Millennials are feeling ‘attacked’ by their ‘grey’ decor stereotype

Millennials across the internet are feeling “attacked” after realising they have fallen victim to a “sad” stereotype.

Millennials across the internet are realising, to their horror, that a key stereotype about their generation’s interior design sense may actually be based in truth.

The term ‘Millennial grey’ is thrown around a lot online, particularly by Gen Zers mocking the elder generation for their decor choices.

If you haven’t heard of the term, it relates to the various shades of grey decor, paint and furnishings that have grown in popularity since the 2010s and have seemingly become synonymous with how Millennials choose to decorate their homes.

Urban Dictionary sums up the term as the “sad depressive hue of the colour grey which many Millennials coat their life in”.

Now, it seems that many in the generation are realising they have played right into this stereotype.

One TikTok user, who goes by BikTok online, went viral after sharing a video of her home brimming with grey decor.

“When you realise why they call it ‘Millennial grey’,” the creator wrote, adding that she was feeling “attacked” by the revelation.

Her lounge, curtains, rugs, pillows, dining chairs, bathroom tiles and even her bedding were all various shades of grey.

The video has gained more than 730,000 views and thousands of comments, with many fellow Millennials also realising they also fit the stereotype.

“Not me watching this while my bed sheets (are) millennial grey while wearing a Millennial grey dress,” one commenter said.

“Me sitting on my Millennial grey sectional, grey blanket and light grey wall,” another wrote.

One added: “I feel attacked and seen at the same time.”

This home features various shades of ‘Millennial grey’. Picture: iStock

Others offered theories on why Millennials seemed to be so drawn to grey furnishings, with many blaming it on being “overstimulated” by the vibrant colour schemes of their childhood homes.

“Millennial grey is a direct response to the outlandish colour schemes of the 80s and 90s we are just overstimulated,” one person said.

“We were traumatised by different colour rooms growing up,” another wrote.

Another said: “We grew up with parents and grandparents with bright coloured everything. Pink bathroom tiles. Red carpet. Green toilets. We needed a break from colour.”

It turns out your home decor isn’t the only thing that is giving away your age. One social media user claimed something as simple as your socks can signal whether you are a Millennial or Gen Zer.

“Gen Z exclusively wears their socks up and Millennials still wear ankle socks,” Phoebe Parsons, the Millennial host of the FIT (ish) podcast, claimed in a TikTok.

Phoebe Parsons claimed all she has to do to figure out a woman’s generation is look at her feet for a certain ‘controversial’ fashion trend. Picture: Phoebe Parsons/TikTok

‘Gen Z exclusively wears their socks up and Millennials still wear ankle socks,’ she claimed. Picture: Phoebe Parsons/TikTok

The pilates and barre instructor then showed that she, a Millennial, was wearing ankle socks while recording the video.

For a while, ankle and no-show socks were standard — but longer socks started to make a comeback in 2020.

There were a few runway moments early that year that featured a white tube sock, but the trend really started to uptick when people were staying home during the height of the pandemic and weren’t wearing “real” clothes or shoes.

Gen Z has adopted the trend as a mainstay of fashion, but many Millennials in the comments still swear by their no-shows.

“As someone with short legs, hidden socks are best for elongating the legs,” one said.

“Socks up remind me of when my mum would dress me as a child. It makes me feel like a small child,” someone pointed out.

Originally published as Millennials are feeling ‘attacked’ by their ‘grey’ decor stereotype