Rachel Toy Not everyone’s home has attitude – but for Gen X, it certainly does. We still have that rebellious streak from growing up during the turbulent ’70s and ’80s. We said no to authority and yes to individuality.
Gen X home style is all about mixing attitude with aesthetic (and a bit of nostalgia thrown in). Whether it’s a sassy slogan mug, unique vintage crockery, or kitsch trinkets, Gen X homes are a bridge where the past meets the present – and a place where we can still hang up our DMs.
Gen X Home Style: Emotionally Layered Meets Nostalgia
As a Gen X-er myself, I’ve never liked bland beige. When it came time to decorate my first flat in the late ’90s, that’s all the high street seemed to offer—the minimalist trend was booming. But I grew up with an orange kitchen, flock wallpaper, dodgy patterned carpets, and raindrop lamps.
So instead, I went to vintage shops, car boots, and markets like Camden. That way, I could show off my individual style—and fill my home with things I enjoyed, rather than just tolerated.
So what do Gen X like?
A good bit of kitsch (because life’s too short to be serious)
A pop of nostalgia (Oxo tins, novelty egg cups, Tupperware with history)
Flower power and orange – a nod to our childhoods
Retro tech – proper record players and a vinyl collection
And a whole lot of personality – because our homes are statements of our individuality.
What Our Homes Say Without Saying It
Gen X doesn’t do beige. We do statement pieces and bold eclecticism.
- A pineapple ice bucket says: “I’m fun and a bit of a Del Boy”
- A kitsch wall plaque says: “Yes I am a bit weird, thanks for asking.”
- A lava lamp says: “Groovy man, I don’t do straight lines and I can still party”
- An old Hornsea mug says: “Approach with caution, I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
- A vintage thermos says; “I was in the playground in 1984, forget your fancy water bottles”
- A glass christmas bauble says: “I was made of glass, and I still didn’t break”
- A flower power tray says: “I was psychedelic before it was filtered”
These aren’t just objects — they’re little declarations about our past, our resiliance and our sassy defiance.
Why Gen X Still Shops Vintage
We’re a DIY generation. We grew up with hand-me-downs, jumble sales, and “make do and mend” households. That spirit made its way into our childhood bedrooms, our clothes, and—later—our homes.
So it’s no surprise that most of us still shop vintage. And it’s not just for the nostalgia. Vintage is:
More individual and eclectic (no one else will have exactly the same items as you)
More DIY (we like curating objects and repurposing old furniture)
More fun (we don’t like buying what we can’t see, and shipping delays)
And much more sustainable (because landfill is for junk mail, not pretty teapots)
Choosing vintage is a tiny rebellion against the flat-pack, minimalist, fast-fashion, influencer-approved sameness out there today.
Shop the Attitude
If your Gen X home reflects your inner rebel (and you are looking for more quirky nostalgia), my online shop has plenty to choose from:
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Vintage Kitsch Gifts from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s
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Vintage Pottery and Retro Mugs
Each one chosen for its ability to say:
“I’m not decorating for Instagram—I’m decorating for me.”
To wrap up…
Vintage isn’t fussy—it’s fearless.
And a great vintage home piece can be a form of self-expression.
Sassy but glamorous? That’s the Gen X vibe.
Rachel x
PS If you are interested in finding out more about the Gen X defiant attitude to life, you can read my latest Substack post here: https://racheltoywrites.substack.com/p/same-energy-just-older-a-picture
This blog post is written by Rachel Toy, owner of Rachel’s Vintage & Retro. I am a 20th Century Vintage Blogger and Dealer writing about the vintage lifestyle, collecting, nostalgia and selling vintage. I also sell carefully curated 20th century antiques and collectables from my online vintage shop. I am happy to work with related brands on collaborations and also accept guest blogs. Find out how to work with me.
