Family tree poster gift ideas

Start with who it is for

The most personal choice is to put the person receiving the gift at the centre. A tree centred on a grandparent shows their children and grandchildren branching out. A tree centred on a parent shows both sides of their family. A tree centred on a child or grandchild shows the generations that led to them, which suits a new baby or a milestone birthday.

Gift ideas by occasion

• Parents’ or grandparents’ anniversary. Centre the tree on the couple, with both families branching from them.
• A big birthday. Centre it on the birthday person and add portraits of those still with us.
• A new baby. Show the generations behind the child, in soft colours for the nursery.
• A new home. A large tree of life makes a handsome piece for the hallway or living room.
• A family reunion. A big chart for people to find themselves on. See family reunion charts.
• Remembrance. A quiet, sepia design that honours ancestors and keeps their faces together.

Choose the right design

For a decorative piece, pick the tree of life and choose its colours to match the room: Spring for fresh green, Autumn for warm tones, Winter for calm greys, Parchment for an heirloom look, or Midnight for a dark and dramatic wall. If the family is large and everyone needs to find their name, a wall chart is easier to read.

Details that make it special

• Photos. Faces are what people look for first. Gather a portrait for as many people as you can, and add them in the Photos step.
• A title. Use the family name, such as “The Whitfield Family”, in a decorative border.
• Dates and places. Add birth and death years so younger relatives can place everyone.
• An aged finish. Paper texture and sepia photos suit older families.

Printing and framing

Download a PDF and take it to a print shop. A2 and A1 are popular sizes for a frame or a hallway. Allow a little margin if the frame will cover the edges, and ask for a matt finish if reflections bother you. Our poster size guide lists every size in millimetres and inches. A small proof is worth it if the exact colours matter.

Keep it a surprise, and keep it private

You can work on the gift in your browser without anyone knowing, because it saves on your own computer and nothing is sent anywhere. Check with relatives before you add living people’s details to a poster that will be on display.