Gallery Walls, Reimagined: Why the “Outdated” Feature Is Back for 2025—And How to Make Yours Look Sophisticated

After years of minimalist “one big canvas” moments, the gallery wall is back—and smarter. Designers and editors point to a wave of personality‑first decorating (plus a surge of retro influences) as the reason curated picture clusters are trending again in late 2025.

Reporting roundup • Newsroom+ Trend Briefing
Refined dining room gallery wall with framed mid‑century abstract art—sophisticated example of the 2025 gallery wall trend
Gallery walls go grown‑up: layered, intentional, and edited. Image: Future / James Merrell via Homes & Gardens. [oai_citation:0‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/josh-brolin-living-room-gallery-wall-trend)

What’s driving the comeback?

Celebrity spaces helped kick the door open. When Homes & Gardens spotlighted Josh Brolin’s Malibu home—with a character‑rich wall curated by Pierce & Ward—the piece framed gallery walls as a 2025–26 luxury signature: not clutter, but storytelling through layered scale, framing, and media. [oai_citation:1‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/josh-brolin-living-room-gallery-wall-trend)

Days later, H&G featured Alicia Silverstone’s entryway collage of photos and prints, noting designers’ view that gallery walls never truly left—they evolved. The 2025 approach prizes looser compositions, mixed materials, and a personal narrative over rigid grids. [oai_citation:2‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/alicia-silverstone-entryway-gallery-wall)

Beyond celebrity homes, a wider retro return is fueling the look. Good Housekeeping reports that patterned wallpaper and “old‑school” art are firmly back, and specifically calls out gallery walls as an easy way to blend past and present—with bolder color and more confident pattern everywhere. [oai_citation:3‡Good Housekeeping](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/a69167608/retro-design-trends-coming-back/)

How the 2025 gallery wall looks (and why it works)

  • Collected, not “kit.” Designers recommend mixing mediums—photography beside textiles or a small bas‑relief, for tactile depth—rather than buying a rigid pre‑made set. [oai_citation:4‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/alicia-silverstone-entryway-gallery-wall)
  • Cohesion through framing. Keep frames consistent in tone or finish (all dark wood, all gilded, or all slim metal), then vary profiles for nuance. It reads intentional, not matchy. [oai_citation:5‡House Beautiful](https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a65095010/how-to-style-gallery-wall/)
  • Space is a design tool. Even spacing (roughly 2–6 inches depending on artwork scale) creates calm and lets each piece breathe. [oai_citation:6‡House Beautiful](https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a65095010/how-to-style-gallery-wall/)
  • New placements. The “corner hang” wraps art around an inside corner to soften awkward nooks—an editor‑approved trick for small rooms. [oai_citation:7‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/the-corner-hang-method-for-gallery-walls?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Starter layout that rarely fails

Anchor the arrangement with your largest piece at eye height, then build around it with pairs (two medium works) and trios (three smaller pieces) to cascade weight evenly. Keep the imaginary outside rectangle tidy, even if the interior is eclectic. Finish with one sculptural or textural moment (a small tapestry, fiber piece, or bas‑relief tile) to break the plane and add dimension. [oai_citation:8‡House Beautiful](https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a65095010/how-to-style-gallery-wall/)

Read next: If you’re leaning into the color and pattern that make today’s gallery walls sing, don’t miss our feature on Habitat × Margo Selby’s AW25 collection—a cheerful masterclass in woven geometry, lamp silhouettes, and graphic textiles that pair beautifully with art‑heavy walls. [oai_citation:9‡Artoholica](https://artoholica.com/blogs/newsroom/habitat-margo-selby-returns-with-a-kaleidoscopic-aw25-collection-bold-color-retro-lighting-and-the-buster-print)

Shop the look: 5 art picks that play nicely in a gallery wall

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Artoholica Editor’s Picks
Lion canvas art in warm neutrals—wildlife print for layered gallery walls

Lion Canvas Print — Neutral Wildlife Wall Art

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Golden farmhouse landscape canvas—warm backdrop piece for gallery walls

Farmhouse Landscape — Golden Sunset Field

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Horse racing art print with strong diagonals—dynamic accent for gallery walls

Horse Racing — Equestrian Canvas Art

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Playful anchor canvas in coral, teal, and mint—nautical pop for eclectic walls

Anchor Canvas — Coral & Teal Coastal Artwork

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Black and white marching band photo—graphic symmetry for monochrome walls

Black & White Band — Graphic Monochrome Print

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Picks curated to balance subject, scale, and palette—ideal for mixing photography, figurative, and abstract moments within one cohesive wall.

Pro resources & further reading

Sources

Primary reporting on the comeback: Homes & Gardens on Josh Brolin’s gallery wall (Oct 17, 2025). [oai_citation:13‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/josh-brolin-living-room-gallery-wall-trend)
Designer perspective + personalization trend: H&G on Alicia Silverstone’s entryway wall (Oct 23, 2025). [oai_citation:14‡Homes and Gardens](https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/alicia-silverstone-entryway-gallery-wall)
Macro trend context: Good Housekeeping—Retro style revival & gallery walls (Oct 27, 2025). [oai_citation:15‡Good Housekeeping](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/a69167608/retro-design-trends-coming-back/)

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