Just as we can use fashion to express ourselves, interior design can also serve as a way of making a personal statement. One of the most famous interior designers today, Nate Berkus, believes: “Your home should tell the story of who you are and be a collection of what you love”. No other statement more accurately sums up the millennial’s approach to interior design. Millennials are always looking to upgrade their living situations, whether that means moving into a nicer, more spacious rental or purchasing a home for the first time. While experiences rank high on the list of things that millennials value, so too is creating a space that is a reflection of their unique personalities and an embodiment of design that reflects their tastes.

Whether they are going for the modern farmhouse, contemporary or transitional looks, millennials around the world agree that less is more and that interior design is all about smart, original, and creative designs that are both customisable and functional. With those parameters in mind, here are the top five trends influencing design for millennials:

Functional Storage:

For small spaces, storage is key. Look for pieces that have more than one use and take up less space. For instance, instead of a typical coffee table, use a coffee table or upholstered ottoman that doubles as seating and storage.

Accent Walls:

One way to transform a room without spending a lot of money is to create an accent wall. Whether the choice of coating is paint, wallpaper or tiles, adding interest to a single wall creates an interesting focal point for that room.

A mix of old and new:

Millennials have increasingly been drawn to designs that combine the sleek, minimalist lines of modern or mid-century modern furniture with the warmth of heirloom pieces. An example of this kind of inspired pairing is an Eames moulded fibreglass chair with its sleek, architectural lines paired with a repurposed mahogany dining table.

Natural Materials:

The use of rustic elements is a trend that is on the rise. The use of reclaimed wood throughout a home or the use of wood in its more natural state with “live edge” tables is becoming increasingly popular. Tamara Harding’s exquisite Mara Made wooden pieces are a perfect example of this and correspond with larger trends towards other natural materials like stone and iron.

Artistic Aspects:

Adding something artistic and unique to the design of your space offers a degree of customisation which is always important to the millennial. Art is the perfect way to express individuality and leave a unique and distinctive mark on a space.

Although rustic and artistic elements are definitely on the rise among the millennials, the overall design scheme popular with this group is still essentially modern. Simpler designs with a minimalist feel are definitely the way to go for trendy!

Six Proven Decorating Tips

1 Rug size is everything

A small rug is like a dress that’s too tight. It’s just a bad idea no matter how expensive or beautiful it is. A rug forms the foundation of a room, defines the space and anchors your furniture, so a tiny rug that just fits under a coffee table will only emphasise the table and won’t connect the rest of the room. A general rule of thumb: If your furniture floats, your rug should be touching if not holding all of that furniture. If your furniture is wall-bound, you can get away with only the front legs on the rug.

2 Editing is a master skill everyone should learn

Think of your home accessories like jewellery for your room. You need to know when too much of a good thing is really a bad thing. With accessories sometimes less is more. Take a good look at your space and purge where necessary to avoid accents looking more like clutter and less like statement pieces. If you can’t part with your treasures, consider rotating items like a museum. You will discover and appreciate your possessions much more.

3 Mix and match high/low finds

Matching is for preschoolers. Don’t feel compelled to buy the entire set. Invest in a good quality sofa with great lines and durable fabric and then find coordinating/contrasting accent seating that will give your space a personalised yet pulled-together look.

4 Great composition is key to good balance

…in a room, on a console table, on top of a dresser, just about anywhere in your home. Think about scale, shape and how objects harmonise. Ask yourself ‘which of these things is not like the others?’ Then eliminate the item that feels out of place. Grouping items of similar shape, colour, material or style, is a good way to make things feel cohesive. A general rule of thumb is that objects look better grouped together in odd number arrangements.

5 Pillows are more important than you think

Pillows make a room feel cosy, so resist the urge to skimp when shopping. Also, remember that a pair of matching pillows does not have to live on the same piece of furniture. There’s no design rule that says so.

6 Shop your own house

Breathe new life into an old possession by simply moving it. You’d be surprised how “old” looks new again when you place it in a different room or on a different piece of furniture.