Donna Kelce's Best Tip for Designing a ‘Gran Cave’ Is Surprisingly Simple

Grandmacore has been having a moment. Not to be confused with the coastal grandma aesthetic or cottagecore, it's a style that embraces comforting, nostalgic touches and vintage pieces. You can embrace it in any room — and to prove it, Donna Kelce is introducing the "gran cave," a grandmacore update to the man cave.

What is grandmacore?

Imagine an eclectic grandmother's house full of wallpaper, floral patterns, painted ceramic vases, warm wooden furniture with patterned upholstery, and curtains with lace trim. That's the grandmacore aesthetic.

"One thing that everyone is universally itching for in 2026 is spaces that feel more unique to them, and that's why I love grandmacore," interior designer Kate Fuller says in a TikTok video from January, which has reached over 138,000 views. "No two homes are the same. It's a lot of thrifted, a lot of hand-me-down, all meshed together into more of a lived-in, cozy look."

Fuller says the hallmarks of grandmacore are traditional furniture silhouettes like wingback chairs, pattern stacking (think: gingham, stripes and florals all tied together by a shared color palette) and collecting clutter. She thinks the latter is the biggest appeal of this style and says people are moving away from minimalism and leaning into design that shows more personality.

“We like that intentional clutter because it tells a story — it’s something that feels more unique to you," she says. "This is like a knickknack lover’s dream.”

To incorporate the style into your home, Fuller suggests painting trim or swapping out your lampshades to add more color and texture to your space, and to display items that make your space feel personal.

What is a gran cave?

A gran cave brings grandmacore into the most masculine of spaces: the man cave. It offers a cute 2026 spin on the stereotypical sports-viewing room — retro lamps, kitschy clocks, personalized mugs and crocheted placemats, all framing a big screen for watching the game.

Since grandmacore leans into sentimental details, it's oddly perfect for displaying team memorabilia in a fresh way — including handmade items. Try stringing up a DIY felt pennant banner in your team's colors, or add a team logo or your favorite player's jersey number to a throw pillow.

What's Donna Kelce's best tip for designing a gran cave?

Donna Kelce partnered with GameChanger, an app by Dick's Sporting Goods that allows families to stream their kids' and grandkids' games, to create a demo gran cave “designed with intentional ‘easter eggs’ and nostalgic touches — from customized sports-themed air fresheners to curated memorabilia celebrating the essential role grandparents play in the youth sports village,” the brand says in a press release. While the aesthetic is inspired by grandma, Kelce thinks a gran cave is really about the kids in the family — and the simplest way to reflect that is by displaying their artwork.

"It makes it feel more like they’re involved in what’s going on," Kelce tells HGTV. "I think it’s just important to incorporate some of their favorite things into a family room instead of making it look like it’s out of a catalog or an adult place. A gran cave’s gotta be about your kids.”

In other words, make the space sentimental and include anything your kids or grandkids are proud of.

"I think mothers have been doing that for years — putting stuff up in the kitchen," she says. "So, throw it in the gran cave. Don’t just leave it for the refrigerator."

Are there any other gran cave essentials?

With two sons playing in the NFL, Kelce has quite a bit of experience watching football. And, like the rest of us, she appreciates a good game-day snack.

“I like these little things that I do with phyllo dough,” she says. “You put brie, the little mini bries, in the center, cut it up into squares and put a little bit of cherry jelly, or your favorite jelly, and maybe some pistachios on it."

Sounds delicious to us. Or, you could always go with a batch of classic chocolate chip cookies — Mama Kelce is known for hers, too. It's just what a relaxing day in the gran cave requires.