Just as Generation Z is scraping the “millennial grey” paint off the natural wood in their homes, Cracker Barrel gave itself the sad beige makeover nobody asked for.

Nearly every McDonald’s has received this makeover in the last decade. While style and decor changes across generations are normal, the leap from what the kids of the 1990s grew up with to what they created once they became adults is nothing short of an architectural whiplash. The garish, yet welcoming, tones of bright yellow and red have been replaced with various shades of grey, while the iconic golden arches are swapped for sharp angles on the fast-food chain’s buildings.

The trend isn’t just obvious in restaurant design. Baby toys are now made with the most ambiguous, neutral colors possible. While playing with a trendy

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