Let’s talk about the grandmillenial asthetic. You may see this term in your Instagram feed or home decor magazines (if you still get them, this may be your kind of thing). Grandmillenial style is a new take on old-fashioned design trends. It’s a counter to minimalist modern decor. Whether we are talking about home decor or fashion, grandmillenial style celebrates pattern, texture, pastels and embellishments. Think florals on your fabrics, from curtains to tables, and a color palette that reflects the sun, the sky, the seas, and the trees. Rattan and cane in your accents and embellishments like ric rac and scalloped edges. Grandmillenial style is nostalgic and sophisticated (as opposed to more of a retirement village vibe).
It turns out that I have been celebrating this style for much longer than the current trend. I am fortunate enough to have inherited many of my grandmothers’ paintings, dishes, Christmas decorations, and linens. I have always used them regularly because they make my house feel like home to me. Because this trend is everywhere right now, I am having a field day. So here are a few of my favorite new grandmillenial things for spring!
If you want to try this trend without too much commitment or expense, changing out your throw pillows is a great place to start. I hardly ever buy actual throw pillows because I have a bunch around the house. I buy pillow covers and swap them out each season for a fresh look. I don’t know if anyone in my house even notices that I do this, but it makes me happy to celebrate the arrival of each new season. Pillow covers are less expensive, easier to store, and generally create less clutter than a whole closet full of pillows. You can fit a year’s supply on one little shelf.
I have a large sectional couch in my living room. Growing up, the living room was the fancy room you walked past to get to the rooms where you actually lived. It was reserved for special occasions and you weren’t supped to walk on the rug. As an adult, I live in a cape style house and we have one living room, so it’s a family room with a couch that has squashed back pillows and dips in the seats because it’s where we truly live and everyone walks on the rug. Because the couch is so well loved we have throw pillows not just for accents and color but to prop up the dippy squishy parts of the couch. I have these two pillows in the corners of the couch and love them. The colors are a perfect compliment, and the quality is great. Both the floral and the block print are timeless styles that can be used anywhere throughout the house, from a bed to the porch.
The deep center of a sectional sofa is a no man’s land. You know if you have every been the last to sit down on movie night and end up in that spot you can’t reach the coffee table and nowhere to put your drink and snack. Getting out of that spot is similar to gracefully getting out of a beach chair. In order to help out the poor soul stuck in the middle seat, I have a couple of throw pillows there as well, just to give them a boost. If you buy an 18×18 pillow cover, always use a 20×20 insert to give it a fuller look. A lumbar pillow is a gift to anyone over 50. I have two of these. The blue goes really nicely with all of the other blues and greens.
I mentioned rattan and cane and ric rac and scalloped edges and I will share more about those in another post. There is so much great stuff that is affordable and available at your fingertips right now. But next, I want to get outside. I am desperate for spring warmth and sunshine. I am tired of trudging around in the cold, so recently, my daughter and I started playing pickleball. We took a few lessons (indoors), and we were hooked. Is pickleball grandmillenial? I think so, most of the over 55 communities are adding courts and parks are full of families playing together. It’s for everyone. Also…… there is some great pickleball style out there.
One of the best things about pickleball is that there aren’t many barriers to entry. You don’t need a ton of equipment (my kids play ice hockey, baseball and lacrosse so this is a breath of fresh air) and what you do need doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are a few of my recommendations for getting started. First, get an inexpensive set of paddles. If you are taking lessons they may be provided but I like having some to practice on our own. Our set is cute and won’t break the bank. It comes with four pickleball balls as well so again, it’s great for at home practice sessions.
While you can play pickleball in running shoes, I prefer not to. As I’ve mentioned, I am over 50 and if I sneeze wrong I can tear an ACL so I decided it was worth the investment in a court shoe rather than a running shoe. A court shoe has a wider base and offers more stability for the pivoting and turning you will do on the court. I have narrow feet, and this is the shoe I wear. I find it to be super comfortable and have avoided knee pain so far.
Finally, if you want to look the part, you need a bag for all your swag. There are a million bags to choose from, but here is my choice: It’s not too big but has room for all your stuff, it is classically styled and comes with an adjustable cross-body strap. What more could you want?
Now, as much as I would like to, I can’t just play pickleball and fluff pillows all day. I have things to do and I want to be comfortable a look cute doing them. You can cure the Sunday Scaries with a cute top in a bright color. Trust me, I do this most days of the week. When you wear something sunny, you will be surprised at how many people smile at you because it just lifts everyone’s spirits. Pair it with jeans a cute sneaker for all day comfort. Addidas Stan Smiths in white and green are my go-to shoe. I have them in other colors, but this is my favorite shoe for spring and has been for years. There’s no need to change something that works so well. If you are going with green accents for spring, go all in and grab a green handbag as you head out the door. Generally, I like a crossbody bag but since this is smaller handbag size I really like the handle style. It’s vegan leather, affordable, and comes with a matching pouch.
Bringing things back home, let’s wrap up with the kitchen table (or dining room table). Updating the linens for spring breathes new life into your space. I am currently writing this at a cheerful table while it’s cold, gray, and pouring rain outside. Block prints are my favorite way to bring color and prints into my home. While I have florals in my drapes and patterns in my rugs, I think that block prints are the most versatile pattern to swap in and out and coordinate with the ones that don’t change all the time. They are classic and cheerful. These would work with both a patterned tablecloth or a coordinating colored solid one. Just a note about cloth napkins. I know many people only use them for more formal occasions, but we use them daily. I don’t really buy paper napkins unless we have a cookout or go to the shore with a big crowd. I do laundry every day anyway, so to throw a few napkins in the load isn’t a big deal. It’s less paper waste and makes the pizza that’s delivered feel a little more special.
A beautiful tablecloth, patterned napkins, and some fresh flowers are a great way to welcome friends and family into the heart of your home, especially after a game of pickleball :).
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