The Fridgescaping Trend That Has People Sprucing Up The Inside Of Their Fridge

Have you ever opened your fridge to look for something to eat, only to feel completely uninspired and close it right back up again? One trend aims to solve that issue by making your fridge as aesthetically pleasing as possible: fridgescaping. It's like landscaping but for your fridge.

Fridgescaping has been around since 2011, but it recently exploded on TikTok in a more exaggerated, over-the-top form thanks to Lynzi Judish (@lynziliving). Her fridgescapes are often centered around a theme and involve items that you wouldn't normally find in a fridge, like flowers, candles, porcelain baubles, and framed pictures. They also feature more creative, artistic forms of food storage than your typical Tupperware: veggies in woven baskets and milk in glass pitchers. 

It can all seem downright impractical, and some of the items look out of place in a fridge, which is why fridgescaping has drawn vocal critics. Plus, fridgescaping to viral TikToker-levels probably requires more time, money, and effort than the average person cares to spend on their fridge. "Underconsumption core" is also becoming increasingly popular, and fridgescaping can conflict with frugality. But on the other hand, there's a reason Judish and other fridgescapers have become popular in the first place. The basic idea behind fridgescaping has wide appeal: by making your fridge more pleasant to use, you can feel more inspired to cook and eat. "I've never felt healthier, which is a very unexpected side effect," Judish told CNN.

According to Judish's TikTok, fridgescaping helps her waste less produce, try more foods, cook more often, and keep her fridge cleaner. If you're curious about these benefits, know that you don't have to go full "Fridgerton" to experience them. There are endless ways to fridgescape, including more practical and toned-down versions. The practice shares some commonalities with Marie Kondo's famous KonMari organizing method, which encourages people to only buy and keep items that spark joy.

Find a way to spruce up your fridge that embodies joy for you. That might mean splurging on decorations and fancy storage containers, with no more plastic or ugly store labels in sight. Or it might just mean a deep clean and a new organization system. You don't necessarily have to spend money — you can use what you already have, check thrift stores, or get items from your neighbors on Buy Nothing groups. Even simple things, like neatly arranging your drinks or storing your herbs in water, can be a source of inspiration while making your fridge more joyful to use.

Whether you choose a low-key fridgescape or something more over-the-top, make sure that whatever you put in the fridge is safe for that climate. Be careful when adding delicate, easily breakable items — ideally, your fridge will become more usable, not less. And before you store any food in a unique new container, check that the material is food-safe and washable to avoid cross-contamination.