Millennials decorating their homes have fallen out of love with grey and are now embracing shades of beige, according to interior designers. The generation, aged 31 to 44, has 'collectively broken up' with the cool grey interiors that dominated homes for years and decided that beige is no longer boring.
With the average first-time buyer in England aged 34, experts suggest the nation's living rooms and bedrooms should brace to be 'beige-ified' – albeit under a list of fancy names. Oatmeal, mushroom, putty, stone, taupe and 'greige' are among the dozens of subtle shades now filling Millennial homes, paired with warm white, olive and sage.
Designers see rise in beige among Millennial clients
Interior designers from My Bespoke Room work with thousands of UK homeowners to transform living spaces from as little as £195 per room. Millennials represent the biggest pool of customers for the company, which has worked with thousands of homeowners in this age group since launching in 2014. The online business provides cost-effective advice and ideas from its team of experts to help reinvigorate or transform living spaces.
Over the last year, My Bespoke Room has developed 254 living rooms belonging to Millennial customers with an average spend of £2,100. Most of these (88%) were full room design packages, which include room layouts, 3D visuals, curated shopping lists, designer styling tips and exclusive discounts on furniture.
Millennials want 'grown-up' and 'expensive-looking' homes
Designers say the so-called burn-out generation has become so particular about its favoured neutral tones that they are "making beige surprisingly complicated". Millennials typically want their homes to feel "grown-up" and "expensive-looking" like a "boutique hotel" – while at the same time not breaking the bank. That means a stylish sofa, carefully chosen lighting and painstakingly arranged accessories that need to withstand children, pets, working from home and 'Friday-night wine'.
The modern Millennial colour palette includes oatmeal, warm white, taupe, mushroom, olive, sage, muted blue, rust and terracotta. And while the generation may be devoted to its carefully differentiated neutrals, its homes are not necessarily minimalist. Curved sofas, upholstered beds, statement chairs and sideboards are popular, while walnut and darker woods are increasingly making a comeback.
Materials and decor trends in Millennial homes
Linen, bouclé, stone, oak, walnut and aged brass are among the favoured materials alongside almost anything that can be described as "textured". Oversized art, statement lighting, cushions, throws, ceramics and plants provide the finishing touches with an obligatory shelf that seems casually styled but actually took "45 minutes to arrange". My Bespoke Room's designers say Millennials are also helping revive walnut, dark timber, panelling, brass, vintage furniture, traditional joinery and pattern.
One Millennial living room and hobby area designed by the firm, on a budget of £3,500, demonstrates the generation's preference for spaces that are both polished and practical. The dual-purpose room combines warm tones, natural textures, gold and brass details and plants, while mixing more expensive furniture with accessible pieces. Another living room, costing from £4,000, demonstrates the move away from grey more clearly, with meadow-green velvet sofas, blush accents and contemporary art.
Millennials as 'high-low masters'
The sofas are treated as investment pieces with smaller decorative items finishing the room, reflecting another Millennial hallmark of knowing when to splash out and when to save. Designers describe them as 'high-low masters' who may spend heavily on a sofa but save on the side table or place an investment dining table alongside High Street accessories. Unlike a room filled exclusively with designer decor, they don't expect every item to carry the same price tag.
Millennial interiors are expected to do a lot. A living room can be an office, playroom, entertaining space and 'toy-storage facility' while also somewhere to simply sit down. Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, hotels, restaurants and interiors brands are all sources of inspiration. And instead of arriving at a designer with a neat description of the look they want, the brief can amount to '27 screenshots that somehow all make perfect sense together'.
My Bespoke Room founder Laura Simpson said: "Millennials have fallen out of love with grey and embraced the beige. The so-called 'burn-out' generation wants a functional show home that can support a hectic family life while doubling as an impressive pad to celebrate their hard work. They're parents, they're adults, and they want a home that says they're serious."
