Gen Z won't be dreaming of a beige Christmas this year.
The lifeless minimalism pioneered by millennial influencers, who designed their interiors and wardrobes to fit their Instagram feeds, is being pushed aside by Gen Z, who are desperate for that spark of joy that comes from a “more is more” approach.
One TikTok user named Avery is not decorating his home like a “Crate and Barrel showroom,” but is instead going for a “nostalgic” Christmas with gaudy, multi-colored lights, a variety of mismatched ornaments, and glittering decorations so shiny they're almost cheesy.
“This year I'm determined not to partake in a minimalist, beige Christmas,” the Washington state resident declared in a TikTok video that has been viewed 1.2 million times.
It may be “simple” and “cute” and, as one commenter pointed out, an understated celebration of the holidays even after the festivities are over, but millennial minimalism just isn't “enough” for her tastes.
The minimalist, beige aesthetic most often promoted by millennials doesn't really exude a festive vibe. @aver.deedle/tiktok Instead, Avery suggested a more vibrant, nostalgic Christmas: a tree adorned with dazzling, colorful light bulbs, a pile of presents wrapped in different colored wrapping paper, and, of course, a sprinkling of sparkly ornaments. @aver.deedle/tiktok
One of the most prominent advocates of sandy beige minimalism is none other than Kim Kardashian, who was criticized for her lackluster Christmas decorations last year, despite featuring simple, sparkly tree motifs throughout her home.
“This year's theme is a nostalgic early 2000s Christmas,” Avery continued, alongside a photo of a teetering tree covered in ornaments of every color and size, haphazardly strung sparkly decorations, and bathed in the dazzling reddish-orange light of technicolor bulbs.
Like the kitschy Tannenbaum of cult classics National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and The Grinch, its flamboyance is comforting and familiar.
“I think it's the coziness that comes from decorating as if someone lives in it — colorful lights and random wrapping paper are what draw me to this Crate and Barrel showroom,” the TikTok user explained, adding that she plans to line her mantel with knitted stockings to bring in a “vintage” vibe.
The lifestyle and mommy blog promoted a minimalist aesthetic that was aesthetically pleasing, with everything in sad shades of beige, gray, and ivory. Getty Images
She claimed she was surprised by her penchant for overly saturated decor to herald the season.
“If you would have told me a few years ago that I'd be decorating my house with rainbow lights, I would have laughed,” she says, “but I'm obsessed with it. It's so Christmassy and so fun and really gets you in the holiday spirit.”
“It's not necessarily the most beautiful looking thing in the world,” Avery says, though in another video he shows off an impressive display of colorful lights strewn across bushes and rooftops.
“It feels like Christmas back home in the 2000s,” one viewer agreed in the comments section.
“My Christmas aesthetic is as tacky as possible but I love it,” praised another.
But some members of Gen Z are hoping to bring the sparkle back into Christmas with color and kitschy decorations. Getty Images/iStockphoto
“My ornaments are far from complete but they all have meaning – they're things I love, gifts, milestones in my life. They're all very special and personal,” explained one TikTok user.
“Love a maximalist Christmas,” cheered another.
The overwhelming preference for vibrancy and color coincides with younger generations' preference for bright hues and patterns.
One interior design expert noted that Zoomers are drawn to the colorful covers of Asselin coffee table books, pastel squiggle mirrors and cow prints.