Buying for someone you share a kitchen with, but not a weekend, is its own small puzzle. You want a gift that says thanks without saying too much. Most coworker gift ideas fall into two bins: edible things that vanish in a day, and mugs. A paint by numbers kit sits in between. It's a proper present, it's neutral enough for anyone on the floor, and it gives the person something to do on a quiet evening that has nothing to do with work. This guide also covers secret santa gift ideas for coworkers, a team present and a gift for the boss.
Quick picks
- For a desk or a shelf: Coffee Shop in the 30 x 30 cm size.
- For the bookworm: Candlelit Bookshop.
- For a manager: Abstract Fields in 40 x 50 cm, a picture that looks at home in any office.
- For the whole team: one big canvas and a shared lunch table.
Coworker gift ideas that avoid the awkward zone
The rules are simple, and they're mostly about what to leave out. Nothing personal, nothing that hints at someone's looks, home or habits, nothing with a joke that only half the room gets. Choose a subject that nobody could take the wrong way: a town street, a landscape, a cup of coffee, a shelf of books. A good coworker gift is easy to accept and easy to display, and that's exactly what a calm picture is.
Neutral picks for a desk or a shared wall
Coffee Shop is the one most people nod at, since the whole office runs on the subject. Candlelit Bookshop suits the colleague who always has a paperback in the bag. For someone who loves travel talk, Amsterdam Simplicity is a city scene with a clean, tidy feel, and Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset gives a warm sky over a famous view.
Prefer something quiet? Misty Forest is a soft, cool picture that doesn't compete with a screen on the next desk. We wrote more about this in our office decor guide, including how to choose a picture for a wall people walk past all day.
Secret Santa gift ideas for coworkers on a set limit
With a limit of around the price of lunch for two, the smallest size does the job. The 30 x 30 cm kit has 24 colours, and most beginners spread it over a few evenings. Pick the subject by how well you know the person. If you know nothing, take the coffee shop or the misty forest. If you've heard them mention a pet, go to the animals instead. Skip anything about their job or their team, since it can read as a comment on their work.
Prices show in your own currency, with shipping added at checkout. Check the total there against the limit your office set.
A group gift for the team
When ten people chip in for a colleague who is leaving, or for a team that has had a hard quarter, a bigger picture makes sense. The 50 x 65 cm kit has 48 colours, so it's a long project that suits being shared. Some teams paint it in turns at the lunch table across a few weeks; others give it to one person as a send-off. Add the pine tabletop easel so it has somewhere to sit at the desk, and the studio apron for anyone who wants to keep their shirt clean. The canvas ships unframed, and the recipient chooses the frame.
A few team gift habits to adopt. Ask for contributions in a fixed amount so nobody feels watched. Put one name on the card at the start and add the others to it. And never choose a subject tied to the person's reason for leaving.
A gift for your manager
A gift for the boss should be modest, tasteful and not too personal. The Abstract Fields kit is an abstract picture that suits an office wall, and in 40 x 50 cm with 36 colours, it's the size most people buy for themselves. Bonsai Tree in a Clay Pot is a minimalist option for a person with a tidy desk. If the whole team is giving it, the gift card is the safest backup, because it leaves the choice to your manager.
When to order
Orders leave within 1 to 3 business days, and the delivery estimate for your country shows at checkout. For anything that must arrive before the holidays, order by Friday 27 November to be safe. After that date, the gift card can still go out on the day.
To keep browsing, try the adult kits collection or the best sellers. For a larger group, our team building ideas cover running a session together.
