming gift for a first home buyer?
Yes, especially if you pick a print of a beach that means something to them personally. Location-specific coastal wall art lands differently from generic decor because it connects to a real memory or place. Prints from Local Breaks start from $89 and ship free anywhere in Australia, ready to hang.
How do I choose coastal wall art that matches my existing decor?
Start with the colours already in your space and look for a print that picks up one or two of those tones. My coastal photography uses real light and real locations, so the colours in each print are genuine, not artificially boosted. If you want help matching, the decor matching guide on the blog walks through it in detail.
Welcome to your new place. It's going to look great.
