10 Questions for Gen Z on Interior Design & Where They Shop (2024)

Renting for the first time at the height of the pandemic, Gen Z had to make home design choices not just based on style and affordability but also functionality—that vanity in the corner suddenly had to triple as a desk and kitchen table. And while the pandemic era led to Americans buying fast furniture more than ever before with sales jumping to $4 billion from 2019-2021, Gen Z found inspiration in more creative and niche pockets of the internet.

They also gawk at being identified by any single trend like maximalism, and lean away from mass production. When given the choice, they’d almost always choose vintage or secondhand furniture over fast furniture—proof of this seen in secondhand furniture retailer Cherish which saw a 60% increase in sales in 2020. Vintage items, which can be sturdier and have less chance of being copied by their peers, hit on two important factors for Gen Z: sustainability and individuality. We gathered four Gen Z D1A employees to discuss what inspires their design choices, why they love secondhand furniture and how they define their generation’s style:

How would you describe your decorating style in your home or apartment using three words or less?

Vivian: Curated, warm, cozy.

Aodan: Eclectic, warm, functional.

Nicole: Biophilic, modern, cozy!

Yohance: Found Furniture, my art, functional.

What inspires your style and where do you get new ideas from? Which platforms or creators?

Nicole: Right now I’m particularly feeling the ’70s! For new ideas, especially when thinking about how to give them a modern twist, I’m typically on Pinterest, TikTok or cool interior design and architecture pages on Instagram.

Vivian: I like mixing my styles from my home in Hawaii and the city—here in NY—like mixing foliage and natural materials that function in NY. I usually get inspo from Instagram accounts, TikTok and I love a good celeb Architectural Digest video too.

If Millennials are known for their minimalist design taste, Gen Z is known for maximalist. How do you feel about the trends that define Gen Z’s design taste (Mush Studios rugs, Sottsass mirror, etc.)?

You all kind of answered this a bit in your previous responses but how do you feel about vintage looks and getting secondhand furniture?

Nicole: Honestly if I could afford it, everything in my apartment would be vintage and thrifted.

Vivian: 85% of my stuff is secondhand/vintage/thrifted. But my couch and bed are new because it'd be grodie to thrift that.

Yohance: Secondhand if it's truly old. I find old furniture is built better.

Nicole: Secondhand is always hotter design-wise.

Vivian: I’ve definitely found amazing deals on Facebook Marketplace and eBay. (I go into bidding wars.) For example, I got 2 Thonet dining chairs for $300 but they go for $700 online.

Aodan: Slay.

Vivian: So slay.

Specifically, how important is it to you to purchase secondhand versus new from brands like Wayfair, West Elm, CB2 etc.?

Aodan: I think it’s more so about the price for me. I think most of my stuff is vintage/thrifted because it tends to be more within my price range. Or, if I’m going to spend a couple hundred on something I’d rather get something pre-loved and sturdy than brand new and from a mass manufacturing company that doesn't make stuff that lasts.

These days there’s so much “disposable” furniture (sales on some furniture jumped to 4 billion between 2019-2021.) Are you thinking about sustainability when you’re purchasing furniture or is it more about getting the look no matter how you’re sourcing it?

How has your decorating style evolved since the pandemic started? (How if at all has working from home changed or been incorporated into your decorating style and what you purchase?)

Yohance: Since the pandemic I've adopted a lot of low to the ground seating and tables.

Vivian I definitely cared more about my space since I was spending all my time there. I spent the majority of the pandemic in my old studio, so I had to adapt to being in my tiny square by upgrading my furniture/decor (having a fire escape helped too).

Aodan: I moved to Brooklyn from Portland during the pandemic so I downsized a lot. I also think in general I’ve invested more money into my space because I spend a lot of time in my room working, so having a quality environment has been important, especially during the winter months.

Nicole: I’ve never been one for desks so my work station is typically wherever I feel most comfortable.

Vivian: Same. I had to upgrade my vanity into a workstation!

Nicole: [I go] between my couch, bed, floor and kitchen island.

Is anyone into the “happy colors” trend? The trend is all about multiple big bold, bright colors all featured together, ignoring a “color scheme” so to speak.

Nicole: As an organization/neat freak I can't say I’m a fan (of this) for my own space. I’ve used colors to lay out my color palette more than once.

Aodan: Respectfully, not really my style. For pops of color I tend to lean on artwork rather than furniture since artwork is a little easier to cycle through and I could see myself getting tired of this really quickly.

Yohance: When all the color comes from the furniture it feels overwhelming. But when a good amount of color is coming from plants and flowers, I find that appealing.

Vivian: I’m not a fan, but people can experiment however they want. I like to stick to a color palette, but don't mind a pop of color that might contrast.

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