Often, I have found myself in discussions with customers of the Baby Boomer generation about the furniture tastes of their children. Usually these discussions flow from parent’s concerns that their children will not want to inherit the furniture they have collected because of the perceived differing tastes between their generations. Parents seem to think that their Millennial children aren’t as interested as they are in the quality and craftsmanship of furniture handcrafted or manufactured today or care that the furniture they purchase will have lasting value beyond the latest trends.

While there is some truth to what these parents say, there are professional designers who seek to take the pulse of current design indicators who highlight what interests Millennials when it comes to the design choices they are making for their living spaces today.

These designers are finding that as Millennials begin the home buying or renting phase of life, they are showing a preference for “less is more” and that the living spaces they are choosing are characterized by their desire for spaces that are functional and sustainable. Also important for the Millennials is their desire to design their interiors in a way that reflects their personal style. They like to ‘customize” their space with handcrafted pieces and unique vintage items---- creating an interior environment that is comfortable and personal in its expression. For Millennials, creating a specific vibe in their home is more important than embracing a particular design style.

It may also be surprising to many of the Baby Boomers, that in early 2018, Trulia, a home and neighborhood online site, conducted a survey of 2,000 Americans ages 18-34 years old and found that Millennials favored the Craftsman style of home 52% vs. 36% of those 55+. This style of home connects with the Millennial sense of simplicity with personality which are truly hallmarks of the Craftsman design aesthetic. Baby Boomer purists may believe that a Craftsman home needs authentic Mission/Craftsman Arts & Crafts furniture. Millennial’s have a more “transitional” design disposition. The kitschy design term “matchy-matchy” is not part of their design sensibility. They will mix classic craftsman pieces with artfully designed furniture from other design styles that compliment the simple and direct characteristics of the craftsman Mission style.

So, I believe that Baby Boomer parents need not despair regarding the future of their craftsman Mission style furniture. I bet they will find that their Millennial children will be happy to accept and treasure the furniture pieces that compliment best their personal style and that captures the vibe they are hoping to create in their homes----- remember Boomers, it was your generation that coined the phrase “Good Vibes”!