Gen Z is turning away from ultra-modern interiors in favour of homes inspired by the warm, characterful look of “Grandma’s House”.
Britain’s youngest adult generation is embracing dark wood furniture and patterned fabrics—traditional design choices often associated with the 1970s, according to experts.
The era of grey, minimalist décor is fading as Gen Z embraces “maximalism”: filling rooms with ornaments, vintage floral lamps, ceramics and carefully styled clutter.
The revival has been partly fuelled by celebrities adopting the look. Kendall Jenner, for example, revealed her “granny chic” mountain home in Wyoming in December last year.
High street homeware retailers are also embracing the once-dated aesthetic, with brands such as Zara selling crystal glasses, floral crockery, patterned blankets and vintage-style vases.
Interior designers at My Bespoke Room have worked with dozens of people aged between 18 and 30 to transform their homes. The firm says it has noticed a growing décor movement among the TikTok generation, which it has dubbed “Grandma’s House”.
Designer Milena Vallier said: “Gen Z want classy clutter, mid-century furniture, brought up to date with modern tones.”
This Gen Z bedroom combines old wooden furniture with bold vintage patterns, unusual lamps and decorative ornaments
This living room features a £150 vintage storage system, a £60 leather armchair and a £10 globe
Vintage prints are proving popular with younger homeowners. This living room features £5 floral paintings, £10 framed artwork and a larger £35 print
Over the past year, My Bespoke Room has redesigned 42 living rooms for Gen Z customers, with an average spend of £965. Full-room design packages accounted for most of the projects, at 88 per cent.
Living rooms were the most popular space for a makeover, requested by 48 per cent of Gen Z customers. A further 26 per cent wanted help with their kitchen, while 15 per cent sought advice for an office or workspace.
Although most Gen Z adults in the UK still live with their parents, a recent study found that more than a third—34 per cent—expect to purchase their first home in 2026.
Furniture once dismissed as unfashionable hand-me-downs is suddenly desirable again, particularly when it is an original 1970s piece found second-hand.
Rather than choosing coordinated furniture sets, younger decorators are creating eclectic interiors by combining colours, patterns and furnishings from different periods.
Chocolate brown, burgundy, earthy green and butter yellow are among their preferred shades, often paired with warm neutrals and unexpected colour combinations.
Dark timber is also making a strong comeback, joined by coloured glass, ceramics, chrome, brass and richly textured fabrics.
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Instead of keeping surfaces bare and possessions out of sight, Gen Z is displaying books, prints, candles, ceramics, distinctive lamps and ornaments as part of the décor.
Gen Z is embracing “maximalism” and its love of decorative clutter. This living space includes a £50 rattan chair, a £75 green console table and a £30 plant stand
This living room includes an ornate mirror reminiscent of the pieces often found in a grandmother’s home
Britain’s youngest generation of adults are embracing dark wooden furniture and patterned fabrics
A kitchen and dining room features mismatched chairs that look obviously secondhand
They are also more comfortable combining second-hand and vintage furniture with high-street purchases and expensive statement pieces.
That means a £40 vintage table can happily sit alongside a £1,500 sofa with no attempt to disguise the difference.
Gen Z homes tend to perform multiple jobs, particularly in smaller properties where one room is used for working, relaxing, entertaining and storage – while it must still look good for ‘The Gram’.
Design inspiration for Gen Z comes from TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, interiors creators, restaurants and hotels, as well as second-hand marketplaces.
My Bespoke Room founder Laura Simpson said: ‘While Gen Z may believe they’re ripping up the rulebook, many of their favourite trends will look extremely familiar to their grandparents.’