Add Vintage Charm to Your Home with Grandma-Core Décor

Is your dream vacation summering down at the Cape? Have you ever felt the urge to be transported into the TV while watching Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers movies? When you shop for secondhand clothes, are you drawn to styles your mother's mother wore when you were a kid? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be the perfect candidate for the coastal grandma aesthetic!

Get an inside look at exactly what it means to dress or decorate your home with the trendy and timeless coastal grandma aesthetic. Find tips, tricks, and endless inspiration with our guide to grandma-core décor!

What is Grandma-Core?

If you're not one of the young whippersnappers who already knows what this term means, it's important to get an official definition before you head to our Highland antique mall to shop. Grandma-core describes an aesthetic inspired by the fashion, home décor, and hobbies of the traditional grandmother. Cozy, whimsical, and nostalgic for simpler times, coastal grandma style feels like returning to your roots.

Where Did the Term Grandma-Core Originate?

Like most modern fads, including fairycore and cottagecore, grandma-core started as a fashion trend on TikTok. The popularity of the coastal grandma style can be traced all the way back to 2021, in the earlier months of COVID-19, when everyone was stuck at home searching for new hobbies and experiencing a slower way of living.

Content creators began broadcasting their new interest in cozy fashion, hands-on activities, and vintage finds, deeming it "granny chic" or "grandma-core." The rest is history!

Is There a Difference Between Grandma-Core and the Coastal Grandma Aesthetic?

While grandma-core typically refers to the classic stereotype of an older woman who spends her days finishing quilts and baking fresh treats for her grandkids, much of the online grandma-core décor content can actually be categorized under a subsect of the aesthetic known as coastal grandma.

The coastal grandma aesthetic leans into a beachy and understated luxurious look reminiscent of the timeless Old Money style. Where traditional grandma-core décor is colorful, cluttered, and rustic, the coastal grandma style is clean, chic, and all about laid-back elegance.

To achieve the coastal grandma aesthetic, everything in your wardrobe and home should feature comfortable fabrics, neutral hues, and timeless silhouettes. While Martha Stewart doesn't consider herself a coastal grandma, she sure is a perfect example of the aesthetic as a whole!

3 Reasons to Embrace Grandma-Core Décor

Grandma-core décor has clearly never gone out of style—and it probably never will! Here are three reasons why you should embrace this vintage-inspired aesthetic with open arms:

1. Sustainability in Secondhand Shopping

In a world where fast fashion and décor are taking over, and buying the latest trends is proven to harm our environment, shopping secondhand is one of the most sustainable things you can do for your closet, home, and planet Earth. Reduce waste and lean into that coastal grandma style as you browse a Melbourne antique mall and make the conscious choice to give antique furniture and vintage clothes a new life in your home.

2. The Power of Nostalgia

One of the many reasons grandma-core décor is trending is nostalgia. It's all too easy to get caught up in the fuss of our fast-paced, technology-driven world. This aesthetic invites you to find a slow, intentional way of living surrounded by comforting and sentimental designs. Whether you grew up taking weekend trips to your grandparents' house or find yourself yearning for simpler times, dressing and decorating in the coastal grandma style brings back happy memories.

3. Timeless Style and Fashion

The coastal grandma style is a classic for a reason! Thanks to our cyclical fashion cycle, the clothing found in Grandma's closets comes back in style every few years, making them timeless staples.

From blue and white pinstriped button-downs, white pants, and chunky hand-knit sweaters to floral maxi skirts and more, grandma-core outfits can stand the test of time. If you want to step away from trying to follow all the latest social media fads, curating a coastal grandma wardrobe is the perfect solution.

Invest Time In a Coastal Grandma Style Hobby

Grandma-core décor is just what you need to style your dream home, but if you actually want to live the coastal grandma lifestyle, you better pick up a grandma-core hobby or two! These are just a few of the more traditional, slower-paced, craft-based pastimes you can choose from to really embrace this way of life:

• Knitting

• Crocheting

• Baking

• Canning

• Birdwatching

• Quilting

• Gardening

Build Your Grandma-Core Décor with these Elements

Curating a coastal grandma wardrobe is one thing—curating your dream grandma-core home décor is another! When you shop for pieces at your favorite Algonquin antique mall, make sure to consider how these aesthetic elements interact with one another:

Choosing Grandma-Core Patterns

There's no room for clean lines and minimalism in grandma-core décor! If you're decorating your home in a coastal grandma style, you'll want to lean into patterns wherever you can. In fact, the more layered the patterns, the cozier the room or outfit will feel.

Traditional grandma-core décor typically features plaids, florals, and gingham on every surface possible. Think tablecloths, curtains, rugs, throw blankets—if something can have a cozy and rustic pattern on it, it will. Don't worry about clashing. This is what adds to the homey, lived-in feeling of grandma-core.

If you're more into the sophisticated coastal grandma style, then you should search for furniture and design accents with thin pinstripes and damask in your wallpaper and accent pieces. While pattern is still important in the coastal grandma aesthetic, the color palette and textures you choose are what will help you create the beach-house-inspired room.  

Popular Grandma-Core Patterns:

• Plaids

• Pinstripes

• Florals

• Gingham

• Damask

• Toile

• Seersucker

Creating a Color Palette for Your Grandma-Core Décor

As with any good aesthetic, much of the final product boils down to the overall color palette. Good news—when it comes to grandma-core, a version of your favorite hue is probably on the table!

This style uses soft, muted, and pastel colors to create a warm, vintage feel throughout the house. The occasional pop of vibrant color is okay, but it should be used sparingly as an accent so as not to take away from the overall tone of your grandma-core décor.  

When you're building your color palette, start by choosing an inviting and versatile neutral, such as beige, cream, or taupe. Then, you can build the rest of your palette. Sage green, rosy pinks, soft yellow, lilac, and rich browns are all popular choices. Stick to a few for a subtle, cohesive style, or lean into maximalism and mix and match to your heart's delight.

Pro tip: the coastal grandma style doesn't really stray from creamy whites, sandy neutrals, and soft blues. Sea glass green, seashell pink, and starfish orange are used as occasional accent hues, but they never go overboard (pun intended!).  

Deciding the Best Grandma-Core Décor Textures

If you think back to your grandparent's house, can you recall just how many soft-to-the-touch and intricate textures were featured in each room? From knitted tea cozies on the stovetop to lace curtains billowing in the dining room and more, these textural accent pieces are precisely what make grandma-core décor oh-so-cozy. The next time you're shopping at an antique mall near Chicago for coastal grandma style furniture for your home office or handmade quilts for the guest room, don't be afraid to touch each piece.

As you're searching for grandma-core décor at an America’s Antique Mall location near you, keep in mind that the more textures you layer, the more inviting the space will feel. Grandma-chic style is all about creating that eclectic, lived-in feeling—and multiple textures are an easy way to bring that beautiful chaos to life! Keep an eye out for anything with chunky knits, frills, lace, woven, embroidered, and natural—especially if it fits your preferred patterns and color palettes.

Popular Coastal Grandma Aesthetic Textures

If you prefer the beachy, sophisticated style of coastal grandma aesthetic, you'll want to find statement pieces made from:

• Natural leather

• Cotton

• Linen

• Wood

• Wicker

• Rattan

Landing on the Right Grandma-Core Lighting

When it comes to grandma-core décor, the warmer the light, the better! Our Crown Point antique mall is filled with vintage light fixtures, from crystal chandeliers to wall sconces to Tiffany lamps and more.

If you accent a room with glowing ambient lighting, choose warm-toned bulbs for basic lamps and take advantage of the natural light in your home. With these lighting tips, designing an elegant and timeless coastal grandma style room is easy.

Don't Forget About Grandma-Core Décor Accent Pieces!

Grandma-core décor is all about the trinkets. Vintage collections and sentimental mementos are the best way to make your space your own.

Once you have the bare bones of your coastal grandma style room put together, it's time to focus on the details. Consider what existing collectibles and sentimental mementos you already have in storage that could work as featured accents around the home. Fill in the gaps by shopping at a Highland antique store for the rest!

Pro tip: grandma-core décor can look busy, but it's still meant to be chic and organized! As you put the finishing touches on your rooms, remember that the coastal grandma style is not the same as the cluttercore aesthetic.

Start a Grandma-Core Décor Collection

No two grandmothers are alike—but the majority have a collection they're passionate about. If you intend to fill your home with grandma-core décor from our Florida vendor mall, you'll need to show off a collection or two to really nail the aesthetic!

What you collect is up to you. Use these ideas to get started:

• Display a thimble set on a shadow box

• Showcase your favorite dinnerware in the China cabinet

• Corral perfume bottles on a dish in the bathroom

• Feature your set of Lenox spice jars on an open shelf

• Fill the bookshelves with limited editions by your favorite authors

• Add old family photos in vintage frames to your gallery wall

• Keep heirloom recipe cards on display in the dining room

Transform Every Room of the House with Grandma-Core Décor

The coastal grandma aesthetic isn't about buying brand-new furniture and decorations—it's about using what you already have and shopping secondhand with intention. With these tips, transforming each room with grandma-core décor is easy:

In The Kitchen

When it comes to grandma-core décor, the kitchen is the hub of all things good! There's no need to be formal when it comes to dinnerware. Shop at Algonquin antique stores for mismatched plates, bowls, and utensils to make everyday dining feel familiar and casual.

Double down on your sustainability and reuse pasta sauce jars as well as antique Mason jars as glassware! Invest in a vintage baked goods stand so you can always have your latest tasty treat on display for your guests to enjoy. There are endless ways to give your kitchen that coastal grandma style.

In The Living Room

The living room is the heart and soul of a house. Grandma-core décor is designed to make your loved ones feel right at home, whether they’re there for a planned afternoon teatime or they decided to swing by for a quick hug!

Make your space extra welcoming with soft throw blankets, plush couches, and a well-loved coffee time. The inviting atmosphere encourages friends and family to sit back, relax, and stay as long as they would like.

In The Bathroom

No one knows what it is about grandmothers and themed bathrooms, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it! If your bathroom has a vintage-colored tile, lean into it for a "dated" monochrome look. For a coastal grandma aesthetic, hunt down hand towels with embroidered sea animals and set out a few bowls of seashells (and those fancy seashell soaps you may remember from your own Granny’s powder room) on the counter.

In The Bedroom

Nothing is as cozy as a coastal grandma style bedroom! Take inspiration from Kathleen Kelly's bed in You've Got Mail and try pattern clashing as you choose each layer of bedding. Opt for soft, low lighting to create a soothing atmosphere and enjoy every night's sleep surrounded by grandma-core décor.

In The Dining Room

Grandparents always seem to have a dining table dressed to the nines, even when they're not expecting anyone. Achieve that welcoming grandma-core décor look by setting out a patterned tablecloth, homemade place settings, and a vintage vase filled with fresh flowers all year round.

When you're out and about, it's impossible to avoid the hustle and bustle of the world around you. But home? Home is where you can escape all that nonsense and breathe a little. Lean into slow living and appreciate the little moments by embracing grandma-core décor in every room.