What Do Millennials Want in their Homes?
Millennials have entered the home-buying market–with the eldest of them just a few years shy of 40. How are they buying homes differently? What are they looking for inside?
How Much Space Do Millennials Want?
There is a misconception that millennials are all hopping on the tiny house trend and living in communal yurts. But that has been greatly exaggerated. On the contrary, they are just more particular about how their space is utilized. Especially in the urban coastal market, millennials want space for pets and entertaining, so indoor-outdoor space is a priority. They just don’t have kids yet, so they’re not buying or renting properties with as many bedrooms.
How Should a Millennial’s Home Be Built?
More important than space, is how well it is utilized. Built in storage and intelligently utilized rooms are greatly valued amongst this customer base. You know that formal dining room you use once or twice a year? They don’t want it! Instead, convert that space into an office or a butler’s pantry, or a laundry/mud room. Or–and this is a big one– a second or third bedroom to list on vacation rental sites like Air Bnb, VRBO, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Outdoor, some of our favorite 70’s trends are coming back like conversation pits! Outfitted outdoor living rooms are popular amongst this crowd who loves to entertain. Think: Fully-furnished cozy seating around fire pits and a wine and beer fridge…
Millennial Interior Design Buying Patterns
This is a demographic of individuals who appreciates art and design. They’re not as into the big box stores, and value niche, creative products as a result of their access to endless content on sites like Instagram, Pinterest, Houzz, etc. Another bit of information they’re able to access are all of the details about how a product is made and from where it comes.
This actually imbues a sense of purchasing responsibility so they value buying sustainable products, artisan products, which makes it difficult to summarize a singular aesthetic that can be bottled and mass produced. This is great news for designers and builders like us at SoCal Contractor who prioritize sustainable building.
Regardless of any one particular design style, there are a few aesthetic trends that emerge from an architectural perspective. Because these are entertaining pads that should move seamlessly from indoors to out, you see a lot of consistent materials and palettes used throughout the entire home.
Millennials like a cleaner, decluttered, more contemporary look than previous generations, but one that’s not so starkly modern. Engineered stone or counter tops made from recycled materials with straight lines are easier to clean than something with moulding detail along the edge, so it’s again, another aesthetic element motivated by how they live.
We Hear Millennials Like Technology…
Yes, but they are less distracted by shiny toys than you might think and affordability is a deciding factor. After all, the iPhone pretty much does everything they need already. Which is actually a really important point: If there is a home technology that can be controlled via smartphone– they’re all about it! That means LED lights, smart thermostats, and built-in sound. These are all greatly tied to how they are living: these are people who generally really like to entertain at home.
Another element of technology you’ll see are hidden and better integrated charging stations throughout the home: Under kitchen counters or hidden inside drawers, but plentiful and always easily accessible.
Speaking of the kitchen: What’s actually more important to millennial buyers than tech in the kitchen, is storage and efficiency– much like their Gen X and Boomer predecessors. Built in knife storage, for example, or cupboard shelving with stacked drawers are particularly appealing.
Shop Millennial Home Decor + Style
Learn more about designing for millennials by reading this article here.
