Grandmillennial style reminds me of the Macklemore song, Thrift Shop:
“Imma take your grandma’s style
No for real, ask your grandma
Can I have her hand-me-downs? (Thank you!)”
– with apologies to Macklemore and his song, Thrift Shop
Grandmillennial style is the maximalist trend is taking off for thirty-something homeowners. It’s a traditional look thats makes grandma style look modern. Think shabby chic with more of the chic.
Living in comfort is trending lately – let’s face it weeks in lockdown made sure that living in comfort got deeply ingrained into our lives. What’s more comforting and comfortable than a visit to grandma’s house? Minus the potpourri.
A Nostalgia Trend
The modern look in the early 20th century was a reaction to the OTT of the Victorians. Now it seems millennials are reverting to the love of ‘stuff’.
This nostalgia trend goes against the clean simple lines of mid century modern and Scandinavian style. It’s also a colorful contrast to the muted tones of the modern farmhouse look made popular by Joanna Gaines.
floral vintage cushions are a smart way to add impact on a budget renovation of your home (Image credit: www.vintagecushions.com)
On the other hand, those trends do influence the Grandmillennial look. It’s grandma style with simpler lines and colour-coordinated.
When my kids were younger, their balance bike was a chic Scandi version. How beautiful is this version (with a handy basket for picking up stuff – kids always pick up stuff).
Banwood balance bikes have also done a collab with Liberty London for the perfect Grandmillenial look (Image credit: cuckoo land.com)
So what does the Grandmillennial look involve?
- floral chintz or toile for fabrics
- wicker, rattan and bamboo materials
- either dark furniture or white furniture – take your pick
- needlepoint, crochet and other handmade stuff
- china plates, mismatched naturally
- Trimmings like fringes on lampshades
Where are your best bets for adding to Granmillennial style?
Thrift shops, baby!
If you are thrifting for clothes, you might as well thrift for home furnishings. This trend has been created by millennials who like to buy stuff on the cheap side. Remember, the millennial generation have actually gotten totally messed around in the economy for years.
You can find lots of brown furniture out there that’s cheap at estate sales, auctions and thrift shops. There’s also no shortage of monogrammed linens, oil paintings, brass sculptures etc. that no one else wanted (until now).
Maybe reports of the death of brown furniture have been greatly exaggerated? Especially if you can paint that brown furniture in lighter colors!
Doesn’t all this jute and rattan add texture to the sculptural mushroom lamp? (Image Credit: Oliver Bonas)
How does Grandmillennial style fit into the current zeitgeist?
We know millennials are a thrifty, eco-conscious lot. They’ve had to be since previous generations decided to have their cake and eat it too. So now, all that’s left is the pretty cake stand that a creative millennial can instagram.
Grandmillennial style has lots of those pretty happy elements of nostalgia – a yearning for a simpler time when the earth wasn’t polluted, the ocean’s fish weren’t eating plastic and pandemics didn’t ravage the world in the space of weeks.
Millennials have also focussed a lot on handmade treasures and artisanal finds. You want to have the items on your instagram photo to be original even if your instagram feed itself does look like everyone else your age.
Grandmillennial Style Not Grandma Style
Grandmillenial style is a mix of old and new. The sense of calm so treasured by millennials is achieved by sticking to a simple color palette.
How do you stop the descent of grandmillenial style into pure grandma style?
You need an eye for curation like the grand maximalist designers of old – Sister Parish and her cousin, Dorothy Draper in the post World War 2 era and Mario Buatta in the 1980s.
For example, if you see something with legs, put a skirt on it. BUT think skirted dressing tables with relatively simple fabrics.
How is grandmillenial style different from that Boho style?
Both grandmillenial and boho styles love layers, textures and colors. Grandmillenial style though is more curated than boho style. Less contrasting colors, less ethnic. But keep the plants, they are practically family.
This sign says it all. Be a millennial grandma type with your love of plants.
Everything Old Is New Again
One of the great purveyors of grandmillenial style is House of Hackney in London. Maximalist, eco-friendly, colorful and trendy. I love that they say that the House of Hackney style is to live surrounded by what you love and that there are no rules. Sorry, there are rules. There are always rules.
Some cool grand millennial products that we love:
Granmillenial style as envisioned by House of Hackney is available at Liberty London, online and inshore.
(Top row, from left: Off-white Artemis wallpaper, Cleo the Cat and Nyx the Dog Bookends, Artemis velvet fabric, Serpentis Candelabra)
(Bottom row, from left: Cheetah Lampstand, white and green Palmeral wallpaper, Ananas Pineapple Lampstand, Babylon cotton linen fabric)
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