For a long time, everything on the internet and in the news about millennials and homes was just about the fact that it seemed impossible that they would ever be able to afford them. While this may still largely be true, millennials are starting to buy homes. As it seems that people enjoy picking on this generation for basically every decision they make, people are now criticizing what they do with their homes. To be more precise, millennials are receiving a lot of flack for how they are renovating their homes. The internet’s opinion? They are making them ugly.
The Internet Says That Millennials Are Making Homes Ugly
In recent years, some millennials have been able to either save up enough money to finally buy a home, or they were lucky enough to have parents who were willing to help them with the down payment. However they achieved it, some millennials are now officially homeowners. Being the owners of their own homes means that they can do what they want with them – whatever paint colors, wallpapers, furniture, and renovations they so desire. Unfortunately, many people on the internet aren’t necessarily on-board with these young homeowners’ design choices. (1)
Every time original hardwood floors are replaced by gray plank vinyl a year is taken from my life pic.twitter.com/ZkFqjUnauM
— ayla (@ratxgurl) January 13, 2023
On TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, millennials are posting their before and after pictures and videos of their new homes. These transformations have many people extremely upset. This is because of a seeming trend for millennials to remove vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces from their homes for more modern, cookie-cutter looks. From replacing original hardwood floors with gray-toned vinyl to ripping out beautifully crafted vintage faucets and sinks, the internet, frankly, has had enough. (2, 3)
Removing What Makes Homes Truly Unique
There are plenty of older homes across the United States. These are homes that were built decades ago, if not longer. Of course, as old homes tend to, they can often need a bit of love and some updating. New wiring and more modern pipes, heating, air conditioning, updated insulation, things like that. What these homes do have, that sets them apart from most newer homes, is character.
This is what many people on the internet are beginning to have a problem with. Katie Way wrote about this phenomenon on VICE, agreeing with much of social media’s sentiment. She agrees with them, saying that people are going after such modern, minimalist, and “chic” looks that they are stripping a house of its warmth and character.
“These renovations strip down the quirks of a house built decades ago,” she wrote. “replacing warm wood tones, funky wallpaper, and brick exteriors with nouveau-McMansion chic: shades of beige and gray, brushed silver fixtures, a “clean,” monotonous look.”
electric chair pic.twitter.com/RwqJJ5lm84
— baklava baddie (@PewPeeew) January 16, 2023
Is It Just A Jealousy Thing?
While Way does talk about the poor quality of many modern appliances and her personal loath for toilets that you push a button on top to flush, she does admit that her criticisms do, in part, come from jealousy. The statistics, after all, don’t lie: Still less than 50% of millennials, who are now between the ages of 27 and 42, own homes. There aren’t even any stats on Generation Z. This means that most of the people criticizing the millennials showing off their renos online likely don’t own a home themselves and have never actually done a renovation on one. Way even admitted herself: Maybe we’re all just a little bit jealous?
Another point she brings up is that we don’t have nearly the amount of knowledge about the renovation that the person posting the photos who is actually doing it. We might be appalled at someone removing original wood floors, but maybe they were scratched or there was damage that we couldn’t see. Maybe the wallpaper had to come off because the former owners smoked in the house and the walls reeked of cigarette smoke. Perhaps that beautiful vintage bathtub leaked, clogged easily, or had mold growth.
The long story short here is: Maybe we should stop wasting time and energy on throwing shade at people online for the decisions they make about their homes. After all, it’s their house. They are the ones living there, not you. They’re the one who needs to be happy in that home, and on top of that, we don’t know the actual reasons why they made the choices they did. So best keep your thoughts to yourself, and if you are fortunate enough to own a home one day, maybe don’t show your renos online.
Keep Reading: Millennials Are Rewatching ‘Seinfeld’ And Saying It’s Super Offensive