From Night Owls to Crafting Enthusiasts: How Gen Z and Millennials Are Redefining Social Life

There’s a cultural shift happening among younger generations, and it’s happening right in their living rooms. The days of late-night club-hopping and bar crawls seem to be fading as Gen Z and millennials increasingly turn their social gatherings into creative workshops. “Junk journaling,” tiny trinket-making, and DIY projects have become the new social currency, with friends bonding over hot glue guns and craft supplies rather than cocktails and dance floors. This transition isn’t merely a fleeting trend but appears to represent a meaningful shift in how young people connect with each other and find fulfillment in their leisure time. Social media platforms are overflowing with videos showcasing friends gathered around tables strewn with art supplies, their faces lit with concentration and joy as they create something with their hands. These crafting sessions provide not only an affordable alternative to expensive nights out but also offer a much-needed respite from the endless digital scroll that dominates so much of modern life. In an age of perpetual connectivity, there’s something deeply satisfying about disconnecting from devices to engage in tangible, physical creation with friends.

What’s particularly fascinating about this movement is how it addresses multiple needs at once. Crafting together serves as an accessible, budget-friendly social activity during economically uncertain times. It offers a therapeutic escape from the stresses of daily life, providing a meditative focus that calms the mind while keeping hands busy. There’s also a sustainability aspect, with many projects repurposing materials or creating alternatives to store-bought items. The shared experience of making something—whether beautiful or charmingly imperfect—creates bonds between participants that feel more authentic than those formed over shouted conversations in noisy venues. This crafting renaissance extends beyond just passing time; it’s becoming a meaningful way for young adults to express themselves creatively while simultaneously building community. The popularity of homemade holiday decorations, in particular, suggests a desire to create personal meaning during festive seasons rather than relying solely on commercial products that lack sentimental value.

Among the most popular DIY trends captivating crafty communities are salt dough ornaments—a nostalgic throwback that’s seeing renewed interest. Creator @minaelleskitchen demonstrates how simple flour, salt, and water can transform into personalized tree decorations, with one viral video showing her making 20-30 ornaments from a single batch of dough. The process is accessible to beginners: roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch, cut desired shapes, bake at 200°F until firm but not rock-hard, then paint and seal. What makes these particularly charming is the ability to personalize them completely—from gingerbread shapes to pet paw prints pressed into the dough before baking. Similarly, creators like @mel.part are crafting tiny felt frames sized perfectly for Polaroid photos, turning personal memories into meaningful ornaments. These handmade decorations represent something deeper than mere aesthetics; they embody personal stories and memories in a way that mass-produced decorations simply cannot, allowing crafters to literally hang their sentiments on display.

The crafting renaissance extends beyond ornaments to more ambitious projects like handmade garlands that transform living spaces with personal touches. Creator @kalli.likethestate demonstrates a technique for making ribbon garlands by looping colorful textured strips into rings, stapling them closed, and linking them together to create dramatic statement pieces. Meanwhile, @lunalifted shares her method for crafting aromatic citrus garlands by threading dried orange slices onto string, alternating them with cinnamon sticks and star anise for a decoration that’s as fragrant as it is beautiful. These natural elements bring warmth and sensory richness to homes while being inexpensive and relatively simple to create. DIY snow globes have also emerged as a popular group activity, with crafters like @misonani hosting dedicated “snow globe girls’ nights.” Using affordable materials like glass jars from IKEA, miniature bottle-brush trees, wooden beads, tiny figurines, and sugar for “snow,” these crafters create customized winter wonderlands. Many incorporate LED lights for a magical glow-in-the-dark effect, turning simple jars into enchanting displays that cost a fraction of store-bought versions.

The creative spirit extends to reimagining traditional decorations with modern, handmade approaches. Miniature Christmas trees crafted from Styrofoam triangles adorned with pins and sequins have become popular mantelpiece decorations. Creator @bekmarsden showcases this as a perfect group activity, with friends gathered around transforming plain foam shapes into glittering disco-bright creations. For those drawn to celestial themes, paper stars are having a moment in the crafting spotlight. These three-dimensional folded creations require nothing more than paper and patience, resulting in stunning decorations that can be hung from ceilings or windows to create magical lighting effects. Some crafters like @auroramccausland work with colored construction paper, while others such as @skripnik_katya repurpose pages from damaged books that would otherwise be discarded, creating sustainable decorations with literary charm. The versatility of these paper crafts makes them accessible to people with various skill levels and aesthetic preferences, from minimalist monochrome designs to rainbow-hued explosions of color.

This crafting revolution represents more than just a collection of DIY projects—it signals a meaningful shift in how younger generations choose to spend their time and connect with others. In a world often criticized for its digital isolation and superficial interactions, these crafting circles provide spaces for authentic connection through shared creation. The finished products become tangible reminders of time spent together, carrying emotional significance beyond their decorative purpose. While previous generations might have defined their social lives through nightlife and entertainment consumption, today’s young adults are increasingly finding fulfillment in creation rather than consumption. This movement toward handmade, personalized objects also pushes back against mass production and disposable culture, suggesting a desire for more meaningful relationships with the objects that fill our homes. As holiday seasons approach, these crafting gatherings offer not just decorations but memories made visible—physical manifestations of friendship, creativity, and the simple joy of making something with your own hands while surrounded by people you care about.