While some items in a boomer’s home had their moment, a lot of younger people can’t stand them and don’t even know what they’re supposed to do with them.
Too much room
You might think a full bedroom suite sounds useful, and sure, it can be, until you’re the one trying to move it. It’s not exactly easy trying to get that giant bed frame, matching nightstands, dresser, mirror, chest, and armoire out the door.
Most millennials don’t even have bedrooms big enough for all that furniture, and those who do have the space probably won’t like having a full suite. They don’t want everything locked into the same design.
Plates with a job
Collector plates are a weird one. They’re plates, obviously, but they’re also not plates because you can’t actually eat off them or use them for anything other than decoration. That’s exactly why millennials aren’t interested in them.
The younger generation’s pretty big on having objects with a purpose, so they see collector plates as something that requires extra time and cleaning. They might be worth a bit of money, but really, they’re more work.
The window drama
Windows need layers. At least, that’s what people used to believe, so they’d get heavy curtains and sheer panels to cover theirs, along with tassels, rods, and tiebacks, the whole production. These pieces would help make the room look a lot more formal.
But for millennials, simple is better, and a lot of them will go for plain panels and roller shades to cover their windows, nothing too fancy. They prefer the sleek, minimalist look over anything that has a personality, and that includes drapes.
A clever little tower
There’s no denying that secretary desks have a real sense of charm to them, thanks to the tiny drawers and glass doors. However, that doesn’t make them practical. They were built for a time that involved a lot more paper and writing than our modern world.
Millennials would prefer having a modern workspace where they can charge their laptops and actually, you know, sit. They’re not interested in having a pretty place to open their mail. What mail?
Tiny trophies from trips
It was basically a rule for boomers that, whenever they traveled somewhere, they’d bring back a souvenir spoon. London spoon, Florida spoon, state flower spoon, every place had one. Millennials understand that, they just have an issue with the display rack.
They don’t see the point in wasting that space on things they can’t use and have no memories attached to. They also don’t want to spend hours sorting through them all, so they’d rather give the spoons away or sell them for a pretty penny.
A shelf full of ringing
It’s a similar issue with collector bells. One bell is fine, sure, and two of them are cute, yes, but a lot of boomers have way more than that. They have enough bells to fill a cabinet, and younger generations have no idea what they’re supposed to do with all of that.
It’s not like they’re going to spend the time inspecting every little clapper and rim, after all, since it’s too much work for something that’s going to just sit there. They don’t see the value in holding onto so many bells.
The glowing cottage phase
There’s something so special about Thomas Kinkade prints, maybe it’s the warm windows, or maybe it’s the glowing cottages. No wonder so many boomers bought prints of them. In fact, some of them got canvases with certificates because they weren’t regular pieces of wall art.
But for millennials? It’s a different story. They usually think the village look is too themed and they’d rather have more modern pieces of art than anything so quaint. The truth is, they’ve got no idea how much value these prints actually have, and they don’t care to know.
Soft floors in wet places
You won’t find many millennials who enjoy bathroom carpet sets, and honestly, you can’t blame them. The toilet rug, the matching bath mat, the fuzzy lid cover, it’s all a bit much. These items are great for avoiding cold tile, but they’re also such a hassle to deal with.
The steam and moisture from the bathroom mean you’ve got to clean these items constantly, and most millennials would prefer to get washable mats instead. Why? Because you just pick them up and wash them, or replace them, without any drama. No fabric needed.
The tub nobody wants to scrub
There was a time when a jetted tub was a sign of luxury, and many boomers believed having a Jacuzzi was a status symbol. They spent a pretty penny on getting one with a big tiled platform and shiny fixtures, just to show off.
But not millennials. No, they’re not interested in how difficult it is to clean these things, and they’d prefer leaving all that space for a larger walk-in shower. Jacuzzi maintenance costs a lot, and millennials aren’t willing to pay for that.
Pretty bottles with problems
Even millennials can admit that perfume atomizers sure are pretty, thanks to the glass and squeeze bulb. So what’s the issue? It’s just that this generation would rather keep the actual perfume bottle than the atomizer, especially since it doesn’t need refilling.
They like showing off the name, too. Boomers might have collected vintage atomizers, but millennials think they’re completely pointless, and they don’t bother with them at all.
A whole nest of decorations
Boomers really love their decorative eggs, and they don’t care whether they’re made from porcelain or cloisonné. Apparently, they’re all worth it. Millennials can appreciate these pieces too, they just don’t understand why anyone would want a full egg collection.
It’s a lot of dusting that the younger generation isn’t prepared to do, no matter how pretty those eggs might look. Unless they’re genuine Fabergé eggs, millennials aren’t bothered whatsoever.
The basket wall
Longaberger baskets were more than your standard basket, and that’s mostly because they came with names, liners, and lids. Don’t forget the signatures. They were at their peak popularity around 2000, so it’s no surprise that boomers had fond memories of buying them.
Not millennials, though. A full Longaberger collection is just too much for them, and they’re not willing to invest the time or money into that kind of collection. They’d rather have a regular basket than anything too fancy.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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