What is Grandmillennial and Coastal Grandmother style?

As a designer, I believe in keeping things traditional for the most part. It creates longevity and saves you money in the long run. However, it is part of my job to also learn about what’s trending in the design world. Want to know what’s trending right now? If you consider your interior style to be traditional, you’re in luck because two of the popular trends right now stem from rich tradition.

Grandmillennial style with dark wood, mixing patterns, floral wallpaper, vintage artwork.

Grandmillennial Interior Style

Also known as “granny chic”, the style is really just about taking many traditional design ideas and details and putting them all into one space. Think of your grandmother’s home. You probably think dark wood, antiques, pastels, and collections. This is the traditional part and then add in many other details like…

• blue and white

• florals

• topiaries

• rattan

• greek key motif

• brass

• ornate chandeliers

• ruffles

• pattern mixing

• chinoiserie (link to a very interesting article on the history and how it can be viewed)

• colorful details

Grandmillennial spaces do not happen overnight. They are curated over time. You absolutely cannot have a true grandmillennial space without adding antiques and special details. This style cannot be solely curated at Target or Home Goods. It takes time.

Look at the photo below. This is a great example of Grandmillennial style.

Here’s what makes this room Grandmillennial.

• intricate draperies with patterns

• topiaries

• staffordshire dogs

• brass details

• traditional china

• rattan furniture

• pogada lantern

• floral and chintz prints

• fresh roses

This room defenitely reminds me of a grandmother’s home.

Now this space is a little less Granny Chic and more modern Grandmillennial. It has dark wood, bamboo motifs, brass, pattern mixing and even a staffordshire dog. But, it’s a little less ornate. It has white drapery and less print and floral, yet still very traditional in style.

The Grandmillennial style can also be considered a personal style, not just for home decorating. Think Reese Witherspoon style. She’s southern, preppy and traditional. In fashion, here’s what’s popular with Grandmillennials…

• long dresses or nap dresses

• preppy clothing

• Lily Pulitzer, Tuckernuck, Golden Goose, Draper James, Hill House Home

• traditional jewelry like diamonds and pearls

• linen

• loafers

• wide leg pants

• puffy sleeves

• crochet

Coastal Grandmother

What is “coastal grandmother”? First of all, it really has nothing to do with being a grandmother. The style is just that. It’s a Style Aesthetic that can be incorporated into a home. Here’s what defines coastal grandmother…

• white linen

• coastal colors like blue and turquoise

• carefree attitude

• confidence

• modest and comfortable clothing

• Nancy Meyers movies

• think Diane Keaton style

These photos are all from Nancy Meyers movies. It’s Complicated, The Intern, Something’s Gotta Give are some of her favorites. The film director is known for creating sets that really look like someone lives there. They are relatable, lived in spaces. They are all very coastal and traditional.

If you love the grandmillennial style, stay tuned. I will be posting a lot more that can be considered grandmillennial. My own personal style is 100% in line with grandmillennial. If you follow me on Instagram or on Facebook, you’ll notice that my design style is Fresh Traditional. It’s a little different than Grandmillennial. It’s more casual with a mix of modern. More about Fresh Traditional in my next post.