Kendall Jenner’s Grandma-Chic Living Room Is Convincing Us This 'Outdated' Feature Wall Trend Is Cool Again for 2026

While the gallery wall trend reached its peak in the early 2010s, a new wave of storytelling through art is reclaiming center stage. Leading this welcome renaissance of curated wall space is supermodel Kendall Jenner, whose Wyoming mountain sanctuary – designed by the renowned Heidi Caillier – features a living room feature wall that perfectly balances heritage charm with soulful, modern sophistication.

Decorating with art is perhaps the most direct route to an instant transformation, simply because every room contains more wall space than any other element. Yet, as Martin Waller, founder of Andrew Martin, observes, 'I often think that people don’t pay nearly enough attention to their walls, spending months researching fabric or furniture but only minutes choosing how to decorate their wall, or what art to hang.'

Heidi’s design for Kendall flips this script, using the wall to anchor the room's eclectic aesthetic. Storytelling in design is the vital ingredient here; her feature wall, set against cream-colored paneling (a color trend regaining favor) and framed by heavy, rustic timber beams, proves that beautiful objects alone are not enough – they must hold real meaning for the person who lives there.

By mixing nature-inspired prints, dark wood frames, and varying scales, the design moves away from the rigid, mass-produced grids of the past in favor of a look that feels authentically collected over time. This approach has become increasingly accessible as affordable art fairs thrive, allowing homeowners to source pieces for under $1,000 and build a gallery wall that feels both high-end and personal.

A key element to this room's success is the sophisticated dialogue between the artwork and the surrounding decor. To achieve a similar harmony, look to pick out specific colors from your furnishings to mirror within the art, and vice versa.

In this space, the botanical greens and earthy tones found in the floral upholstery of the sofa are subtly echoed in the naturalistic subjects and hues of the framed prints. This visual tethering ensures the gallery wall feels like an organic extension of the room rather than a separate entity.

Ultimately, achieving a wall as compelling as Kendall’s comes down to blending mediums and embracing a sense of spontaneity. Interior decorator Leonora Hamill notes that much of the impact lies in presentation: ‘Reframing smaller pieces can completely transform them – sometimes a new frame is all it takes,’ she explains.

Marcus Crane, director of McCully & Crane, advocates for an eclectic collection that avoids the trap of being too 'perfect.' He suggests mixing subjects – perhaps an abstract, a portrait, and a still life – to create visual interest. 'It’s all about embracing a bit of spontaneity; perfection isn’t always the aim,' he says.

Whether your personal style leans toward the minimalist or the highly tailored, treating the framing and color-matching process as an art form in itself ensures your home tells a story that is uniquely yours.

Shop the Look

Not long ago, buying art usually meant visiting galleries or going to art shows. Now, with major retailers embracing the demand for original pieces and prints, it’s easier than ever to bring art into your home. You can find works starting at just $100, and it’s not about hunting for the next big-name artist – it’s about finding a piece, and a frame, that you truly love.