Airbnb has revealed the surprising trend taking over vacation homes

The controversial grandmillennial trend has taken over the rental site – and it’s going nowhere fast

Grandmillennial trend on Airbnb
(Image credit: Airbnb)

The Grandmillennial trend is making waves online, and no website is safe – not least Airbnb. The vacation rental site has revealed ‘grandmillennial’ as one of their most popular buzzwords for 2022 – meaning this controversial trend is expected to stick around for seasons ahead. 

The term ‘grandmillennial’ was non-existent prior to 2020 when it first appeared as a hashtag on social media. The style is a portmanteau of ‘grandma and millennial’ that acts as a rebellion against minimalism. 

Think of a revival of your grandparent’s most audacious design features – blousy ruffles, needlepoint, and chintz included. This interior design trend is not for the faint of heart. 

Grandmillennial trend on Airbnb

(Image credit: Airbnb)

Going all-out grandmillennial in your home is a long-time commitment, but what happens when you want to flirt with the trend? Enter Airbnb – the site that offers temporary homes to those who can indulge in grandmillennial without tainting their scheme. There are currently over 14,000 listings on Airbnb that feature ‘grandmillenial’ in their descriptions, including the three properties below.

Whether you love it or loathe it, these properties epitomize the trend set to dominate vacation homes in 2022.

Apartment in Alberta, Canada 

Grandmillennial trend in Canada

(Image credit: Airbnb)

Featuring plush velvet sofas on a chintz backdrop, this apartment available to book on Airbnb is a trove of grandmillenial decorating ideas in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. Alongside its botanical prints, the apartment combines gold light fixtures with a fringe revival that adds a sense of retro regency to the social-media-approved space. 

Norwood Roses cottage, Toowoomba, Australia 

Grandmillennial trend on Airbnb

(Image credit: Airbnb)

A former corner store constructed in 1895 may sound like an unlikely source of interior design ideas, but that is not the case with Norwood Roses cottage. The pink-hued hangout is a grandmillennial lover’s dream, complete with velvet seats, ornate rugs, and an abundance of floral prints. Marie Kondo fans, look away now.  

The Strawberry Cottage, Nova Scotia, Canada 

Grandmillennial trend on Airbnb

(Image credit: Airbnb)

Tucked amid Nova Scotia’s mountainous, the aptly-named Strawberry Cottage hints at quaint design features – and its interiors do not disappoint. While the entire home pays homage to the grandmillenial trend, there are some nooks that are especially fitting. This includes a storage space that will send you straight back to your great-grandparent’s house – if that's what you want from your vacation home. 

Whatever your thoughts on this bold movement, we expect you may need to adjust to an overflow of chintz in the year ahead. 

Megan Slack

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, well-being stories, and celebrity-focused pieces.


Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.