Choose calm over striking, pick a mid size around 50×70 cm, prefer a neutral frame or none at all, and let the subject connect to a place the person cares about.
Buying art for someone else feels risky. It is less risky than it feels, if you follow a few rules.
Calm over striking. You are not choosing what impresses you in the shop; you are choosing what they can live with for years. Quiet work has a much higher hit rate as a gift.
Mid size is the safe size. 50×70 cm fits above a desk, a bed, a sideboard or in a hallway, and works in a small flat. Very large is a commitment to a particular wall; very small disappears.
Frame or no frame? A neutral frame — natural wood, white, or black in a modern home — suits nearly every interior. If you genuinely don't know their taste, an unframed print lets them choose, and it posts more cheaply.
Let the subject mean something. A coastline where they spent summers, a colour from a place they lived. Personal connection beats artistic ambition in a gift, every time.
Avoid the obvious traps. Nothing that instructs them how to live. Nothing too loud for a small flat. Nothing that needs a specific wall colour to work.
Practical bits. Orders arrive in 5–10 days, so allow a week. A gift message can be added at checkout, and the price is not shown in the parcel.