Boomers love to hold onto stuff & now that they’re downsizing or passing things on, millennials are the ones left to deal with it. From furniture that is too big for apartments to appliances that haven’t seen the light of day in decades, this “boomer junk” can be a curse more than a gift. A little of it has sentimental value, but a lot of it just isn’t in sync with millennial life anymore. In this list we’ll look closer at 10 types of boomer junk building up in millennial households.
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Lamps and Chandeliers
Boomers spent a lot on decorative lighting such as large brass lamps, Tiffany windows or ornate chandeliers. Although they were once the crazed fashion for home decor, they aren’t up to the more simple, minimalistic aesthetic of today’s millennials. Plus, the fact that these things are inconvenient to transport or store leaves the younger people frustrated.
Collector’s Plates and Figurines
Boomers treasured collector’s items such as porcelain plates displaying iconic places or delicate figurines by Hummel or Precious Moments. They might have sat their items proudly in glass cases, but for millennials, they are just dust bunnies.
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Fine China Sets
A collection of high-quality china, including dozens of plates, bowls and dishes, is a common boomer family relic. These sets were used for functions or dinner parties, but have become unfashionable in the modern home. Generation Z and Millennials are more likely to buy durable, functional everyday dishes that are dishwasher safe & these fancy sets get ignored and tossed out.
Vintage Electronics
Boomers keep tattered electronics like VCRs, camcorders, cassette players and massive stereos. These objects are technological milestones, or memories to them. But they are usually not compatible with current technology & require extra effort to repurpose. These forgotten treasures are left behind in the arms of millennials, the consumers who demand the best & most efficient machines.
Outdated Furniture
Boomers like big chunky cabinets of china, huge dining tables & thick leather couches. These pieces were once deemed necessary for parties and grand houses. But the youngsters live in apartments or houses where all these things are just too big. Also, the style of these products, their black wood and complex details, don’t fit well with many millennials’ more minimalist, uncluttered style.
Wall Art and Portraits
Boomers have walls covered with Art – anything from cheap prints of pastoral scenes to full-page family photographs. Young people, however, won’t connect with these pieces if they don’t fit in with their decor style. These pieces of Art are sentimental so guilt over throwing them away means they end up in closets or storage boxes.
Old Books and Encyclopedias
Boomers own encyclopedias, old novels & coffee table books. They used to be a symbol of honor, intelligence & class. But in the modern world of information at our fingertips, millennials consider these collections as clunky.
Unused Kitchen Appliances
Boomers’ homes are littered with appliances from a bygone era: fondue machines, bread machines, electric carving knives. Most millennials — who want multi-purpose or mini appliances — rarely have the room or desire to have them around.
Christmas Decorations
Boomers love to save every holiday decoration, from glass ornaments & ceramic Santas to old-school tinsel & string lights. Over these years, those archives can pile up to a mind-boggling size. It’s true that they are all sentimental but the millennial generation, which typically has a smaller home and go for more naturalistic holiday decor, may find such accessories a little too much to bear.
Photo Albums and Slides
Boxes of photo prints, photo albums & slides from vacations and family gatherings are baby boomers’ nostalgic keepsakes. However, they take up a lot of space and we cannot view them without special equipment, such as slide projectors.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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