Why the 'Messy Girl' Aesthetic Is Taking Over Summer 2025

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In the past few years, the colorful, glittery styles of the Y2K era have seen a dramatic reemergence. Slipdresses, corset tops, and chunky platform sandals took over first the runways, then the department stores, and finally the fast fashion retailers, and then we saw this nostalgic style creep its way into interiors as well. Butterfly chairs, inflatable furniture, even landlines have been popping up in social snapshots and home tours (like Kenzie Ziegler's vibrant first house!). Now, as the trends continue to shift, both the fashion and interior industries have transitioned to the grungier side of the turn of the last millennium, and we're seeing a resurgence of an evolved indie-sleaze style called 'messy girl' aesthetic.
The antithesis to the clean girl aesthetic which seemingly every fashion and beauty influencer has adopted on TikTok and Instagram, the messy girl aesthetic combines the vibe of an early aughts Drew Barrymore, with the late Jane Birkin who changed fashion by carrying everything her heart desired in her lived-in namesake bag, and Ashley Olsen as carefree Roxy in the 2004 movie New York Minute. And while it might sound very similar to the intentional clutter, the messy girl aesthetic is actually the moodier next step in this trend's evolution.
'I feel the messy girl aesthetic is often misunderstood because of the word 'messy,'' designer Francesca Grace tells House Beautiful. 'There's a stigma around it—like it means careless or chaotic—but I see it in a completely different light. There's intention in the messiness. It's about warmth, comfort, and expressing yourself without worrying about perfection.'
We asked Grace, and a handful of other in-the-know designers, to break down the 'messy girl' aesthetic and explain what this trend looks like in the home. Maybe you already live the messy girl lifestyle and are simply looking to refine it, or you're moving into your first place and can see yourself in the aesthetic (regardless of your gender; 'messy girl' is a state of mind!). Remember that just because this style has an official name that's trending right now, that doesn't mean that it hasn't already been a vibe people have been living and loving for decades.
The designers we spoke to had their own ideas of examples of iconic messy girls. Grace thinks of Audrey Hepburn's character in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Holly Golightly. Though Golightly's apartment wasn't polished, it felt really lived in and full of creativity, 'like a place where life was actually happening,' says Grace, adding that this kind of vibrancy is hard to fake.
Interior designer Galey Alix's mind immediately goes to the 1990s when she thinks of messy girl aesthetic, recalling the music videos of grunge icons Alanis Morissette and Gwen Stefani. 'I can't specifically recall how their rooms or sets looked in the videos, but I can confidently say it had messy girl energy,' Alix says.
Generally speaking, there are clear defining moments in past and current pop culture that exhibit a shift towards this aesthetic, which embraces imperfection, self-expression, and a carefree spirit. Coco Greenblum, a designer based out of Los Angeles, calls out 2024's 'brat summer,' fueled by singer-songwriter Charli XCX's sixth studio album release in early June of last year. Greenblum says that this latest cultural phenomenon 'really shifted how young people view beauty, encouraging a sense of confidence and comfort in being unapologetically themselves.'
Capturing the messy girl aesthetic without feeling too cluttered relies heavily on how you lay things out in your home. But there are certain telltale decor moves that designers consider synonymous with the style. One commonality is the inclusion of many vintage, well-loved pieces in the home, which gives this aesthetic more permanence in home decor than in the fashion industry.
When picturing a 'messy girl' home, think layered textiles, worn-in velvet, and soft linen. To achieve this look, secondhand shopping is key, as you'll want pieces with a little patina on them to ensure they look loved. Coziness is a pillar of this style, so seek out soft sofas, plenty of mismatched throw pillows and blankets, and maybe even some floor pillows for a bohemian touch. And since curated clutter is a big part of this aesthetic, you'll want to incorporate some open shelving to display all your knickknacks, books, used candles, and eclectic art.
'The look works best when it feels like someone interesting lives there,' interior designer and Command™ brand ambassador Mikel Welch says. 'It is not polished, and that's the point. You just need to give the chaos a little structure behind the scenes.'
As with intentional clutter, the collection of stuff you have displayed should not be random. Alix advises, 'Organized chaos is a thing, a good thing.' Break up the monotony of your bookshelves by stacking some novels horizontally, then some vertically, and throw in a few trinkets, framed photos, art, and candles here and there for more visual interest.
Create groups of small vignettes throughout your rooms with items that are styled but not perfect. 'For example, a coffee table vignette might include a vintage book opened to a favorite page, a candle halfway burned, a linen napkin casually draped, and a ceramic dish—all of it placed intentionally, but without over-styling,' Grace adds. It's romantic this way.
Don't let the name 'messy girl' fool you; any old mass of junk isn't going to cut it. The pieces on display have to be meaningful to you, and the collection can be copious, but should be curated. 'The key is editing,' Kerith Flynn, the principal designer and founder of Margali & Flynn Designs, explains. 'Not every shelf needs to be filled, and leaving some negative space helps it breathe.'
Spontaneity in the design approach is a big part of the messy girl aesthetic, but Grace emphasizes the need for standout pieces to ground your space. 'A bold vintage rug, an heirloom table, or a sculptural chair can act like visual anchors, bringing weight and balance to all the personality around them,' she says. Since every open space around you may be filled with bite-sized accents that show off your personality, you need to add pieces that ground the room, giving the eye a place to rest.
If you're a keeper of cards, note, drawings, and even receipts, which is all very 'messy girl' coded, work them into your decor—strategically. Evan Krenzien, one half of the Shane & Pierce design duo, suggests keeping these lightweight momentos on framed cork or pin boards, as they'll look chicer there than if you taped them to the wall or stacked them on the table.
For the heavier, larger objects that you can't pin to a board, Welch likes to use catch-alls like the Command Organizing Caddy to keep things 'from looking chaotic while still feeling true to the vibe.'
Because the messy girl aesthetic stems from the grungier looks of the early aughts, expect the color palette to be moody. 'Darker hues and mixed colors, deep reds and rusts, blacks, or dusty blues serve as the antidote to clean whites and blush tones,' Pierce Jordan, the other half of Shane & Pierce, says. Think of hues that remind you of loud lipstick and nail polish, as Alix does, and throw some fuchsia and magenta into your color scheme too. Bolder paint colors are predicted to remain popular in the next few years, and while you shouldn't design your home to revolve around trends, finding inspiration becomes easier when something's in fashion.
Prefer a palette that's not as loud? Try muddied earth tones and even warm neutrals with mixed metals instead for a cozy, not overwhelming, look. 'Muted, earthy tones like sage green, mustard, and terracotta create an organic, lived-in feel,' Flynn says. 'Vintage-inspired pastels like blush, lilac, and dusty blue are often woven into art, bedding, and decor for that whimsical feeling.'
One of the best ways to add visual weight and warmth to your home is through textiles, and a 'messy girl' uses plenty of them. 'Incorporate layered textiles,' Flynn says. 'Think throw blankets casually draped over a chair, mismatched patterned pillows on the sofa, or a vintage rug atop a jute one.' Layering different fabrics, such as velvet, linen, cotton, and silk, can create an effortless and eclectic vibe that feels cozy, not chaotic.
You don't have to limit layering to your textiles—try it with your accessories, too. Stacked books in front of mirrors leaned against the wall, a thrifted ceramic bowl filled with jewelry, and a few mohair throws and worn-in linens are some of interior designer and Dormie founder Olivia Erwin Rosenthal's favorite ways to layer accents for a messy girl vibe.
Forget matchy-matchy. You don't need perfect symmetry for a balanced design, you just need the same amount of visual weight on either side of a vignette for a messy, not cluttered, space. 'Arrange furniture and decor so things feel a little off-center or unexpected; maybe the art above the bed is slightly asymmetrical, or two different chairs frame a table,' Flynn says. 'In a living room, place a floor lamp on one side of the sofa and a side table with a stack of books or a plant on the other instead of matching end tables or identical lamps on both sides.' This asymmetric balance feels organic and relaxed yet thoughtful, not haphazard.
'When I think of messy girl aesthetic wall decor, it goes two ways: there is either nothing on the walls, because that takes effort to hang and we are too carefree to be bothered, or it's incredibly randomized with no flow,' Alix says. If you opt for a gallery wall and choose all the same frames, you can give it a messy touch by being a bit unconventional with what you display in them. Mix in both black-and-white and color images, frame ripped-out book pages that resonate with you, or feature scraps of fabric from meaningful items. Hang pieces other than photos or artworks, too, for a 3D element—think paper fans, masks, or your propagated plants.
Once everything is hung, if you don't like the order of your wall decor, just move it around. Welch—like so many renters—does this with Command strips because an off-the-cuff gallery wall doesn't take as much planning when you use the poster strips as it does with drywall nails.
A home with character features items that are an expression of yourself, and the messy girl aesthetic really hones in on that aspect. If there's an accessory or piece of furniture that you love, like a 1980s style beanbag or a purple clock, then you can likely make it work. 'To keep it from feeling too chaotic, however, try to create some form of consistency within those decisions,' Alix suggests. 'For example, if the beanbag is '80s style and you want a purple clock, find one that tends to more of an '80s vibe than a modern look, so the pieces can speak to each other.'
'Messy girls' know when they need to touch grass. Add an extra layer to your 'messy girl' room by bringing nature inside. Greenblum suggests infusing houseplants and potted trees into your decor along with natural materials for a grounding connection to nature. Not only will this add some freshness to your space that keeps it from feeling stale, but greenery and blossoms soften any room, and that sense of ease is what messy girls are all about.
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