This is the question we receive more than almost any other. And the honest answer is: it depends on what art means to you.
There is no wrong answer. Both original paintings and high-quality prints have a legitimate place in a well-considered home. The mistake most people make is assuming that one is inherently superior to the other, when the truth is more nuanced.
The case for an original painting
An original is unique. There is only one. The texture of the brushstroke, the layering of paint, the trace of the artist's physical presence in the work — these are things that reproduction, however faithful, cannot fully capture.
When you own an original, you own a piece of someone's creative life. At Abstract House, our originals are hand-painted by our founder Omar Obaid, whose oil and mixed media paintings draw on alchemical, elemental, and philosophical themes. Each one arrives signed on the back with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its provenance.
Originals also tend to grow in value as an artist's reputation develops. If you buy early in an artist's career — and you believe in their work — an original can become genuinely significant over time.
The case for a fine art print
The finest giclée prints are a far cry from the mass-produced posters of a generation ago. Printed on Hahnemühle museum-grade paper with 12-colour pigment inks, our prints reproduce the tonal range and character of the original with extraordinary fidelity.
A print lets you access work that might be out of reach at original price. It also lets you do so in formats and sizes perfectly suited to your space. Want a 120cm wide piece for above your sofa? A print gives you that flexibility. Want to build a cohesive three-piece set? Our curated print collections are designed precisely for this.
A print is also the practical choice if you move regularly, rent your home, or simply want to refresh your space without a significant long-term commitment.
How to decide
Ask yourself these questions:
Is this a long-term purchase? If yes, an original offers depth of ownership that a print cannot. If you are decorating a space that may change, a print is more sensible.
What is your budget? Originals begin at a higher price point by nature. But our limited edition prints occupy a meaningful middle ground — genuinely collectible, not simply decorative.
Do you want to feel the work? There is something irreplaceable about standing in front of a painting that carries the physical mark of its making. If you have always wanted that feeling in your home, an original delivers it.
Whatever you choose, the most important factor remains the same: buy what moves you.
