When one talks about the Grandmillenial interior design style, the term. “History repeats itself.” becomes an understatement. The Grandmillenial style is the perfect example of the new generation discovering the old decorating trends.
This article introduces you to the Grandmillenial interior design. This post talks about how the Grandmillenial came out and the elements that define this new interior design style. Also included in this article are some grand millennial designing tips you can easily apply to your room.
The word Grandmillenial is the combination of “grandmother” and “millennial. Millennials are the age group born between 1981 to 1994. They would be in their mid-20s at this time. On the other hand, the grand in the Grandmillenial style pertains to the grandmother style. This style is also called the Granny chic interior design.
The idea behind the Grandmillenial style is nothing new, albeit the word itself is something currently coined. The Grandmillenial style is grandma furniture given a more modern twist. It’s old that’s given a brand-new, youthful look.
The Grandmillenial style was first dubbed by Emma Bazilian for House Beautiful Magazine as the answer to the Mid-Modern and Minimalist design aesthetics that have dominated the interior design world for decades. This is the answer of the younger generations’- the millennials in particular- shift from mass-produced furniture and decor they grew up with.
It’s this generation’s clamor for individuality. They want to be reminded of the nostalgia and comfort of youth but don’t want the kitschy side that often comes along with embracing such an idea.
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
Just like their collective sensibilities, the millennials aren’t afraid to experiment. Grand home furnishings with their dark wood decor and patterned embellishments are often paired with modern elements such as abstract art and smaller accent pieces in metallic finishes. At its heart, the Gramndmillenial style decor combines Maximalism and Minimalism designs.
Grandmillennial style, a term coined by Emma Bazilian, is a unique blend of traditional design elements with a modern flair. It’s characterized by floral patterns, ruffles, and embroidered linens, reflecting a nostalgia for the “grandmother’s house” aesthetic but with a fresh, contemporary touch.
The rise of grandmillennial style is a response to the often impersonal nature of modern design. Its warm, inviting elements offer a sense of comfort and familiarity, resonating with those in their mid-20s to late-30s who yearn for a connection to the past.
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Popular elements include botanical prints, tufting, and wicker baskets. Here are some more elements to get the new look decorating in the Grandmillenial style.
Like the many trends we’ve recently seen, the Grandmillenial interior design prefers furniture pieces to be vintage. This is not just in the allure of such pieces, but a shift from mass-produced furniture to a more lasting one. Furthermore, millennials prefer something that connects them to their pasts.
If you dig deeper into this change, it all boils down to choice, whereas the older generation only has a little while the millennials have a lot. That being said, the Grandmillenial style focuses on old furniture being recycled or refurbished. It has to be purchased cheaply; otherwise, it would no longer be Grandmillenial if the furniture had been bought at a higher price point.
You really don’t want to go overboard with your vintage designs, from the draperies down to the doilies. You aren’t trying to be a copycat of your grandparent’s granny style. Rather, you work your way around pieces that have a nostalgic value and pair them with modern elements.
Additionally, when designing the Grandmillenial way, your heirloom pieces are not just relegated to furniture pieces. You can add an element that triggers that fuzzy feeling of nostalgia to the room. This could include the Afghan throw or the knitted throw pillow covers. Your grandmother’s living room may inspire the Grandmillenial style, but your goal isn’t to replicate what your grandmother had. You should present the granny look freshly.
The great thing about this trending home decor is that you are trying to help the local markets and preserve older furniture. Not only are these second-hand furniture cheaper, they are also unique. You won’t have to deal with pieces that look the same as your next-door neighbors’. A lot of these refurbished pieces are no longer produced.
If you want to define the Grandmillenial look, that would be the use of prints in practically most of the design. What makes the Grand Millenial decor different from old school decor is that the former is inspired by crisp colors instead of the tea-stained colors of the 80s. The Grandmillenial prints often have white backgrounds, too. Try to incorporate elements that would surprise the eye, like abstract art.
The juxtaposition between the traditional and modern elements makes the Grandmillenial style look updated. You can find tassels on curtains and upholstery combined with metallic finishes. So as not to look boring or granny style, your color palette should be within the earthy color family.
One of the differences between the traditional home to the Grandmillenial interior design is that the former incorporates excessive patterns and layers in one room. The latter focuses on curated clutter, which does not overwhelm the eye.
A Touch of Gold
Complete your Grandmillenial look by adding gold embellishments on small elements such as the frames of your mirror, the hinges, and door handles. If you think gold is too much for your taste, you can also settle with bronze or black.
Select furniture that blends classic lines with modern comfort. Think of sofas with skirted bottoms, bamboo accents, and rattan pieces that evoke a sense of nostalgia.
Accessories like china plates, crystal vases, and embroidered cushions add personality to your grandmillennial space. Don’t shy away from decorative fringes, scalloped edges, and needlepoint details.
The living room is the perfect canvas for grandmillennial decor. Combine a floral-patterned sofa with a modern coffee table, and add accent pillows in chintz or Laura Ashley prints for a chic look.
Incorporate vintage or antique items like a chinoiserie console or a classic wingback chair to add character and timelessness to your living room.
How do you pull off the Grandmillenial look without looking too cluttery or outdated? The key here is to use bold patterns and stick to the same palette throughout. Here are some more tips on acing the Grandmillenial look.
The Grandmillenial style decor will only work if your home matches the interiors. Not that you should be limited to this, but most often, the modern Grandmillenial style works well when the home is also designed in the 80s or older.
But here is the caveat: Don’t take the Granny look too literally. Make sure that the vintage pieces you add to your room are timeless, classic, and with personal value.
It’s easy to go overboard in adding prints to your Grandmillenial home. Remember that prints were all the hype in the 80s and 90s. This resulted in the shift to Minimalism. You don’t want your home to look outdated and cluttered now. A fine line separates this from the Grandmillenial- and the subtle addition of prints would do just the trick.
Instead of piling on patterns, create cohesion by having a common denominator between all design elements. You can still add millennial decor without creating clutter and heavy texture.
The great thing about the Grandmillenial style is there is no particular color palette to follow. Soft pastels, jewel tones, and vibrant shades are the most preferred. You can play with complementary colors such as pink accent throw pillows matched with blue upholstery. You can also offset a muted brown sofa with blue throw pillows and blue china on a refurbished vintage side table.
Look for a worn sofa or table and update the look by adding a slipcover. Accentuate this with patterned wallpaper and traditional artwork.
White is agreeably a classic color, but a Grandmillenial kitchen can do without it. Incorporate vintage accents such as vintage cookie jars and the quintessential mason jars. Instead of white, color your backsplash and cabinetry in vibrant colors.
Photo by Kam Idris on Unsplash
Your Grandmillenial bathroom won’t be complete if you don’t add monogrammed towels. Add potpourri to the room as well. Complete the look by adding a large vintage vanity mirror.
A lampshade done in the pleated fabric can act as your statement piece and a functional lamp. Such elegant design screams Grandmillenial.
Chinese motifs are part of the Grandmillenial look. Add a mural or a wall accent that includes this element.
Use Wallpaper adorned with floral patterns. To make this look less like your granny’s, match them with bright furniture. To make the room more modern, choose furniture pieces that enliven the room. For example, match your wallpaper with blue patterns with muted blue-grey sofa and chairs covered with red patterns. Also, add a half-blind of the same shade as that of your chairs. To make it more cohesive, add throw pillows to your sofa. Make sure that the colors are the same as that of your chairs.
Be strategic as to what design pieces to add to the room. The vintage furniture combined with the floral wallpaper makes the room outdated. Limit the smaller accent pieces to the minimum to make your Grandmillenial room more fresh and modern. That way, you create more space to breathe and avoid the cramped feeling.
This is the right time to show the fine bone china you inherited from your grandmother. You can put them in the china cabinet, but the better place for these treasures to become the room’s highlight is adding them to the wall as decor or putting in wire racks. It’s a great idea to group them so it would look cluttered.
The Grandmillenial tells an emotional story of how the homeowner connects to its interiors. Do you like the Grandmillenial interior design? Share with us your thoughts.
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