Times are changing – and so are generational tastes at home. Many antiques that once topped previous wish lists, proudly displayed in dining rooms and china cabinets across the country, just don’t hold the same appeal for today’s younger secondhand shoppers.
As Gen Z embraces smaller spaces and different lifestyle habits, some once-beloved pieces are falling out of favour. Curious which antiques have lost their shine with the next generation?
We asked antique dealers to share six items Boomers adored that Gen Z simply won’t buy – and their insights might surprise you.
Fussy and formal art
When it comes to outfitting their homes, the more laid-back a piece is, the better it tends to be for Gen Z. “In my experience, Gen Z avoids anything that is too fussy, formal, or difficult to maintain,” says Kristen Ryan, the founder of B Home. Instead, Ryan explains, younger buyers focus on form and function, considering whether a piece serves a purpose or enhances their enjoyment of a space.
This same preference for simplicity carries over to art, explains Colleen King, the founder of Sugartown Art & Antiques. “Younger buyers aren’t rejecting antiques in general, but they are rejecting anything that feels heavy, formal, or overly decorated,” she says.
Boomers were inclined to purchase Victorian or Victorian-inspired works in heavy, ornate frames, but Gen Z? “They want pieces with a more casual feel – think pencil studies or hand coloured lithographs in subdued frames,” King explains. “The younger generation wants their artwork to be flexible; easily moved around and regrouped. Simpler subjects and framing allows for that.”
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Full hosting sets
Once popular among Boomers, traditional hosting pieces have declined in appeal. “Things like china sets for twelve and crystal champagne coupes don’t seem to resonate in the same way with younger collectors and buyers,” says Tarah Walker, the founder of Sourcing Home. “Those pieces can take up quite a bit of space and often feel reserved only for special occasions.”
On a related note, younger adults today don’t own multiple sets of china the way older generations did. “Gen Z is using their plates, versus saving the fine china for a special day,” says Courtney Garzione, the founder of Grand & Now.
Collectables
It’s no secret that Gen Z loves antiquing, says Annie Shealy – but unlike prior generations, they’re not as drawn to large collections of decorative keepsakes. “Think of your grandmother’s Hummel figurines or commemorative decorative plates – younger buyers might have one or two, but you’re less likely to see entire cabinets or curios dedicated to them,” explains the founder of Addy Home Designs.
Garzione is noticing the same pattern in her area. “A vintage item I see regularly at antique and thrift stores collecting dust? Hummel figurines,” she says. Instead of amassing full collections, she notes that Gen Z prefers a slower, more curated approach to decorating, choosing meaningful mementos rather than multiples of the same type of item.
Large matching furniture sets
Matching furniture sets were once all the rage among Boomers but simply aren’t in style for Gen Z. “There’s a stronger mix-and-match approach – blending eras, styles, and materials – rather than investing in full matching suites like a dining table with coordinating chairs, hutch, and sideboard,” Shealy shares.
Not only is matching furniture falling out of favour, extra-large items such as china cabinets are also on the decline among Gen Z buyers. “Previous generations collected and displayed formal dinnerware, but Gen Z often prioritises open shelving or simpler storage solutions instead of dedicating an entire piece of furniture to display,” says Margaret Schwartz, the founder of Modern Antiquarian.
She adds that Gen Z shoppers don’t gravitate toward dining tables meant to seat eight to 10 guests, either. “Gen Z tends to entertain more casually,” she explains. “They prefer flexible pieces that can serve multiple functions rather than a formal dining room setup.”
Heavily carved furniture
Just as they’re not drawn to ornate frames, Gen Z veers away from ornate furniture pieces. “Heavily carved pieces that used to symbolise luxury can feel visually heavy to younger buyers who tend to prefer lighter interiors and cleaner lines,” Schwartz says. “Many are gravitating toward pieces with simpler forms, which feel easier to mix into modern life.”
Pieces geared towards 'traditional' living
Finally, it’s interesting to consider how buying habits differ between homeowners and renters, a point Susannah Cameron, director of Chez Pluie Provence, highlights. While many Boomers began buying homes in their early twenties, that’s far less common for today’s younger generation. As Cameron explains, Gen Z clients – often renters or first-time homeowners – generally don’t have a need for large, cumbersome antiques.
“Our Gen Z clients don’t have a pressing need for a monumental, superbly carved oak 19th-century marriage armoire, because it’s cumbersome, hard to move, and they probably already have built-ins,” she says. “Or an 18th-century copper watering can, given that many don’t have a garden, or a weighty bronze door knocker that makes that perfect ‘toc toc’ sound when it strikes the back plate, because in an flat they buzz guests up!”
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.
