Do You Decorate Like a Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, or Gen Z?
Home decor trends are always evolving, influenced by cultural shifts, technological advancements, and changing lifestyles. Each generation has its own approach to design, from the rich, traditional aesthetics of Baby Boomers to the bold, eclectic expressions of Gen Z. With every new wave of technology, social movements, and design innovations, how we decorate our homes reflects who we are and how we live.
Are you drawn to cosy, classic touches or sleek, modern lines? Do you love the charm of vintage finds or prefer futuristic designs? Take our quiz to find out which generation’s decor style matches your personality!
Take our Quiz below to find your generational home decor style!
Baby Boomers: Classic Comfort with a Personal Touch
Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) value tradition and comfort, often filling their homes with timeless pieces. When it comes to colours, they tend to gravitate toward soft neutrals like beige, creating a warm and welcoming space. For a statement wall, you might choose deep, dark hues like wine reds or deep browns that evoke elegance and sophistication. This generation’s style is all about creating a homely, familiar atmosphere, with furniture that stands the test of time and decor that feels personal.
We spoke to Ben Robinson, a home cinema designer at Finite Solutions about the trends he’s seen in media room designs recently:
We’ve noticed a growing trend among Baby Boomers choosing dark, rich colours like deep reds for their home cinema spaces.”
“These tones not only create a cosy, intimate environment for movie watching but also evoke a sense of sophistication and timelessness. It’s a colour choice that aligns with their preference for classic, luxurious spaces that feel both comfortable and stylish.”
Gen X: Bold, Eclectic, and Comfortable
Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980) embraces a mix of practicality and flair. This generation tends to experiment with bold, eclectic colours, and their decor often blends modern trends with retro influences – think farmhouse, shabby chic, with a modern flair nowadays. When painting walls, Gen X prefers slightly stronger neutrals like a warmer beige or taupe. For statement walls, look for vibrant mustard yellows, bold teals, or even deep oranges, evoking a sense of comfort with a touch of personality.
James Waylett, Head of Marketing at Jacobs & Dalton, adds:
“Gen X makes up a good proportion of our customers at Jacobs & Dalton. Gen X design style is all about balance – mixing bold, eclectic choices with practical functionality. This generation isn’t afraid to incorporate vibrant colours and statement pieces which reflect their adventurous side. We love seeing our most bold and statement pieces such as our Tibetan rug in a mustard yellow or our cute little Lucky Sheep heading out to our Gen X customers!”
Millennials: Minimalist and Eco-Conscious
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) have made a lasting impact on design with their preference for minimalist, eco-conscious living. Neutral tones like greys (they don’t call it Millennial Grey for nothing!) and soft whites dominate their spaces, giving rooms a clean, serene atmosphere. For statement walls, Millennials opt for sophisticated colours like French navy or sage green, which reflect their desire for both modernity and calm. The focus is on creating a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing environment with a strong commitment to sustainability.
James Waylett explains how this is his own personal decor style:
“The millennial style is the one that most of us here at Jacobs & Dalton, myself included, identify most closely with, especially in that Scandi hygge vibe.
“Millennials have really redefined the idea of ‘home’ with their focus on minimalism, sustainability, and comfort. At Jacobs & Dalton, we see how this generation is drawn to neutral tones like soft greys and warm whites, which create a calming atmosphere – we see a lot of these customers shopping for sheepskin rugs in their natural shades and textures.
“Their design choices often blend modern aesthetics with eco-conscious materials, reflecting a desire for both beauty and environmental responsibility. It’s a design style that’s timeless yet adaptable, focusing on creating a peaceful, welcoming space that feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”
Gen Z: Bold, Playful, and Digital
Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is all about individuality and self-expression, and their design choices reflect that. They are not afraid of colour, choosing bright hues for statement walls, like Barbie pinks and more eclectic, unique options. In terms of neutrals, Gen Z tends to favour bright whites with a warm undertone, creating spaces that feel light, airy, and open. This generation is the one that brought us terms such as cottagecore, dark acadaemia and grandmillennial – their creativity on home decor knows no bounds!
James Waylett adds:
“Gen Z is still an up and coming generation who are coming into their own in the interior space. They are still not quite yet at their full potential buying power as they are still setting up their own home spaces, so we’re just starting to see their personal choices influence the interior design world. Bright and bold choices that hark back to the Y2K days – yes, those days are already retro! – are centre stage, but they’re also careful and considerate in their shopping decisions. TikTok of course has a big influence on Gen Z’s personal interiors style which means it’s always changing and evolving. We’re excited to see more from this generation!”
Where’s the TV?
One surprising thing we learned while doing our research for this quiz was that the location of your TV in your house can give away a lot about your age!
Did you know that Boomers and Gen Xers are most likely to watch TV in the living room or even the kitchen? Many of them use this multifunctional space as a central gathering point with their family and will often have their TV over the fireplace or as part of a media wall. This influences how their living space looks as it is usually all centred around the TV as a focal point.
Gen Z often consumes content in the bedroom but uses multiple devices, like smartphones, tablets, and laptops to stream shows, scroll social media, or watch YouTube. This generation’s approach to TV is more about flexibility, convenience, and personalisation. This means that their living space does not usually have technology as a centrepiece, which seems strange for a generation that we equate with technology! Instead you’ll find a more carefully considered design in the living space, with a focus perhaps on aesthetically pleasing bookshelves or a fireplace.
Millennials however tend to have TVs and media, including speakers, in multiple rooms in the house, designing their home for flexibility. As such, technology is integrated into their homes as seamlessly as possible. You’ll often find a TV doubling for a photo frame in the bedroom, a media wall in the living room, even a TV in the garage turned home gym! This is the generation that felt the brunt of lockdown and compensated for the need to stay at home by turning it into a luxury.
Christmas Decorations by Generation
Another place you can really feel the difference between generations in home decor is how we decorate for Christmas. The festive period can feel so nostalgic for most people, which is why we put so much effort into this time of year.
For Boomers, Christmas is all about tradition. Expect a colour scheme full of rich reds, golds, and greens, along with sentimental ornaments passed down through the years. Glass baubles, tinsel, and twinkling fairy lights in a single colour are staples that give the season a classic, nostalgic feel.
Christmas for Gen X is a blend of traditional and modern. You might find some classic elements, but with a more playful, eclectic twist. Colourful fairy lights and retro ornaments give the tree a nostalgic feel, while contemporary accents keep things fresh and fun.
Minimalism is key for Millennials when it comes to Christmas decor. Think Scandi-inspired, with simple wooden ornaments, natural greenery, and lots of warm white lights. This generation loves the cosy, log cabin aesthetic, with a focus on natural materials and a calm, inviting atmosphere.
Christmas for Gen Z is dynamic, tech-driven and luxurious, influenced by TikTok trends and social media. Expect big bows, digital decorations, and anything that feels fresh and fun. They love mixing traditions with modern, high-tech flair, often incorporating LED lights, neon signs, or even interactive displays alongside their old favourites from their childhood.
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