“Fridgescaping: The 2024 Decor Trend That’s Taking TikTok by Storm… and Our Fridges”
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This 2024 back-to-school season is full of surprises on the lifestyle front. For some time now, fans of fridgescaping have been racking up millions of views on social media, particularly on TikTok. Their passion? Decorating the inside of their fridge until it becomes a true work of art. An amusing trend, certainly, but one that already has its critics.
What is fridgescaping?
Fridgescaping is the contraction of “fridge” and “landscaping”. The goal of this trend is to make your fridge an aesthetic ally that will inspire you to cook more often and healthier. Your carrots in a bouquet in a nice stoneware vase, a carved wooden egg holder, bunches of grapes mingling with flowers in a crystal bowl, a lovely miniature painting, and even a mirror… This is what you can find in the fridge of a fridgescaper. The idea is simple: you should feel thrilled when you open the door of your refrigerator, just as you do when you open the door to your living room.
The Origins of Fridgescaping
In reality, the idea of decorating your fridge is not new; it dates back to 2011. It was Kathy Perdue, an American design consultant, who proposed in her blog to organize your food in pretty bowls and containers and arrange them well. The initiator of this trend is herself astonished on her Instagram account by the incredible phenomenon that a simple idea mentioned 13 years ago has become.
And there is plenty to be amazed about since this trend now accumulates millions of views on TikTok, and fridgescapers are competing in creativity to turn their fridges into a true art gallery. Lynzi Judish, a convinced fridgescaper, even takes the concept further by decorating and redecorating her refrigerator according to a theme. After going viral with her fridgerton (a blend of “fridge” and “Bridgerton”), she returns with a Halloween-themed fridge, inspired by the release of the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Vases, glasses, bowls, carafes, and even a snow globe: Lynzi’s fridge takes on black, white, and green tones, plunging us straight into a Tim Burton scene while grabbing our basil. And the lady is savvy as she even makes it a business. You can shop her fridge and try to become a pro at fridgescaping.
A Trend Already Controversial
While the concept of fridgescaping is fun, it is already quite controversial.
What Are the Arguments Against Fridgescaping?
First of all, by overloading the fridge with all sorts of trinkets, we are driven to overconsume these trinkets, and this cluttered decoration impacts the energy consumed by the fridge itself.
The other argument from critics is the health aspect. Indeed, decorative items like frames or flower pots, placed in the refrigerator, can introduce contaminants (dust, microbes, chemical residues), increasing the risks of foodborne infections without thorough cleaning.
Moreover, replacing original packaging with decorative containers can pose a problem.
Dairy and meat products must remain in their packaging to ensure their freshness and avoid the consumption of expired foods. Raw meats, in particular, risk contaminating other foods, fostering the proliferation of dangerous bacteria like salmonella.
5 Tips and Tricks for Healthy Fridgescaping
- Always keep your refrigerator clean (at least once a month), and thoroughly clean it before starting fridgescaping.
- Always clean up spills immediately. This prevents the growth of bacteria, prolongs the freshness of fruits, and helps avoid cross-contamination.
- Some decorative items are only meant to be decorative. If you purchase an item labeled “decorative only,” do not put food in it.
- Do not block the air vents of your fridge.
- It’s better to keep meats and dairy products in their original packaging to ensure safety and not lose track of expiration dates.
To your fridges!
Cover photo @lynziliving
