From coastal to the countryside, I’m sharing a round up of grandmillennial art ideas to add the finishing touches to your living spaces!
If you’ve been a longtime reader of my blog, you know grandmillennial style has always been a component of my style—we just didn’t have a word for it. And if you’re a new reader, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here!
I love how this style perfectly knits traditional design elements together with modern twists. While most people associate grandmillennial home decor with ginger jars and overall “blue and white decor” (I’m very much guilty of enthusiastically adding both to our home and there is nothing wrong with that!), what makes this style so unique is there truly isn’t just one type of grandmillennial. You can have a coastal aesthetic or maybe the countryside or your vegetable garden is your happy place. There’s the historic quaintness of New England, the coastal charm of the South, and as we’ve learned since our move to the West Coast, the effortless elegance of California.
Make your grandmillennial home whichever style and ambiance floats your boat. After all, your home is where you go to unwind and relax. It should reflect what makes you feel happy and calm! Right now, I would say our home is a mix of classic DC with a few nods to our new ocean-adjacent locale.
Wall art is a fantastic way to add personal touches to your home and bring the overall vibe together. I’ve rounded up a grandmillennial art ideas spanning a variety of scenes that I think you’ll love for inspiration!
Grandmillennial Art Ideas
Today I’ll chat through what makes grandmillennial art unique and how to pick the perfect pieces to fit your space and style. Think of this as your mini-guide to choosing pieces that feel like they could’ve been found in a charming old estate—pieces that tell a story and bring your home to life without feeling out of place today.
Whether you’re into coastal scenes, elegant bird portraits, or a touch of chinoiserie, we’ll get into how each style can add to the casually curated touch to your walls.
What is Grandmillennial Design?
Grandmillennial design is all about mixing timeless, old-school charm with fresh, current style. It’s classic but not stuffy, cozy but never cluttered. And in a world where minimalist white walls and ultra-modern design often steal the show, grandmillennial is our chance to bring a little warmth and personality back into the home by blending traditional and modern elements.
Grandmillennial style is the cozy spot between traditional elegance and modern comfort. It’s a design vibe that gives a nod to classic elements—think vintage florals, ornate frames, and patterned fabrics—but it’s all updated to feel fresh and intentional. Unlike super-modern or minimalist styles that strip things down to the essentials, grandmillennial invites you to bring pieces into your home with character, history, and, let’s be honest, a little bit of quirk.
What really sets grandmillennial apart is its balance. It keeps the best parts of traditional design (rich textures, meaningful decor) while ditching the overly formal or fussy details that sometimes come with it. This isn’t about filling a room with antiques just to fill the space and leave no part of the wall empty. It’s about choosing art and decor with a story or a style that resonates today and is uniquely you.
10 Grandmillennial Art Ideas
Coastal Landscape Painting
You may think of a serene beach scene with gentle waves, perhaps with a sailboat in the distance. You could also think of a historic lighthouse shining its beacon during a storm. Both are incredible pieces to add to your home, look closely at the numerous hues in the piece before deciding which one to hang in your space. You also want to make sure the tone of the painting aligns with the overall vibe of the room.
Fox Hunt Scene
Since welcoming our sweet foxhound/beagle into our home nearly 4 years ago (!!), I’ve had my eye out for a countryside fox hunt scene. You can typically find these pieces on Facebook Marketplace, especially if you live near an area where fox hunting is a tradition. I’m being patient (stubborn?) and waiting for a painting where one of the hounds in pursuit looks like our sweet Riley girl. This will be a piece that will be worth the hunt (pun not intended) because we were also married in Virginia wine country near where traditional fox hunts occur.
Equestrian Portrait
This would pair hand-in-hand with a fox hunt scene for a vignette tucked into a cozy corner or hanging on a bookcase.
Vintage Floral Bouquet
If you get cartoon heart eyes over grandmillennial wallpaper but aren’t living in a space where you can make such a permanent style choice (or if you’re like me and hanging temporary wallpaper intimidates you), hanging an oversized painting of lush, classic flowers like roses, peonies, and hydrangeas in soft, vintage colors circles the square.
Garden Landscape
An English or French garden with manicured hedges, stone statues, or a charming wrought-iron gate is ideal for evoking a traditional garden aesthetic—and doubles as a vision board for your green thumb aspirations!
Still Life with Antique Objects
A still life featuring antique china, glassware, and a silver teapot with florals or fruit does a wonderful job of evoking vintage elegance.
Tropical Botanical Art
If you live in a warmer climate, or maybe you want to bring that ambiance to your home, adding tropical botanical art is a great way to achieve that goal. Keep your eyes open for a painting or sketch of palms, banana leaves, or monstera plants, especially if paired with soft pastel backgrounds. Side note: Trader Joe’s monstera plants only cost $12 and they grow like gangbusters!
Bird Portraits
I’m picturing artwork of birds like pheasants, peacocks, or even flamboyant flamingos framed in an oval or ornate frame for that classic look. I do love mixing up frame shapes, I think it’s more eye-catching and adds the subtle quirk factor in grandmillennial design.
Chinoiserie-Inspired Scene
A wall painting or framed art with classic chinoiserie motifs, like pagodas, birds, and intricate florals is another wall art idea. This would also be a fantastic way to add a series of panels and hang them in a row over your couch or a sideboard buffet.
Pastoral Landscape
If you’re going more for a sense of countryside serenity, I would suggest searching for wall art depicting a tranquil farm scene with sheep, rolling hills, and a quaint cottage.
How To Choose Art For Your Home in Grandmillennial Style
Mix Old and New
The beauty of grandmillennial style is in balancing classic art with a modern touch. Don’t be afraid to pair a vintage floral still life with a contemporary frame or mix an old-world equestrian portrait with sleek furniture. This blend of eras keeps your space feeling curated but not too curated and cozy.
Choose Meaningful Pieces
Select art that tells a story or evokes a personal memory. Maybe it’s a coastal scene that reminds you of summer vacations or a botanical print that brings back memories of your grandmother’s garden (For me, that’s lilacs and hyacinth). When you choose pieces that resonate with you, your space will feel more intentional and inviting.
Layer Textures and Styles
Don’t be afraid to have fun layering different textures and art styles. Pair an oil painting with a woven wall hanging or hang a set of botanical prints alongside a textured wallpaper. The contrast adds depth and makes your decor feel thoughtfully collected over time rather than purchased in one shopping trip.
Play with Color Palettes
Stick to a color palette that complements your existing decor, but don’t be afraid to add pops of unexpected hues. For example, if your room is neutral, a piece with muted blues or deep greens can add just the right amount of color while maintaining a sophisticated vibe.
These ideas and tips will help you create a space that feels timeless and unique, bringing the grandmillennial charm into your home. And remember, if you have the patience, I highly recommend searching your local thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace. You can find some special pieces!
