Color by Numbers as a Valentine's Gift: One Set, Two Canvases
A color-by-numbers set makes a genuinely good Valentine's gift because every set holds two canvases that share one color palette: one for each of you, made side by side at the same table. You are not giving an object that ends up on a shelf — you are giving a run of slow evenings together, and two matching paintings for the wall afterwards. Sets in the color-by-numbers collection start at €59.95, and with Custom Photo – Color by Numbers you can turn a picture of the two of you into the canvas itself, from €49.95.
In short
- One set, two canvases: the pair shares a single set of numbered markers, so you each work on your own piece and the two still match when you hang them together.
- No skill required: the canvas arrives pre-printed with numbered areas and you fill them in with numbered markers — no drawing, no painting, nothing to learn first.
- Clean enough for the dining table: markers, not paint. No water, no brushes, no drying time, and you can stop halfway through an evening and pick it up whenever you like.
- Three color levels, eight sizes: up to 20 colors (Essential), up to 30 colors (Detailed) and up to 40 colors (Premium), from 30×40 up to 60×80 cm.
- Honest pricing: sets from €59.95, single canvases from €49.95, and free shipping worldwide with no minimum order.
Why a shared set beats another bouquet
Flowers last three days and a gadget holds the attention for three minutes. A color-by-numbers set sits somewhere else entirely: it gives you a reason to sit down opposite each other with the phones face-down, and it keeps going long after the evening ends, because what you make goes on the wall.
The two-canvas structure is what turns it into a couple's gift rather than a solo hobby. Each themed set in the collection contains two canvases drawn from one shared palette, so a single box of numbered markers serves you both, and the two finished pieces hang together as a diptych. If you want to understand how the pairs are built before you choose, our guide to the two-canvas set and choosing a theme walks you through it.
Romantic themes that are not twee
You do not need hearts and roses for a Valentine's gift to feel romantic. Warmth, colour and a sense of place usually do more work. A few directions from the collection:
| Set | Why it suits Valentine's | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Dreams | Warm gradients in pink, orange and deep blue — romantic without a single heart in sight. | Couples who want colour they will actually live with |
| Italian Dolce Vita | Sun-washed terraces and Mediterranean light. Perfect if Italy is part of your story, or part of your plan. | Travellers and dreamers |
| Wildflower Garden | Flowers that keep their colour permanently. Soft, generous and easy to live with. | Anyone who would have bought flowers anyway |
| Venetian Masks | Rich, theatrical and a little mysterious — the most demanding option here. | Couples who want a proper challenge |
| Almond Blossom – Vincent van Gogh | A single canvas rather than a pair, and one of the gentlest paintings ever made about new life. | A smaller gift, from €49.95 |
Note the difference in that last row: the Old Masters are single canvases, not pairs. If the "one each" idea is the point of your gift, choose a themed set instead. More suggestions by mood sit in our general color-by-numbers gift guide.
Which size and colour level to choose
Two things decide how the evenings will feel: the size of the canvas and how many colours the design uses. The three levels are up to 20 colors (Essential), up to 30 colors (Detailed) and up to 40 colors (Premium). Fewer colours means larger, calmer areas and a picture that appears quickly; more colours means finer transitions and a more painterly finish, but also more evenings.
Sizes run 30×40, 40×40, 40×50, 40×60, 50×50, 50×60, 50×70 and 60×80 cm. Here is the entry-level row, so you can see how the three levels are priced:
| Set size | Up to 20 colors (Essential) | Up to 30 colors (Detailed) | Up to 40 colors (Premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30×40 cm, two canvases | €59.95 | €72.95 | €85.95 |
Larger sizes rise from there, up to €120.95 for the biggest set. Single canvases — Custom Photo and the Old Masters — run from €49.95 to €109.95, and every price on the site shows a crossed-out from-price. Shipping is free worldwide with no minimum order. For a sense of how many evenings you are actually buying, read how long color by numbers takes.
The most personal version: your own photo
If a themed set feels too general, Custom Photo – Color by Numbers turns a photo of your own into a numbered canvas with matching markers. The place you met. The morning after the wedding. The dog. It is a single canvas rather than a pair, so it works best as something you hand over.
Not every photo converts well. You want good light, real contrast and a clear subject rather than a busy crowd. The checklist in which photo works for color by numbers will save you a disappointment, and every size and price is listed in Custom Photo: prices and sizes.
Prefer thread to markers?
Color by numbers is not the only slow, handmade route to a Valentine's gift. If the person you are buying for already sews, or you want something small enough to post in an envelope, cross stitch covers a different budget and a different pace — have a look at our Valentine's Day cross-stitch gift ideas.
Ordering in good time
There is no countdown clock on this page and no manufactured panic. February is a busy month for post, so order with a little room to spare rather than in the final days; you will see the exact delivery time for your address at checkout. When you browse the full color-by-numbers collection, pick the theme that looks like your living room rather than the one that looks most romantic. That is usually the one you will both keep looking at.
Frequently asked questions
Is a color-by-numbers set really enough for a Valentine's gift?
Yes, and usually more than enough. A set from €59.95 gives you two canvases, a full set of numbered markers and several evenings of shared time, and it ends as two paintings on the wall. Compared with flowers or a meal out, it lasts considerably longer.
Can we work on the two canvases at the same time?
You can. Both canvases in a set are drawn from the same palette, so you share one set of markers between you and simply pass a colour across the table when the other person needs it. Working side by side is exactly what the two-canvas format is built for.
Which size works best if we want to finish it together?
For a first shared project, 30×40 or 40×50 cm with up to 20 colors (Essential) is the most rewarding: the picture takes shape quickly and you are far less likely to abandon it. Choose 50×60 cm or larger, or a Premium level with up to 40 colors, if you both enjoy a long project.
Can I use a photo of the two of us?
Yes. Custom Photo – Color by Numbers turns your own photo into a numbered canvas with matching markers, from €49.95. Choose a sharp, well-lit picture with clear contrast and a subject that fills the frame; group shots taken from a distance tend to lose their detail.
Do I need to be able to draw or paint?
Not at all. The areas come pre-printed and numbered, and you fill them in with numbered markers. There is no water, no brushes and no drying time, so you can work at the dining table and stop whenever you like.
When should I order for Valentine's Day?
Order with some room to spare rather than in the final days of the run-up, because February is a busy month for post. You will see the exact delivery time for your address at checkout, and shipping is free worldwide with no minimum order.