Learn what grandmillennial style is and how to decorate your home this style in this complete guide!
Grandmillennial is a term that has come into popularity in recent years. It describes the modern adaptation of the typical idea of a grandma’s style by younger generations, particularly millennials. This style is also often called “granny chic.”
While this style refers to the broader grandma style such as in interior design and fashion, in this post we’re focused on the interior design element of this.
Grandmillennial style could be one of the best styles to channel in your home. It includes elements that are timeless and versatile. It’s also comfortable and inviting while still being elegant.
Some of the most commonly used items in a typical grandmillennial design are:
- Wallpaper
- Fine china
- Upholstered furniture
- Cane, wicker, and rattan furniture
- Rugs
- Gold and brass elements
- Floral prints
- Toile
- Chinoiserie
- Some modern elements mixed in
Ready to start adding this style in your home? Keep reading to learn more about each of these elements!
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Wallpaper
Covering your walls in some beautiful wallpaper is a sure way to add grandmillennial style to your space. Many people have a bad relationship with wallpaper, probably after having had to deal with taking down old, worn out wallpaper from past owners of their home that may have made them decide to never have wallpaper on their walls. Some may associate wallpaper with the outdated style of their grandparents’ homes.
While you may be skeptical, wallpaper is a terrific way to add grandmillennial style to your home. They now make removable wallpaper and have other modern methods that make eventually changing the style of your walls relatively easy.
For the perfect sophisticated grandmillennial style, try wallpapers with floral designs or grasscloth. Here are some great options:
Gracie is perhaps the best place to buy beautiful floral wallpaper. Each one is handpainted by their artists.
Photo Source: Gracie
Photo Source: Gracie
For more affordable options, check out these:
- Chinoiserie Blue Floral Paper Peelable Roll Wallpaper
- Ray Taupe Bird Trail Strippable Roll
- Chinoiserie Garden Wallpaper
- Tempaper Garden Wallpaper
If you’re still not excited about the idea of wallpaper, paint will work just as great. Try to stick with softer hues without anything too bold.
Fine China
A grandma classic: some nice china.
Grandmothers typically have all of the perfect items needed for entertaining, and fine china is definitely one of those. When you think of fine china, it’s usually made of porcelain which is a very delicate material that chips or breaks easily. For our version of “fine china” simply invest in some nice dinnerware that has an elegant feel to it, whether it be porcelain or something more durable.
There aren’t many rules for the right type of fine china to purchase for a perfect grandmillennial style. Just try to choose something that will provide a nice accent to your dining area.
Here are some great options:
The entire Endearment collection from Mikasa is adorable:
Photo Source: Mikasa
This set from Target is a blue and white dream!
Photo Source: Target
Upholstered Furniture
Another staple of the grandmillennial home style is upholstered furniture. This includes sofas, loveseats, chairs, and the like. You’ll typically want to keep a more traditional style for this, which gives you a lot of options! Here are two great options for sofas: one more contemporary but with a traditional slipcover and the other an elegant french design.
Ikea: This sofa is a great option if you like a white, clean look and it allows for easy clean up by having a slipcover that can be thrown into the washer!
Photo Source: Ikea
Ballard Designs: A little more of a formal option, but equally beautiful.
Photo Source: Ballard Designs
People really use a large variety of furniture in grandmillennial designs, just try to keep with either more contemporary or vintage designs that are upholstered.
Cane, Wicker, and Rattan Furniture
Another category of furniture that really shines in the grandmillennial style is cane, wicker, and rattan furniture. These words are often used interchangeably but there are differences between each that we won’t get into in this post. What you mainly need to know is that cane, wicker, and rattan furniture have woven elements that add texture to a space.
You can find so many different types of woven furniture that can fit into various designs. Here are a few adorable ones!
Overstock: A gorgeous option for a bed set.
Photo Source: Overstock
Walmart: This barrel chair has an antique finish that gives it a vintage vibe.
Photo Source: Walmart
Pottery Barn: Those of us who love the sprawling patios of Parisian bistros are bound to love this chair. Perfect for a more casual dining area.
Photo Source: Pottery Barn
Amazon: A wicker ottoman is a great way to bring some texture into a room.
Photo Source: Amazon
Rugs
Every good grandma has a nice rug, and the same goes for every good grandmillennial room.
While rugs aren’t a necessity for getting the grandmillennial look, you likely have a space that needs a nice rug. There’s not really a set style for rugs that you should look for for this look. Just try to stick to more traditional patterns. Here are two great options:
Ruggable: Blue and white lovers will love this one!
Photo Source: Ruggable
Ruggable: This one has an intricate design but is neutral enough to go with a lot of different designs.
Photo Source: Ruggable
Gold and Brass Elements
Some people may consider brass to be outdated, but the grandmillennial style proves that it is timeless. There are so many ways to use brass in a home, but some of the most common are:
- Cabinet hardware
- Light fixtures
- Mirrors
- Picture frames
Here are some great options for adding gold and brass elements into your home!
Amazon: A small mirror with an antique design.
Photo Source: Amazon
Amazon: Another antique-style mirror but in a larger size. This would look great above a fireplace or as a vanity mirror.
Photo Source: Amazon
Amazon: For a different type of gold touch, here’s a mirrored tray that would work great on a dresser or bathroom vanity.
Photo Source: Amazon
Amazon: If you have a place for sconces, these ones are timeless, gorgeous, and at a great price!
Photo Source: Amazon
Floral prints
A wonderful part of the grandmillennial style is the various types of floral prints that are included. There are so many different ways to use floral prints in this style such as headboards, paintings, bedding, pillows, and more. Try these options out:
One Kings Lane: You will likely have sound sleep with this adorable headboard!
Photo Source: One Kings Lane
Amazon: If you have some walls that need some color, these floral prints would look great and add some softness to your space.
Photo Source: Amazon
Toile
Similar to floral prints in design but with some added charm, toile is frequently seen in grandmillennial style. The name toile actually means fabric, but when most people talk about toile, it’s referring to the repeated vignettes, or little scenes, on materials. This has a certain vintage vibe and looks great in a variety of materials including curtains, bedding, towels, china, and much more.
See the items below for examples of this design. Blue happens to be the most common color that you see used in toile, but there are other colors you can find such as red or black.
Amazon: A great shower curtain option.
Photo Source: Amazon
Urban Outfitters: An adorable sheet set. This would look great as an accent to a plain white duvet color or could even look great against another pattern.
Photo Source: Urban Outfitters
Chinoiserie
Chinoiserie is another great option if you’re looking to add some patterns into your space. Chinoiserie is actually a broad term used to describe the Western interpretation of Chinese styles in art, furniture, and other design elements that was popularized in the 1700s and 1800s.
In interior design you’ll see chinoiserie come through in furniture, wallpaper, ceramics, and more. A category of ceramics that is pretty large in chinoiserie designs is ginger jars and items that have taken on the look of the classic blue and white ginger jar. This is a great element to add some color and pattern in a room and can be done in almost any room from the kitchen to the living room to even bathrooms. Here are some examples of chinoiserie items:
Amazon: A classic ginger jar! This comes in two sizes that would look great paired together.
Photo Source: Amazon
Amazon: For something that has some utility, this umbrella holder is perfect.
Photo Source: Amazon
Some Modern Elements Mixed In
The last element of the grandmillennial interior design is to remember to mix in some modern elements! While the style is all about channeling your inner granny with classic pieces, it’s important to include some modern elements in order to make it feel fresh. You could do this by having a classic floral wallpaper and throwing in a modern sofa or light fixture. There are endless possibilities for how you can design your space, but just make sure it fits your personality and how you want to use the space!
Putting it All Together
We have reached the end of our list of the best elements to include for grandmillennial style. Do we have you wanting to call your grandma for some design advice yet?
You can incorporate as much or as little of the design elements that we’ve talked about in this post to add touches of grandmillennial or a whole grandmillennial style house. The fun part is that the choice is yours.
Want to explore some other styles? Here are some other posts to check out for all of the inspo:
- How to Create English Cottage Style in Your Home
- How to Add Parisian Charm to Your Home
- How to Decorate a French Country Home
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