Gen Z may be known for setting the internet abuzz with fashion, beauty, and lifestyle trends, but when it comes to modern home design, they are surprisingly opinionated about what doesn’t work. While they embrace freshness and originality, many popular styles don’t sit well with them.
- Take concrete floors, for instance. Many feel they’re uninviting, cold underfoot, and nearly impossible to keep spotless. Similarly, the boxy look of modern architecture leaves them longing for warmth and soul rather than minimalist cubes. The much-hyped open-concept layouts also earn criticism. Gen Z wants cosy walls, character, and even wood panelling instead of endless grey spaces that feel impersonal.
- Minimalism itself has lost its charm with this generation. The beige and greige tones, clean lines, and bare walls feel sterile to them. Instead, they crave colour, eclectic details, and what they call a “lived-in” vibe — a gentle push toward maximalism. Even decorative choices like wainscoting don’t impress them, especially when it’s used artificially to give homes a false sense of age.
- Kitchens are another big talking point. White cabinets and all-white kitchens, though widely popular, frustrate Gen Z. They’re seen as impractical, quick to show grease and fingerprints, and lacking originality. Many would prefer a return of warmer tones and richer colours. Open shelving in kitchens also makes the disliked list, mostly because of the dirt and maintenance it invites.
- Other features they’re ready to see fade include accented ceilings, which are expensive and often unattractive, and smear brick exteriors, which they fear will look outdated within a decade. The fashion for bathrooms that include open-wall showers also sparks disdain. While there is undoubtedly a defining modern aesthetic in the hotel space, most Gen Z reject the lack of warmth and privacy that open showers impart in the home.
In a nutshell, Gen Z want spaces with heart, colour, and comfort in their homes. Their assessment of the most popular design trends today emphasizes a transition away from cold minimalism to spaces that feel warm, honest, and authentic.
