Are You a Coastal or Fancy Grandma? Here's How to Style 2022's Most Viral Interior Trends

How to get the ‘Coastal Grandmother’ aesthetic at home

When asked by Architectural Digest about what constitutes Coastal Grandmother style in the realm of interiors, Nicoleta elaborated: “To me, it’s open kitchens, rustic textiles, white accents, slip-covered sofas, the mixture of beautiful older pieces with newer ones, and lots of natural light.”

Similarly, Erin Gates, of U.S-based interiors firm Erin Gates Design, emphasised the Coastal Grandmother aesthetic as one that “champions classic lines and materials” with a focus on “English roll-arm sofas”, “linen” and “antique wood case pieces”.

“It’s about high-quality construction and there’s not a trend in sight,” she told Architectural Digest.

While some coastal interiors can veer a bit free-spirited with the aesthetic, the Coastal Grandmother style is arguably closer to a luxurious take on cottagecore. Refined yet relaxed, neither too modern nor too old-fashioned, it favours a palette of light neutrals and the occasional injection of sea-inspired blues in the form of subtle florals, solid accents or nautical stripes. At the same time, the use of cosy throw blankets and cushions in natural fibres imbue the space with inviting textures.

Translation? It’s the Hamptons-meets-hygge.

How to get the ‘Fancy Grandma’ aesthetic at home

As Sutton wrote in Instyle: “A great Fancy Grandma outfit should cause some confusion, leaving people to wonder how piling on layers and mismatched items can look so darn good.”

So, when it comes to translating the Fancy Grandma aesthetic to your interiors, it’s less about capturing a distinct ‘look’ and more about leaning into elevated eccentricity and complementing contrasts, permitting for a more personal interpretation of the trend.

Consider working with a bolder colour palette, allowing it to manifest across bright bedding sets and polished yet playful homewares. To really capture the Fancy Grandma’s signature ‘kitsch’, experiment with punctuating pops of prints, clashing patterns and metallic accents via wallpapers, drapes and antique hardware.

Prefer just a hint of print? Contrasting throw cushions and feature artworks are also great ways of bringing in the Fancy Grandma’s ornamental flair without going all-out on larger spaces and items.