The #1 Reason Millennials Choose Depressing Colors

Everywhere you look—open houses, Pinterest boards, Instagram stories—it’s gray, gray, and more gray. This generation has a serious aversion to color in their homes, and younger Gen Z folks have some strong feelings about it.

According to a recent article HuffPost.com, Urban Dictionary even has a term for it: “Millennial gray.” It’s described as the "sad depressive hue" that coats the lives of millennials, reflecting their journey from the carefree '90s to the inflation and depression of the early 2020s.

One commenter on X (formerly known as Twitter) wished misfortunes upon millennial house flippers who turn charming homes into "soulless gray blobs," according to HuffPost.

(Total disclosure here. My whole house interior is either Benjamin Moore's Picket Fence or Sherwin Williams' Heron Plume. I love the colors and I don't think it's SUPER boring. But it's definitely not colorful.)

On TikTok, some millennials are self-aware enough to poke fun at their drab decor. User @victoria.thatsit shows off her home: gray bathroom, gray floor, gray counters, gray mat, gray chairs, gray couches, gray dog beds, and even gray dogs. It’s all gray, all the time. Occasionally, there’s a splash of green—like the famous millennial green couch—but mostly, it’s an endless sea of gray.

The gray trend isn’t limited to interiors. The exteriors of homes get the gray treatment too. Real estate listings are full of modern farmhouses with gray, charcoal, and black hues. Chip and Joanna Gaines, anyone?

So, what’s up with this gray obsession? What’s happening in the millennial mind that makes this bland, almost corporate look so appealing? Is it boring, or is it a classic and calming choice? HuffPost has some answers.

According to the article, it’s a rebellion against their parents' over-the-top decor. If you grew up in the '90s, your parents probably had a shabby chic style with lace, gingham, and flea-market finds, or perhaps the Tuscan-villa look, à la Tony and Carmela Soprano’s home.

OMG,. remember the Southwestern aesthetic with salmon, turquoise, and beige? Millennials crave simplicity after all that chaos, says Marissa Warner, an interior designer from Ontario, Canada. Gray provides a serene escape from their overstimulating childhood homes.

Gray is also a reaction to the overuse of beige in the '90s. “There was an over-saturation of yellow ‘builder beige’ in the ’90s when most Millennials grew up,” Loren Kreiss, a Los Angeles-based interior designer told the HuffPost.

Millennials are naturally allergic to warm colors, turning instead to gray. The rise of Restoration Hardware’s gray-heavy designs over the last decade hasn’t hurt either.

Millennials are known for their high stress levels, dealing with economic collapses, climate anxiety, student loan debt, and a housing crisis. Gray’s calming effect is a big draw, explains Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a therapist in San Diego in the article.

A neutral, uncluttered home can provide stability and control in a chaotic world.

Sustainability is another factor. A 2023 Deloitte survey found that 60% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable products. Neutrals like gray don’t go out of style quickly, meaning fewer replacements and a smaller environmental impact.

Finally, gray is gender-neutral, which appeals to millennial couples trying to create an equitable home design. It’s also why many millennial parents opt for “sad beige” palettes for their kids’ clothes and rooms, avoiding old-school gender stereotypes.

So, while millennials might be a bit obsessed with gray, there’s a method to the monochrome madness. It’s calming, sustainable, and a rebellion against their parents' maximalist tendencies. Plus, it looks pretty darn chic. Thanks to HuffPost for diving deep into this colorful—or not so colorful—trend.

8 Top Reasons Gen Zers and Millennials Despise Working with Boomers

A new study by news.au.com reveals the top reasons Gen Xers and Millennials despise working with boomers.

According the the survey, boomers make the younger generations nutso at the office.

Ah, the timeless battle of the generations: Millennials and Gen Zers, those tech-savvy, avocado-toast-loving youngsters versus Boomers, the seasoned veterans of the workplace.

First off, technology.  Come on, it's the 21st century! When a Boomer asks a Millennial for help with something as simple as attaching a file to an email or using a smartphone, it's hard not to let out an sigh. All they want is Boomers to embrace the wonders of technology!

And then there's the classic Boomer habit of telling younger people how things used to be.

When they're discussing a project or sharing ideas, it's frustrating when Boomers chime in with, "Back in my day, we didn't have fancy computers; we used typewriters!"

Let's not forget about the infamous Boomer work ethic.

While they admire their dedication, it can be overwhelming. Boomers have a tendency to put in long hours, making Gen Zers and Millennials feel guilty for leaving on time.

So, when Boomers shoot them that disapproving look as they pack up to go home, they can't help but roll their eyes.

Another source of annoyance is the Boomers' resistance to change. Millennials thrive on innovation and adaptability. They embrace new ideas and technologies with open arms. However, when they propose a new approach or suggest a digital solution, Boomers often respond with, "That's not how we've always done it."

The clash between Millennials and Boomers in the workplace can be a never-ending source of irritation. Whether it's their tech struggles, nostalgic anecdotes, workaholic tendencies, or resistance to change, Boomers have a knack for testing the young ones' patience.

But let's remember, every generation has its quirks. So, rather than letting these annoyances consume us, let's find common ground, bridge the generational gap, and create a more harmonious work environment.

"Boomers are far too liberal when using the reply-all button. Young people are much more personal with their approach to work and don’t like their business broadcasted to the entire company."

According the survey, one respondent said: "My qualm is how they ring your mobile with no regard for your calendar – like, I’m in meetings all day. You don’t get to skip the queue" and “The use of calls because ‘it’s easier to explain over the phone’. No, you are just too lazy to type it out, so now I have to dictate the request, and then there’s no paper trail. If there’s an error they can blame you.”

"Boomers tend to eat up your time with questions they could answer themselves via the internet," according to the survey. “Asking technology questions they could easily Google,” one person said.

"Georgia is sick of the outdated language that some are still spewing into office culture. “Passive-aggressive ‘loves’ or ‘darls,’” she explained was her main gripe."

"Lacey is more obsessed with the damage they are doing to the environment. “Why do they have to print everything?” she asked."

 "*Jess finds their obsession with promotions tedious. “They are just so power hungry,” she complained."

"Amy just can’t stand their need to make everything so official. “Why does everything have to be a formal meeting? They just love creating stale environments.”

"Rebecca just wants Boomers to stop obsessing over office presence. “So many of them believe we work better in the office and we just don’t!”"