Blank walls don’t tell much about the person in the room. Printed reproductions are a more affordable substitute for original art, but they are often dull and not as closely connected to the original brushwork. Original paintings by artists such as Van Gogh or Monet are worth more than most people will ever spend on art. Those who enjoy these works in books or museums have difficulty taking that style of energy into the home.
This is different when you paint a picture yourself. Guided kits allow you to follow the exact composition, color by color, so you not only look at the masterpiece, but you know the choices that went into it. The result is a piece which is not printed, but personalized.
If you’re thinking about decorating your living room with an artistic flair, consider these five paintings.
1. Forest Scene by Thomas Moran
Thomas Moran’s career as a painter of the American wilderness established his reputation, and his famous paintings of forests and canyons continue to define visions of untouched nature. Forest Scene is a dense wooded area bathed in filtered light where greens and browns are layered over sections of the image depending on the angle of the sun’s rays on the canopy.
Moran was a painter of the Hudson River School, which was characterized by a preoccupation with nature as vast and near sacred. This piece is good for a living room as it helps create depth without drawing attention from the furniture or other décor. The neutral, natural color palette also complements wood finishes and neutral walls, making it a versatile option for both aesthetic and functional use.
2. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
Van Gogh painted The Starry Night in 1889 while staying at an asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, working from the view outside his window and his own imagination. The swirling sky, glowing moon, and dark cypress tree in the foreground have made it one of the most recognized paintings in the world. It sits in the Museum of Modern Art in New York today.
What makes it striking is the motion in every brushstroke. Van Gogh applied paint in thick, curved lines that give the sky a sense of movement rarely seen in landscape painting. For a living room, it works best as a bold focal point rather than a background piece, since the colors and energy naturally draw attention.
Deep blues and yellows also tend to hold their impact from across a room, so this piece suits larger walls or spaces with higher ceilings where a smaller print might get lost.
3. Garden at Sainte-Adresse by Claude Monet
Painted in 1867, Garden at Sainte-Adresse shows Monet’s relatives relaxing on a terrace overlooking the sea at a Normandy resort. Flags mark the fence line, boats drift along the coast, and sunlight falls across the garden in loose, quick strokes. The painting came early in Monet’s career, before Impressionism had its name, but it already shows his interest in capturing light and atmosphere over precise detail.
This piece brings a calm, seaside feeling into a room, which makes it a strong choice for spaces meant to feel relaxed rather than dramatic. The soft blues and greens also work well in rooms with natural light, where the colors can shift throughout the day.
Ideal for a sunroom, dining space, or any room where you prefer a serene light and relaxed atmosphere over one that demands attention.
4. Apricot Trees in Blossom by Vincent van Gogh
In 1888, Van Gogh produced a series of paintings of blooming orchards in Arles, in part influenced by Japanese woodblock prints he had been admiring. Apricot Trees in Blossom is a fine drawing of pink and white flowers in the midst of a pale sky, done with the lightness and quickness that contrast so strongly with the later, heavier style of his work.
During this time period, Van Gogh painted rapidly, often in one sitting to capture the moment of bloom before it faded, as seen in the series. This painting is perfect for the living room, providing light and softness without dominating the room. This is great in smaller rooms or when used in combination with furniture in light, natural colours.
5. The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
Klimt completed The Kiss between 1907 and 1908, during the height of the Vienna Secession movement. The painting shows two figures embracing, wrapped in gold leaf and intricate patterned robes that blend into one another. It now hangs in the Belvedere Museum in Vienna and remains one of the most recognized images from the Art Nouveau period.
The gold tones and decorative detail make this piece stand out in almost any room, but it works especially well as a statement piece above a sofa or fireplace. Its warmth also pairs naturally with wood furniture and warm lighting.
Because the composition is so rich in detail, it tends to work best when given its own space on the wall, rather than being grouped closely with other art.
Bringing It All Together
These five paintings span more than two centuries of art history, yet each one still holds up as a strong choice for home decor. Whether you lean toward Van Gogh’s movement, Monet’s soft light, Klimt’s gold detail, or Moran’s quiet forests, there’s a style here for nearly any room.
Recreating one of these works yourself adds a personal layer that a store-bought print simply can’t match. It also gives you a reason to slow down and notice details you’d otherwise overlook. Pick the painting that matches your space, and let it become the piece people ask about first.
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