The 5 Biggest Decorating Mistakes Millennials Make — and How to Solve Them

No generation is perfect, and when it comes to millennials, one area ripe for improvement is interior design. It's not surprising given how often this generation tends to move from domicile to domicile, that they aren't great at investing in the beauty of their home. Up-and-coming interior designer — and the go-to decorator for New York's fashionable gen Y-ers — Sasha Bikoff has seen firsthand what design traps millennials repeatedly fall into. Ahead, she shares the five biggest decorating mistakes this group of dwellers tends to make, as well as ways to amend them.

Taking the Easy Way Out
Nicole Cohen​

Taking the Easy Way Out

"Oftentimes millennials settle for what's fastest or what's easiest to buy at that moment," Sasha says. "Commercial companies like CB2 and West Elm cater to this quick fix with their user-friendly websites. These companies also curate their products within environments, which also resonates really well with millennials because they can even go so far as to ordering an entire room from one company."


"My advice is to take the extra time to visit websites like 1st Dibs, Chairish, eBay, and Etsy and try and find unique one-of-a-kind pieces to mix in with the new stuff. This will create an atmosphere that is not generic looking like everyone else's homes whom will have the same product. Your home should be a likeness of who you are so go the extra mile to find things that have meaning."

Settling For Lackluster Hand-Me-Downs
Nicole Cohen

Settling For Lackluster Hand-Me-Downs

"A lot of millennials have pieces that family members may have given them to save extra money. Oftentimes these pieces are not our first choice of furnishings," Sasha says. "Instead of just settling and living with them, try repurposing them on a Sunday afternoon. If it's a chair, buy some new fabric and reupholster it. If it's a wood table, try lacquering it a wonderful color or staining it another color wood. New fabric and paint can go a long way."

Being a Design Wuss
Nicole Cohen

Being a Design Wuss

Sasha recommends you go big or go home when it comes to your interior design. "Oftentimes millennials will be obsessed with high design and color that they have seen online and in blogs but they will not feel the confidence to apply this to their homes," she explains. "I hear things like 'what if I get sick of this color?' or 'what if a guy comes over and thinks it's too girly?' My solution is that you have to be confident with what you love and the type of things you love to surround yourself with. Colors make us all feel certain types of emotions and if purple is your favorite color, paint your room purple – you will not get sick of it; it's the color you are drawn to."

Starting in the Wrong Place
Patrick Cline

Starting in the Wrong Place

When there's so much to do, it's easy to get flustered and not know where to begin. Sasha explains, "Millennials get so overwhelmed that they end up focusing on a lamp or side tables. That is a big mistake. Like curating a gallery wall, you have to start with a center focus and build your way out. I like to start with a carpet because it sets the color palette but a sofa or large case piece is also a good way to start."

Not Investing Wisely
Patrick Cline

Not Investing Wisely

Sasha understands that millennials are usually working with a tight budget. But she says, "If you can pick out one really important piece that you will have forever, and consider it an investment. Whether it's an awesome antique or a high contemporary design piece, it will elevate your home and you will be able to bring it with you for future homes."