Designers, ignore the whims of TikTok at your own risk, because the app’s young users are fueling some of the biggest interior design trends of the year. In the past, that’s included cottagecore, DIY rug tufting, and ultra-organized pantries. Now, we’re seeing a fresh wave of trending hashtags relating to the home, and some of them are truly surprising.

Coastal Grandma

Large living room decked out in the trendy

Continue reading below
Our Featured Videos

Image via Purple Cherry Architects

You just never know what’s going to blow up on TikTok next. Would you have thought, for instance, that teenagers would see Diane Keaton’s home in the 2003 movie Something’s Gotta Give as interior design inspiration? The trend is called “coastal grandma,” and it’s all about creating a beachy, relaxed yet clean and organized vibe that says “yes, we have money.” 26-year-old TikToker Lex Nicoleta claims to have coined the phrase, and her channel is loaded with both tips for achieving the aesthetic and surprising references ranging from Reese Witherspoon to Oprah.

Natural linen textiles and neutral tones form the backdrop for this style, which is accented with vaguely coastal themed accessories like throw pillows and wicker baskets. Amber lamps, fresh floral displays, and lightweight curtains softly billowing in the breeze complete the effect. Much of this trend actually draws from Hamptons-style decor, so be sure to check out our guide to the classic coastal style.

#Cluttercore

Adorable maximalist dining space proudly celebrates the art of cluttercore.

Image via The Apartment Copenhagen

Hold onto your hairpin legs, because midcentury modern is over, according to Gen Z. Considering that it’s been the ultimate interior design style goal for several generations now, we shouldn’t be too surprised. Also out is the kind of aseptic minimalism that makes you feel like you’re in a hospital instead of a home. Instead, young trendsetters are embracing a kind of lived-in maximalism that conveys the fact that a real person occupies the space.

The point isn’t to fill your house with a bunch of junk you don’t need. It’s to surround yourself with things you love and use. The goal is a sort of curated mess, or a feast of eye candy that gives your guests something new to look at each time they visit. #Cluttercore has been a thing for a while now, and it’s not showing any signs of going away. But don’t fret, minimalists — the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back in your direction sooner or later.

The Cloud Couch

After it was spotted in the homes of Kendall Jenner and other celebrities, Restoration Hardware’s Cloud Sofa spurred a frenzy of TikTok lust. There’s just one problem: it retails at over $4,000 per section, and if you want the whole thing, it clocks in at $12,000. Designer Timothy Oulton envisioned it as the ultimate sofa with a corner, an armless section, and an ottoman, and central to its coziness is a set of oversized pillows to nestle into. The couch exudes both comfort and luxury, and it fits right into the Coastal Grandma aesthetic.

TikTokers are loving this cozy Cloud Couch right now.

If the price is too high, you can find some considerably more affordable Cloud Couch duplicates (or “dupes,” as they’re known on TikTok). One of the best is the Ever Slipcovered Sofa by Leanne Ford, available at Crate + Barrel for $2,199.

DIY Paint Hacks

Vibrant painted interiors by Danielle Nagel of Dani Dazey LA.

Paint is the ultimate way to transform a space: it’s cheap, anyone can pull it off, and it makes a massive impact. Designers like Danielle Nagel of Dani Dazey LA and duo @verygaypaint demonstrate how color and pattern can make even the most uninspiring spaces pop and express loads of personality. Nagel’s aesthetic also incorporates maximalism and 70s decor, two more popular TikTok trends.

One specific example is the painted fridge trend that’s currently inspiring TikTokers to turn their boring kitchen appliances into custom creations. At Home with Ashley demonstrates with a pastel striped theme, and Jess Maple gives hers a chalkboard paint makeover.

#PlantMom

Young millennials and Gen Z have taken older generations’ love for houseplants and turned it into a lifestyle. Just check out the hashtag #plantmom on TikTok to get an idea of what this means. There are two components to this trend: using large quantities of houseplants as decor, and caring for them like you would beloved pets. We’re not talking about tucking a plant in here or there for visual interest. The idea is to fill the space with enough greenery to almost feel like you’re outside.

TikTok is abuzz with the green-centric #PlantMom trend.

The popularity of this trend exploded during the pandemic, when people were stuck indoors with little to do and lacking a connection to the natural world outside. On TikTok, the #plantmom hashtag will not only net inspiration for incorporating live plants into your interior decor, it’ll teach you how to meet their needs and diagnose problems like nutrient deficiencies. TikTokers Laneys First and Regan Kastner are great places to start for all the plant content you crave.