9 Gen Z Trends That Won't Last the Decade, According to Designers

I don’t want to brag or anything, but I’m Generation Z. TechnicallyI’m on the threshold between Millennial and Gen Z, but I identify more with the latter when it comes to pop culture references, my preferred clothing style, and whether or not I laugh at certain jokes while watching SNL. Even though my generation is very different from the generation before it, we still have some similarities, despite what social media may try to tell you. However, what all generations have in common is that no matter how cool you think you are now, the generations after you will mercilessly mock every single one of your decisions, especially when it comes to interior design.

Baby boomers put carpets in the bathrooms and covered beautiful hardwood floors with linoleum. Millennials rocked chevron patterns and some moody (and creased) tapestries in every room of the house. All of these design trends were hot At a certain point – then after about ten years they became the source of endless creeping. And next it’s Generation Z’s turn.

We asked experienced interior designers which Zoomer trends they think won’t make it into the next decade – i.e. which trends you should stop investing in now. Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but will you really look in your foam mirror in 2034 and think, “Yeah, it’s still cute”? We didn’t think so. That’s not to say that these design choices are exclusively trendy, but the way Gen Z uses them is what makes them so. Read on to find out which Gen Z interior design trends are likely to cause so many grim faces in the coming years.

Squiggle mirror

Designer Hilary Matt sums it up: squiggle mirrors. “I think the Ultrafragola mirror will always be vintage and cool (even though it goes in and out of fashion), but the copies and similar squiggle mirrors will be something we look back on as a trend,” she explains.

Mushroom print

Matt also adds, “Kitschy mushroom prints will definitely be something we look back on as a Gen Z trend.” That’s really because the print and mushroom shape has been overused in a short period of time, she explains, from wallpaper on down Poufs to cushions and more.

Everything over-baked

“Wavy tiles, mirrors, lampshades, furniture… A little goes a long way,” explains designer Liz Caan. “Instead of feeling sophisticated and original like a Piero Portaluppi sofa or a pair of lampshades in a room, it feels on the bath mat, the towel, the tile, the mirror, the vanity, the bed. Sometimes it’s fashionable to be square!”

Coastal surfaces

Much like bows and scalloped edges, coastal styles remain timeless—as long as they’re used correctly. “Coastal finishes such as cane, rattan and whitewashed furniture are generally timeless when used appropriately, but not when used out of context… such as in a formal property,” adds Caan. “It has also morphed into ‘college chic’ and is only truly chic when it is well made and used in appropriate settings.”

Bubble furniture

Betsy Burnham of Burnham Design has a love-hate relationship with bubble furniture, or “plump furniture” as she calls it. “One or two pieces in a project look fresh to me, but the flood of this trend in the market only serves to dilute the cool effect. I was recently looking for some young clients – who happen to be traditionalists – and found myself wondering why a chair can’t just look like a chair anymore?!”

Arches

“While bows have their place in classic, timeless interiors, the Gen Z trend is on the decline,” explains Meghan Jay. “Accessories with bows look youthful now – as do food-inspired accessories!” As a member of Generation Z, I know what she means – I’ve often picked up a bow candle holder or a bow shower curtain from Urban Outfitters and then bought it again to put it back because I know I’ll get tired of it soon. However, this hasn’t affected my overall love of romantic relationships.

“All-in” aesthetic

“Decorating among Generation Z seems to be all-in, and by that I mean a serious commitment to a specific look, often portrayed in a Barbie Dream House color palette,” says Schuyler Samperton. “These interiors also lack any personal touch – interiors without a hint of personality will not stand the test of time.”

Food themed decor

As a Gen Z editor, I’m already tired of this trend. Like most of these other trends, fruit decor can work if used sparingly, but the excessive side tables, ottomans, and small knick-knacks just become too much. I don’t want my living room to look like a can of fruit cocktail exploded, and I think we’ll see the remnants of this trend in Goodwills across the country sooner rather than later.

Cow print

Even though Madé Lapuerta – the woman behind the Instagram account @databutmakeitfashion – just posted that the cow pattern is becoming increasingly popular according to her analysis, I think the parable is about to die down when it comes to interior design. Although a classic cow print rug will always be famous in my eyes, the more cartoonish pattern already feels a bit tacky.

Follow House beautiful To Instagram And TikTok.

9 Gen Z Trends That Won’t Last the Decade, According to Designers