As the autumn weather keeps us indoors, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are bursting with new home decor trends designed to stave off boredom. These trends, known as fridgescaping, deskscaping, and doorscaping, involve redecorating various parts of your home with delicate ornaments or themed embellishments. From 'fridgertons' to #deskdecor, these aesthetic movements are gaining traction among home decor influencers.
Fridgescaping, for instance, transforms the shelves of your fridge under a chosen theme by reorganizing and repacking groceries, while adding decorations such as ornaments, lights, and flowers. User lynziliving has showcased her 'fridgerton' - inspired by the TV series Bridgerton and featuring lavish gold-framed portraits, fine china, cut flowers, and busts - and a Beetlejuice restock inspired by the recently released Tim Burton film, with black and white striped vases, mini monsters, and plenty of green food. According to the TikToker, this decorative art actually has practical benefits: she wastes less food because fresh produce is immediately visible and not hidden in a drawer to mould, and she and her husband cook more because the groceries look more tempting. Account realhomesofficial adds that it is a way of romanticizing your life and breathing new life into a part of your home that is usually pretty mundane. Plus, it ensures you keep the fridge clean.
However, users who work in the interior design sector are more skeptical of the trend. The account of interior design company Havenly posted a video of their unaestheticised fridge, commenting that rather than jumping on the movement, “respectfully, we are busy designing homes”. Under the hashtags #desksetup, #desktour, and #deskdecor, deskscaping has also found fame on TikTok. Users are giving their workspaces a makeover with color-coordinated office accessories and novel gadgets. The short videos show the satisfying stages of redecorating and reorganizing. Many TikTokers have sought to prettify a corporate office space with white and pink accessories, flowers, and ornaments. User lifestyle_clipz has chosen a more bohemian style with potted plants, dark wood, and stacks of books. While a more attractive desk may provide motivation to work or study, the trend does not appear to be very environmentally friendly as many videos begin with unboxing dozens of packages containing new accessories.
Home exteriors have not been overlooked by the aesthetic makeover trend. Autumn-themed doorscapes have become popular, which see users upgrade their entranceways with seasonal decorations. Although some social media posts show influencers heading to shops or ordering items online, this is one makeover that can easily be done sustainably. Cassandra Leisz, Creative Director at interiors brand Ruggable, has plenty of tips for doorscaping using everyday household items. Tin cans and jars can be reused to make pots for small plants or fried flowers, while a wreath can be constructed from a bent wire coathanger decorated with foraged flora like twigs, pine cones, and dried leaves. Paper bags can be cut into autumnal shapes like leaves or pumpkins and lit up with battery-operated tealights inside while rice-stuffed orange socks can replace real pumpkins.
