Every time we turn around, a new “design trend” emerges without warning. While we think they can be fun to watch and incorporate in small ways (think, Addamscore and Barbiecore), designers typically eschew trendy pieces in favor of more classic, storied ones that will remain timeless for years to come.
As Veranda reports, rarely does a trend come along that makes the industry want to stop the presses and start the redesign, but there’s just something about “Coastal Grandpa” that has sparked the imagination of Interior Designers across the country.
One of last year’s biggest design trends, coastal grandma, was imbued by serene blues and whites, natural materials, breezy linen and beachy touches. Championed by Nancy Meyers’ interiors as well as home brands such as Serena & Lily, the preppy, TikTok-approved aesthetic seemed to be everywhere. While we love the breezy living vibe of coastal grandma—especially for summer—the change of seasons has us ready for more patterns, depth, and moodiness.
Even Etsy is getting on board with a more masculine spin on the coastal grandma trend. In their 2023 holiday trends report, they predicted that ‘grandpa chic’ items—or those with rich tones and a sense of history and comfort—would take off during the last few months of the year. The site saw an increased demand for leather home accessories (searches for leather poufs reportedly tripled leading up to the holidays), and searches for wood and marble coasters more than quadrupled.
But experts predict the “coastal grandpa” trend is here to stay long past the holiday season. This layered look—characterized by saturated colors, brown furniture, rich leather and classic patterns like tartan, houndstooth, plaid and ticking stripes—is inspired by the rugged and wild coasts of the Scottish Highlands.
It’s not a trendy look that can be achieved from buying some moody-colored home goods at a big-box store; the charm is its inherent patina that only comes from a lifetime of collecting antiques and other treasures (think: bowls filled with restaurant matchbooks, a wall of mounted stag antlers or a library full of favorite tomes). A coastal grandpa house is where you want to escape the drizzly, cold days of fall and winter to curl up with a good book in front of a crackling fire.
One common theme that runs through the coastal grandpa trend is the time-honored Scottish tradition of coorie, which translates to “nestle” or “snuggle.” Coorie encourages you to enjoy the simple pleasures in life—especially during this digital age when we’re constantly being bombarded with information and stimulation. Whether it’s lighting a roaring fire, making some mulled wine, or cooking your favorite cozy meal, it’s clear that a coastal grandpa home fosters a coorie-approved lifestyle.
Design experts believe the “coastal grandpa” trend has major staying power because it’s polished without feeling pretentious. It has the same easy vibe as the coastal grandma trend, but with a much-needed dose of coziness and a classic vibe that never goes out of style. This trend is meant to be lived with: leather gets softer, brass gets a beautiful patina, fabric becomes a little worn, and your collections only become more layered. Just like your favorite grandpa, it only gets better with age.
—
Photo Credit: Nomad_Soul / Shutterstock.com