Always Choose Wallpaper

A colorful, patterned wallpaper is a staple of the granny chic style. Opt for peel-and-stick wallpaper to easily bring the feel into your home.

“I feel like grandmillennial isn’t complete without some element of wallpaper,” says interior designer Jennifer Harrup of Jennifer Laura Living. “If you have a wallpaper that is a toile or floral, your room is automatically going to have that grandmillennial feel.”

Pick Your Pattern(s)

Fabric adds layers of grandma chic to a space. Harrup said toss pillows, flowing curtains, and upholstery splashed with florals, toile, plaids, and other granny-esque patterns are perfect for the style.

Flower Power

Floral patterns and grandmillennial go hand-in-hand. Incorporating them into your wallpaper, fabrics, ceramics, or artwork is central to grandma chic style.

“Patterns like chintz, Indian block print, and botanicals work beautifully for fabrics, while Dresden style florals, Rose Medallion, and other Chinoiserie porcelains are perfect for ceramics,” blogger and stylist Katherine Medlin of Pender & Peony.

“Florals are charming as fabric on a slipcovered chair, a tablecloth [or] pillows of any size,” Hardison said. “Floral art is always delightful, and you can never go wrong with a [antique] vase or pitcher filled with fresh flowers. You can use florals all together in the same pattern, or mix and match your floral fabrics.”

Add Color

Grandmillennial is all about color—from light, airy, soft tones to bold and saturated hues. McConville says that some common granny chic picks include blues, pinks, greens, and white.

“When it comes to color, there is no right or wrong, just make sure color is evident,” Hardison says.

Balance Straight Lines and Curves

The granny chic mesh of old and new is perhaps most apparent when choosing furniture. Hardison says you need to take care to pick pieces that have classic elements, such as curved arms or cabriole legs, and pair them with more modern furnishings, such as a straight-backed sofa.

Create a Cozy Interior

Hardison says to always include pillows and blankets when designing a granny chic space.

“The thing that is fun with pillows is that you can have a floral fabric with a double pleat edge mixed with a [more formal] solid velvet pillow trimmed out by Samuel & Sons, and then maybe a gingham print in a different size which will allow you to accomplish layers, textures, and dimension, which is everything you need,” she says.

Say Goodbye to Bare Surfaces

As opposed to minimalism, granny chic is more aligned with “cluttercore.” Medlin says any shelving, sideboards, and tables are typically decked out with unique tcH๏τchkes, travel curios, and fresh flowers. Other common knickknacks: vintage silver or brᴀss, candles, and artwork, both classic and modern.

“Grandmillennials are tired of the blank spaces and minimalism, but we want our decor with history [and] with character,” Medlin says. “It’s even better when the decor has meaning to us and our families, so we are particularly partial to family heirlooms and curios that express our personalities.”

This eye for the unique means the trend can embrace sustainability—instead of mᴀss-produced pieces, those going for a granny chic look often search through second-hand and thrift stores for one-of-a-kind decor to upcycle.

Install Molding

Underneath the patterns and frills, Harrup says the architecture of a grandma chic space include classic molding.

“Wall molding is a big element that you’ll see in any grandmillenial interior,” Harrup says “That’s not going to go out of style.” She says that it’s not typical for someone to rush in and rip beautiful moldings off a wall in five years.