Famous paintings for the living room: 10 masterpieces that work at home

Not every famous painting is easy to live with: some are very dark, others too dramatic for every day. These ten work well in a living room thanks to their colours, format or mood.

Landscape formats above the sofa

Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and Bruegel’s The Hunters in the Snow are wide and full of details you keep discovering. Wheatfield with Crows is almost panoramic, ideal for a long sofa. View of Delft brings calm and a lot of sky.

Led by colour

The Starry Night combines blues and yellows that suit modern living rooms and blue textiles. Klimt’s The Kiss, square and golden, lifts neutral walls and pairs well with wood and brass. Bal du moulin de la Galette brings joy and summer light.

Conversation pieces

The Garden of Earthly Delights is a painting to look at up close: every visit reveals something new. As a large print it makes a strong centrepiece.

Portrait formats for corners

Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid are small and vertical: ideal next to a bookcase, in a hallway or in the dining area.

How to style them

A simple trick: pick one colour from the painting (the blue of The Starry Night, the ochre of The Hunters in the Snow) and repeat it in a cushion, a throw or a vase. And follow the two-thirds rule for the width of the sofa explained in our size guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which famous painting suits a modern living room?

Van Gogh’s The Starry Night or Klimt’s The Kiss work well in modern living rooms thanks to their strong colours and format.

Landscape or portrait above the sofa?

Landscape: it follows the line of the sofa. If the painting is portrait, hang two or three together.

Updated 21 October 2026.