10/21/26
Forget HGTV—Gen Z adults are getting their décor inspo straight from social media. YPulse data shows it’s the top source of inspiration for young adults —52% of whom don’t live with their parents (see: have their own space to decorate). Of course, there are thousands of trends for Gen Z to choose from, whether it’s “warm minimalism,” “color drenching,” or whatever the next big interior aesthetic turns out to be. And if it’s trending on socials, there’s a good chance it’s ending up on Gen Z’s home shopping wish list—56% of 18-24-year-olds like to buy items that make their home feel trendy, and 66% say that seeing a remodel or home design they like on social media makes them want to do it themselves.
For brands, as always, keeping up with the latest aesthetics can help them connect with young consumers and inform their next campaigns—but just like the countless beauty, travel, and food trends that are filling feeds, there’s a new décor trend around the corner. In YPulse’s Shopping for the Home survey, we ask 13-39-year-olds about the viral home décor trends they’re interested in from a list of the most popular ones we’ve seen in the past year. Our data shows the trends Gen Z adults are most interested in are rooted in their biggest hobbies and favorite rituals:
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Rec room / game room | 71% | 63% |
| Craft room or dedicated hobby space in-home | 58% | 67% |
| Reading nook | 54% | 70% |
| Home spa or spa-like bathroom | 56% | 64% |
| Home library or built-in bookshelves | 58% | 57% |
| Vanity room / dedicated makeup or getting-ready room | 41% | 66% |
| Hobby / crafting sheds / barns | 52% | 53% |
Q. S155. Which of the following home décor trends are you interested in?
Source: YPulse’s Shopping for the Home survey | Sept. 1–9, 2026 | Base: 18-24-year-olds | Seven “Interested” responses shown | Additional responses available in the data file | Nationally representative sample of 1,500 13-39-year-olds in the U.S. & Canada
View the Shopping for the Home Report and Data File ›
Gen Z is so deeply invested in their hobbies that the majority of Gen Z adults (75%) want more dedicated spaces in their home / apartment for hobbies, according to YPulse’s Shopping for the Home data. The types of spaces they’re interested in, however, can vary by gender. YPulse data shows 71% of young adult men are interested in having a rec room or game room—more than their female peers (63%). No surprise, though: YPulse’s Hobbies and Passions data shows video gaming is the biggest hobby among 18-24-year-old men, and more young men than women also play video games in their free time (62% vs. 44%). A dedicated game room gives these young gamers a place to set up their consoles, experiment with lighting, and build out their ideal gaming setup without cramming everything into a bedroom or living room. (Some brands are already responding to the demand: in 2024, IKEA launched a line of gaming furniture designed to blend seamlessly with everyday home décor.) And the inspo for these setups might come from the games themselves: YPulse data shows 29% of young adult men get home décor inspiration from video / open-world games. The only thing better than having the perfect home in Roblox? Recreating it IRL.
Meanwhile, young adult women are more interested than their male peers in having a craft room or dedicated hobby space in-home (67% vs. 58%). More spend their free time creating art, DIY, or crafts than their male peers (38% vs. 13%), and as YPulse has said before, the Gen Z girlies are in their granny hobby era. YPulse’s Going Analog trend data shows 13-24-year-old females are significantly more likely than their male peers to have picked up hands-on, creative hobbies like arts and crafts, scrapbooking, and needlework. So naturally, instead of knitting from the comfort of their beds or squeezing their latest DIY project onto a crowded desk, they want a space where they can spread out their supplies and let their creativity flow.
A reading nook ranks close behind, with 62% of young adult women interested in having one at home. Just as gaming is the leading hobby among young adult men, reading is the biggest hobby among young women, making a cozy, personalized corner (or a whole library) an appealing addition to their living spaces.
Young adult women want room in their homes to get glam and relax: YPulse’s Shopping for the Home data shows two-thirds (66%) are interested in having a vanity room / dedicated makeup or getting-ready room, while 64% want a home spa or a spa-like bathroom. And for good reason: YPulse’s Hobbies and Passions data shows among young adult women collectors, 42% collect makeup and 29% collect skincare. All those products need somewhere to go! Plus, beauty routines are a regular ritual for many young adult women: YPulse’s Personal Care and Beauty Shopping data shows 44% of 18-24-year-old women use skincare daily, and 45% use makeup weekly. A dedicated beauty space gives them room to organize their products, enjoy some alone time, and turn what’s already a meaningful part of their day into something a little more luxurious.