“Fridgescaping” transforms an everyday appliance into an articulate display of luxury.
Beyond the neatly arranged rows of snacks and sleek, clear containers, fridgescaping consists of placing items like picture frames inside your refrigerator.
As this trend gains popularity, it highlights a growing focus on aesthetics in spaces that are, or used to be, purely functional.
Although Kathy Perdue coined the term “fridgescaping” in a 2011 blog post, the concept has evolved over the years. Perdue’s idea of the trend focused on practical organization, similar to today’s popular restocking videos where people put their groceries into clear containers to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
“I thought, every time you open up your refrigerator — and we do that several times a day — it needs to be pretty, too,” Perdue wrote at the time.
Decorative ornaments are what set fridgescaping and simple restocking apart. Some people add fairy lights, flower vases and ceramic knick-knacks among their groceries. These non-traditional items turn the fridge into a unique, personalized space rather than just a storage area.
Since Perdue pioneered the trend, influencers like Lynzi Judish, (@lynzliving) on TikTok, have taken it to new heights.
In a circulating TikTok video, Judish showcases her meticulously designed fridge and addresses questions about the purpose behind fridgescaping.
She explains that the organized layout helps her keep track of her produce, encourages her to try new food and cook more, resulting in less food waste and makes it easier to keep her fridge clean.
Judish has even created themed displays for movies and TV shows like “Bridgerton” and “Beetlejuice.” She also designs seasonal setups for holidays to keep her content fresh and engaging.
While fridgescaping offers creative benefits, it poses potential risks.
In a Healthline article, Dr. Maria Knoble, the medical director of Medical Cert UK, discusses the possibility of contamination.
“When you place decorative elements inside your fridge, especially if they are not food-safe or are difficult to clean, you could inadvertently introduce contaminants,” Knobel said. “For example, decorative items might harbor bacteria or mold, which can then come into contact with food items.”
As with many social media trends, fridgescaping is sparking debates over its practicality.
Unlike Judish, who thinks decorating her fridge helps reduce waste, Allie Chanthorn Reinmann, a staff writer for Life Hacker, draws the line at simple organization.
“I like my fridge best when I can actually fit my groceries in there properly,” Chanthorn Reinmann wrote. “Again, you don’t have to store eight mini vases of flowers in your fridge to achieve a pleasant look, save money, and waste less. Try not to purchase more food than you can properly store.”
However, supporters of fridgescaping see it as an opportunity to inject personality into overlooked spaces in their homes.
They argue that much like decorating a living room or bedroom, enhancing their refrigerators allows them to express themselves unconventionally.
Fridgescaping also coincides with the increasing “Instagrammable” nature of interior design. Since platforms often boost home organization videos, influencers are seeking to decorate every nook and cranny of their homes to align with their brand.
When viewers watch videos of influencers stocking their fridges with anything but food, they often want to participate and it blurs the line between genuine need and the pursuit of an idealized life.
Fridgescaping represents more than a social media trend — it’s an outrageous example of consumerism.
Fridgescaping actively pushes people to buy more, not for practical reasons, but for the sake of adopting a lifestyle that prioritizes image over health, wellness and necessity.
As influencers like Judish are pushing the boundaries of creative expression, the trend invites adoration and critique.
Whether seen as a representation of personal style or a symbol of excessive consumerism, fridgescaping taps into a broader cultural shift where the dullest spaces are groomed to be picturesque.
In the end, fridgescaping serves as a reminder of how aesthetics fill every aspect of daily life, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.
