Do you decorate your home like a Boomer, Gen Xer, Millennial, or Gen Zer? Discover which generational design style suits you best.

Nostalgia plays a big role in interior design. Most of us can recall the exact look of a familiar space, like your grandmother's living room layout or the posters in your childhood room. These memories bring us closer to the past, even extending to styles we never lived through, such as Victorian patterns or Bauhaus' vivid colors. It proves that everything old can indeed become new again, especially within the home.

As tastes shift over time, it's clear that some design trends come to symbolize an era. Designer Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors explains, "The generational shifts in music, culture, and politics are so significant, so it's natural that interior design would follow a similar trajectory, with recognizable generational signatures."

Generation gaps may be inevitable, but one thing remains constant: our shared affection for certain design trends. Loving those styles back then was never a cause for embarrassment, and there's no reason to feel ashamed of appreciating them now. Trends may fade, but cherished memories tend to linger. We spoke with three designers to get their take on the most popular design styles across four generations. Perhaps you'll recognize some of their nostalgic favorites. Keep reading to revisit a few classic trends.

Baby Boomer

The Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, represent a period that transitioned mass production from World War II to civilian applications. It’s no surprise that when Oholendt thinks of her parents’ generation’s style, she envisions matching furniture sets.

"My parents still have the original bedroom set they bought in 1980, the year they got married," Oholendt says. These furniture sets were often made from dark-stained wood with heavy hardware and intricate millwork, designed to withstand the wear and tear of raising kids. Designer Amy Vroom, owner of Residency Bureau, remembers these sets as perfect for displaying knick-knacks and Thomas Kinkade paintings. "It was an era of collecting things," she adds.

Department stores with eye-catching showrooms made these furniture sets highly desirable, but that’s not the only trend Baby Boomers are known for. Designer Kerry Vasquez recalls how they loved decorating with 'shabby chic' styles, featuring distressed wood and farmhouse influences. "This 'rustic elegance' became part of the '90s ethos, creating homes that felt laid-back yet expensive," she notes. "It was likely a response to the sleek, high-end mid-century modern designs of their parents' era."

Generation X

While Baby Boomers were rocking out to The Beatles, Generation X—those born between 1965 and 1980—were jamming to Nirvana on their Walkmans. Despite their contrasting musical preferences, both generations share a love for 1970s design. "When I think about my Gen X friends, I get '70s vibes," Oholendt says. "Lava lamps, shag rugs, and decorating with vinyl records come to mind."

Vasquez attributes this generation's style to its embrace of industrial aesthetics, echoing their punk rock plaid fashion. "They were drawn to cities and less interested in suburban life, a sharp contrast to the Baby Boomers," she says. "Instead of faded white 'shabby chic,' they favored raw steel and an all-black everything vibe." Vroom concurs, pointing out that Gen X pulled from various styles to make a statement. "They didn’t want to blend in and embraced an eclectic style," she says. "Mixing and matching was everything."

Millennials

The last generation to remember life before smartphones, born between 1981 and 1996, is credited by Vroom for bringing sustainable living into the mainstream. "They have a 'less is more' mentality," she says. But if one thing could define their aesthetic, it would be a color. Yes, the one that has become synonymous with this generation: Millennial pink.

"Teenage Melissa had a huge desire for pink inflatable furniture straight out of the dELiA's catalog," Oholendt recalls. "I think the popularity of that furniture made us all develop a lasting affection for all shades of pink as adults. It all goes back to the belief that a pink inflatable sofa would have been the key to our high school social lives."

Vasquez agrees with this but adds that the rise of the Internet has made Millennial style harder to define. Beyond the soft pink hues that symbolized the #Girlboss movement, she points out that this generation brought in an era of experimentation. "Millennials are harder to categorize," she says. "But if I had to, I'd say 'casual elegance,' like the 'coastal California' style, which was popular for a long period."

Generation Z

Gen Z, born between 1997 and the early 2010s, are known for their relaxed attitude toward social norms and ease on the internet. While their style is still emerging, Vasquez says if they do have a style, it’s about being entirely different from what came before. "They want to create a unique identity, and their aesthetic reflects that," she says. "I see this in their preference for neon and candy-colored, bubble-shaped furniture." Vroom adds that Gen Z has taken the sustainability movement from Millennials but added a maximalist touch. "Think vintage and thrifted pieces," she says.

Interestingly, Oholendt observes a more traditional side to Gen Z’s style. "They’re all about the 'moody academia' vibe—dark paint colors, books everywhere, and soft lamp lighting," she says. "They despise overhead lighting, and honestly, they’re right about that!"

It’s only natural for a generation of millions to leave behind more than one defining trend in their style, some of which may fade while others endure. That’s the nature of design: constantly evolving and often drawing from the past. "The rise of cottagecore can definitely be traced back to the tastes of the Silent Generation," Oholendt says. "Design can truly serve as a bridge between generations, but I can solemnly swear I will never buy a matching furniture set. Love you, Baby Boomers."