The latest data from Google Trends reveals that color is officially “out of fashion” for millennials, with searches for the phrases “millennial gray” and “millennial grey” soaring 5,000% in May and “millennial gray house” being the top trending related search in the U.S. Despite social media’s push for colorful, eye-catching aesthetics like dopamine decorating and maximalism, reality It’s that people are still sticking to their beloved neutrality.
In fact, Sherwin-Williams confirmed that Agreeable Gray SW 7029 was the second best-selling interior color for 2023, with three other gray shades taking up the top 20 spots and making up a pretty large portion of the most popular colors.
What exactly is “Millennial Grey”?
At face value, millennial gray is exactly what it sounds like: gray. But if you search for the hashtag on TikTok, and you’re greeted with over 131 million results, you’ll quickly see that it’s more than just a color. It’s an aesthetic that involves blanketing a home in every shade of gray imaginable, resulting in a fairly monochromatic space. And the reason it’s called “gray” is because… Millennials Because only people in their 30s buy into this decorating philosophy… at least, that’s what some younger TikTok users say.
There’s an unfortunate stereotype that millennials are stymied by a dreary color palette and that they cover their entire homes in gray, top to bottom, inside and out. TikTok is rife with examples of millennials showing off their all-gray homes. Content creator @stephanie_villega “cries over millennial gray” as she gives a tour of her colorless home.
The Beginnings of “Millennial Grey”
It’s hard to say for sure what sparked millennials’ supposed passion for the “bland” color scheme, though origin theories abound on forums like Reddit. Some say it’s a direct response to their baby boomer parents’ Mediterranean-inspired decorating choices, favoring warm, earthy colors like gold, orange, and terra cotta.
Some speculate that it’s a sign of millennial anxiety, but one of the most compelling theories is that gray design elements, from flooring to paint to casework, are the basis for the trend. It was touted as modern, innovative and versatile, which is why it was used heavily in show décor in the late 2000s.
And we thought Gray hit its peak in the design world in the early 2010s, but despite the emergence of other contenders, many millennials just can’t seem to shed the unattractive shade. “Beige is a hot trend right now and it’s not going away anytime soon,” says Lisa Moon, professional painter and co-owner of Paper Moon Painting in Texas.
She says her clients are requesting this neutral hue as often as, if not more than, gray. “I’d say ‘millennial beige’ is kind of on the rise!” she says (though some TikTok users are calling it “sad beige”). While she completely agrees with Moon that beige, and warm colors in general, are popular, teeth Although it’s a trend, it’s also true that many people, especially millennials, continue to choose 50+ shades of gray for their homes.
A Designer’s Perspective on “Millennial Gray”
Interior designer Gretchen Murdoch of Modtage Design in San Francisco offers her take on why millennials are drawn to this color scheme time and time again: “One reason is that they feel overwhelmed with so many options and that gray is a safe color scheme,” she explains.
Murdoch points out that the real estate market may also have played a big role: “I think it’s worth noting that grey has become a staple choice for property flippers, often chosen because it’s neutral and has broad appeal to potential buyers. In my opinion, this gives the false impression that grey is a great palette to incorporate into your home.”
Murdoch adds that when clients ask for a millennial grey theme, they gently steer away from it, as “the limited palette often results in a look that lacks the warmth and vibrancy needed to make a space feel alive and welcoming. Often times, this shade of grey can have a negative effect on the psyche and subconscious. We believe a home should be a place of comfort.”
What to do with grey hair
If you think you’ve fallen into the grey millennial mentality, you have options. There’s nothing shameful about having a grey home, so you can have it. If it’s something you truly love and that makes you happy, then keep it!
However, you may not be satisfied with your design choices and lack inspiration. Too Far from a neutral aesthetic, Murdoch recommends a “warm monochromatic palette”: “Instead of leaning towards cooler, darker shades of gray, I suggest leaning towards warmer grays and beiges and layering texture and different shades and tones to create depth and sophistication in the space.”
