10 Creative Tips To Master The Art Of Fridgescaping

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Refrigerators have long served as a canvas for creativity in the kitchen, playing host to everything from your favorite travel souvenirs to your child's finest artwork. However, these creative flourishes usually don't reach beyond the boundary of the fridge door — that is, until the trend of fridgescaping came along.

The term was first coined by blogger Kathy Perdue in 2011 when she stored her produce in aesthetic containers. However, this trend has since assumed a life of its own, with modern decor enthusiasts transforming the inside of their refrigerators into fairy tale-esque displays.

If you are looking to get in on the action, the good news is that you don't have to break the bank. You can get started by using decor that you may already have at hand — including tinted glass pitchers and drink dispensers. Curate these essentials into themed displays with the addition of miniature artwork and mood-enhancing fairy lights to elevate the mundane. If you are ready to get started, scroll ahead for a beginner-friendly guide to dip your toe into the trend. Is it frivolous? Yes. Is it impossibly fun? Also yes.

What if every time you opened your refrigerator for a midnight snack, a dopamine-boosting display of flowers beamed back at you? This is the question that the fridgescaping trend sets out to answer. By adding a few whimsical flourishes, such as edible flowers leaning daintily in a vase, you can infuse some softness among the harsh lines of the jars, tins, and bottles.

While cascading floral arrangements are not an uncommon sight within meticulous fridgescapes, edible options bring some practicality to this trend. Arrange a few rosebuds in a crystal vase and pluck a few petals when you are looking to add an aromatic touch to your evening tea. If you are looking to move beyond the usual suspects, it helps to glance through this guide on the different types of edible flowers and how to use them to turn today's decor into tomorrow's garnish.

Once you have narrowed down the options that will serve as a feast for the eyes and the taste buds — a word to the wise: Steer clear of these worst-tasting edible flowers — you'll want to consider your vessel and arrangement. A book-shaped vase is an easy way to add some vintage flair to your refrigerator, and the linear silhouette can be neatly tucked into a corner without taking up much real estate. If you are running short on time, you can always allow some edible blossoms to float freely in a shallow bowl of water.

You could stash your milk carton inside the refrigerator and call it a day. Or you could decant it into a tinted pitcher embossed with an elegant floral design so that your daily grab-and-go breakfast routine suddenly transports you to an idyllic countryside cottage in Provence.

If you aren't big on the frills and fancies that come with the fridgescaping trend, adding a few tinted pitchers is a low-stakes way to add some mood-enhancing color to your refrigerator — suddenly, an uninspiring vat of matcha tea can be turned into an alluring potion. If you aren't feeling the butterflies yet, you will once the morning rays of sunlight hit your tinted pitcher and you watch the web of dreamy refractions spread across the room.

There are several ways to leverage tinted pitchers inside your refrigerator. Use yours as a home for infused water and score bonus points for tossing in frozen fruit cubes and floral ice melts. If you are feeling particularly festive, you can also fill yours with seasonal foliage to match the time of the year or hold the edible flowers you bookmarked earlier. If your refrigerator doesn't have the space to spare for decorative flourishes, try using shallow pitchers to give an instant glow-up to leftover gravies and sauces.

You have hollowed out your watermelon for a festive punch bowl, and now it is time to expand your fruity prowess by transforming the season's freshest produce into a stunning masterpiece inside your refrigerator. Is it decor? Is it a snack? You'll leave your dinner guests guessing every time they pop over to the fridge for an iced tea refill.

For those who like their fridgescaping endeavors to be equal parts practical and performative, seasonal fruit arrangements are a no-brainer. While floral arrangements can be a sight for sore eyes, their fruity counterparts ensure zero waste. If you know your way around putting together a bouquet of flowers, the same skills will transfer over here. Start by scouring the market aisles to deduce which fruits are in season. When filling up your cart, you'll want to reach for complementary colors, such as tropical hues, that can be tempered with a sprig of mint or basil to create a visually pleasing vignette. To assemble, place foam rounds in a bowl and tuck creatively cut clusters of fruit securely with greening pins.

On those days when you don't have the time to spare for decorative details, you can choose to keep things simple. Fill a hurricane vase with citrus and grapefruit slices to create a pocket-sized treat each time you open the refrigerator. It's low on effort but high on impact. 

The question isn't why would you add artwork inside your refrigerator — the question is why wouldn't you? After decades of decorating the outside of your fridge with travel souvenirs and children's art, it's time to extend the same courtesy to the interior of the refrigerator as well.

Avid fridgescapers are turning their fridge shelves into the Louvre by adding themed artwork — expect gilded Victorian-style frames to accompany Regency-inspired vignettes. And it is easy to see why. Instead of opening your fridge door to find the same uninspiring assortment of veggies and soups ticking closer to their expiration date, you can curate the shelves of your fridge like a gallery. From artwork to your favorite postcards, you can start by framing mood-elevating prints in a basic bordered frame. Those feeling more adventurous can opt for hanging displays strung with fairy lights.

If you'd like to blur the boundaries between food and art, you can choose to create edible picture frames with fondant to give yourself a delectable-looking snack to nibble on. Simply fit some fondant into a mold shaped like a vintage picture frame. Press down well to ensure that you are filling in all the crevices and shave off any excess. After carefully unmolding the fondant, paint the frame with glitter or pearlescent hues and add a picture of your choice at the back of the frame to finish your (incr)edible artwork.

The technology powering modern refrigerators has evolved rapidly — you can now expect everything from built-in Keurig coffee makers to AI-powered scanners that display the contents of your fridge without you ever having to crack open the door. However, the world of refrigerator lighting has not been invited to the party, barely evolving beyond the same sterile LED glow for years. It comes as little surprise that fridgescaping enthusiasts have taken matters into their own hands, opting for mood-enhancing lighting that invites a touch of whimsy.

Picture yourself padding over to the refrigerator in the dead of the night and opening the door to discover a string of fairy lights casting their romantic glow over everything within, making the simplest jam jars glimmer. Fridgescaping is often accused of being a high-maintenance endeavor, but simply draping a strand of lights across your fridge shelves can infuse joy and wonder into the impassive act of pouring yourself some milk.

For dousing your refrigerator in a mood-elevating glow, it helps to choose your fairy lights with care. First, there is the matter of color: therapeutic warm-toned hues are known for boosting relaxation. Then, there is the matter of the bulb shape. Depending on the theme you are opting for, you'll find everything under the sun, from dainty blossoms to strings of stars for creating your own constellation.

Vintage dishware is the gift that keeps on giving. You can allow yours to assume pride of place in your kitchen after taking inspiration from Gwyneth Paltrow's oversized display of Hermès plates — aptly nicknamed by the internet as her very own "great wall of China." Or, you can use yours to liven the interior of your refrigerator. From enameled teapots to floral platters, well-loved finds can invite vintage flair into your fridge — those lightly chipped edges and indentations only add to the charm.

While it is easy to fall in love with every pastoral plate you come across, it always helps to know when to leave vintage dishware behind at the thrift store. Once you have determined that the dishware is safe to use, it's time to get creative. Opt for a curated assortment of ceramic dishes of varying heights and colors to create a vintage vignette that goes beyond the ordinary. You can also prop up fresh herbs or flowers in an old-fashioned teacup set to transform your fridge into an enchanted forest.

Perhaps you are looking to truly flex your creative muscles by experimenting with different eras. There are several creative ways to mix vintage and modern elements in your kitchen, and you can extend that same concept to your fridgescape. Tuck modern ceramic accents in between all the vintage pieces on your fridge shelf for an eclectic vibe that says, "Not your grandma's kitchen."

If you have scrolled your thumbs raw through all the picture-perfect displays on social media but don't quite know where to begin your own, it helps to choose an overarching theme that will guide your decisions. Fridgescaping, by nature, is a maximalist effort. Instead of having individual elements compete for attention, a cohesive theme can ensure visual harmony.

So, what do your options look like? Given the Regency-sized hangover that descended on the pop culture landscape after "Bridgerton" — and the fact that the pun "fridgerton" was just waiting to happen — you'll be seeing plenty of old-world tableaux online. Pastel pitchers, vintage teapots, enamel jewelry boxes, and fresh-off-the-promenade fruit displays are all must-haves here. If you are truly looking to get in the mood, you can even slip on a pair of lace gloves to romanticize the otherwise tedious task of restocking the fridge, as fridgescaper Lynzi Judish did in one of her viral videos.

However, your options don't end there. Hobbit-inspired displays are also popular in the realm of fridgescaping. Create yours by opting for primitive dishware, rustic textures, and mushrooms — the hard-earned fruits of a long day spent foraging. You can also allow seasonal festivities to inspire your next fridgescape, such as adding bright pops of autumnal orange to invite spooky season into your refrigerator.

Fridgescaping is a creative exercise, but it needn't be one that drains out your savings. Instead of blowing up your entire grocery budget on statement decor, you can start out small by creating a patterned backdrop with not-so-basic fridge liners.

Dirt and grime have no place within the postcard-ready world of fridgescaping, and printed shelf liners help to keep your shelves clean. From dainty daisies to woodland-inspired florals, patterned liners can instantly add personality and charm to the uninspired backdrop of white fridge shelves. Those who veer on the minimalist end of the spectrum can opt for a statement liner on one shelf and cover the remaining shelves in solid hues from the same color family.

When shopping for fridge liners, it helps to avoid paper-based options that have been created for cabinets and cupboards, as the humidity within the refrigerator will cause the material to disintegrate. Modern liners are designed to be washable and scratch-resistant to withstand all the spills and splatters that generally occur within the fridge. To ensure that there is no overhang along the edges, it helps to roll out the shelf liner on a flat surface and place the fridge shelf directly on top so you can map the silhouette accurately. Once you are satisfied with the silhouette, use a box cutter instead of kitchen scissors to cut your desired shape for greater precision.

Drink dispensers generally garner attention when placed on a table at an outdoor gathering or picnic. However, they can also make a big visual impact in your fridge.

For starters, you will want to get creative with what goes inside the dispenser. Jewel-toned beverages, such as the ruby hues of pomegranate iced tea, will instantly draw attention. Ice cubes generally serve as the finishing touch for a beverage dispenser, but, of course, you won't be unmolding solid, uncolored chunks of ice. Instead, opt for statement-making garnishes, such as creatively shaped cubes with fruity or floral additions. Round out your efforts by opting for themed finishes, such as a lei garland and paper umbrellas, to throw a tropical tiki party in your refrigerator.

When choosing a statement-making drink dispenser for your fridgescape, it helps to keep certain golden rules in mind. Borosilicate glass dispensers are the ideal choice for withstanding the cold temperatures of a refrigerator. Plastic can work as well, but keep in mind that cheaper materials are more prone to scratches. Once you have finalized your choice of material, it helps to determine the correct size for your needs. A good rule of thumb: one gallon gives you 16 cups. If you are expecting larger crowds on scorching summer weekends, you'll want to opt for a three-gallon dispenser.

There are certain kitchen decor staples that can give your space a country feel, and rustic wooden trays are at the top of that list. From wooden trays to natural clay ramekins, there is something about the sight of these natural textures that can make you feel like you have stepped into the Hobbit's personal pantry. Generally, wooden trays are not advised to be used in the refrigerator as this natural material tends to absorb moisture. However, you can always apply a coat of mineral oil to serve as protective armor — by sinking deep within the grains of the wood, it shields the surface from the moisture present in the fridge.

As with all noteworthy fridgescapes, it helps to play around with height and texture. Top off a flat wooden tray with pine cones in a cloche for a memorable montage that will serve as a compliment magnet at your next dinner party. To create visual harmony, it helps to work within one family of colors, such as orchard-inspired pinks and purples for a spring scene. Beyond baking and serving, ramekins can also serve as a worthy resting spot for fresh herbs, wild berries, and mushrooms — it will almost feel like these bite-sized treasures have been ferried over straight from the garden's harvest. As a finishing touch, add battery-operated votives within a few spare ramekins to douse last night's leftovers with an ethereal, romantic glow.