Gen Z is furnishing fridges now

If you’re tired of scrolling through your social feed and passively interacting with accounts showing glimpses of daily life—ranging from What’s In My Bag to Get Ready With Me—a new trend from the United States is shifting TikTok’s focus to the world of home appliances. “Fridgescaping” (a term born from merging “fridge” and “landscaping”) is the latest viral frontier in home decor that transforms the weekly supermarket trip into a curation adventure. The trend involves carefully arranging the contents of your fridge, not just through food compositions but by transforming shelves into small aesthetic wonder chambers: LED candles, plants, flowers, and jewelry are just a few items appearing inside American refrigerators. Beyond being fun to do—and to watch—the phenomenon is also an extension of personal identity on social media. In the past, fridge doors were used to stick to-do lists, magnets, travel postcards, bills, and gym memberships, but now the focus has shifted to the inside. With obsessive care, the purely functional appliance becomes a creative outlet for imaginative obsession.

It was Lynzi Judish, a TikTok content creator, who reintroduced the term “fridgescaping,” which was originally coined in 2011 by California-based design consultant Kathy Perdue. Perdue gave it a therapeutic, practical meaning: to optimize and manage space efficiently by following the “first in, first out” rule. She organized food in neat, aesthetically pleasing containers, ensuring color coding and harmony. «Why not put your everyday foods in cute containers and have something beautiful to look at when you open the fridge?» she asked in her blog, explaining how to make the most of the process. Recently, however, the trend has evolved, with the addition of items such as antique porcelain dishes for butter, votive statues, and fresh flowers placed in vases beside bell peppers. There are even framed photos, leading to the creation of a “Fridgerton” theme, a playful homage to the hit series by Shonda Rhimes. «Fridgerton was honestly one of the most fun things I’ve done recently. I just started watching the third season of Bridgerton, so what better time to romanticize my life with some fridgescaping?» Lynzi wrote in the caption of a video that garnered over a million views. According to her, the mise-en-scène took more than three hours to complete. She also changes the setup every two weeks: Hobbit houses give way to enchanted forests, horror settings to scenes worthy of Louis XIV’s Versailles. The comments were polarizing—some viewers dismissed the trend as absurd, while others appreciated the care and attention to detail. Lynzi responds to critics with sarcasm, assuring them that the setup is intended for social media sharing: «Of course, I’m not walking around the house wearing lace gloves or storing jewelry boxes in the fridge, even though some people on the internet think I do. I think people don’t realize that this is also meant to be a bit frivolous.»

The practice raises concerns not only about waste but also food safety. As noted by Healthline, Maria Knobel, director of Medical Cert UK, warns: «When decorative elements are placed in the fridge, especially if they’re not food-safe or hard to clean, contaminants could be introduced. For example, decorations could harbor bacteria or mold.» Furthermore, any antique item from before the 1971 Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act might contain harmful amounts of lead, which is toxic to health. However, content creators are aware of this, ensuring that every vintage piece intended for their fridge has been tested. For Tiffany Bishop, whose videos showcasing various setups for cheese and vegetable trays have surpassed a million views, the activity is tied to neurotransmitters: «Think about it—when you open the fridge, what would make you smile the most? Sure, we should all smile just because there’s food inside. But what could give that extra dopamine boost when you open the door?» she says, defending the initiative from criticism. She explains that Chanel bags placed next to cottage cheese are reused items from her interior design work. Where does the inspiration come from? Figures like Bethenny Frankel and Martha Stewart, among others. The fridge decor also changes with holidays, leaving everyone eagerly waiting to see how pumpkins will be transformed for Halloween.