In the age of social media, where aesthetics are paramount, a new trend is emerging that is sweeping platforms like Instagram and TikTok: refrigerator layout. This particular trend invites you to decorate the inside of the refrigerator with garlands, vases, mirrors and even LED lights, as if it were an art showcase. It is no longer just about organizing it, but about elevating it to an almost baroque level, with fruit bowls, fresh orchids and even elf houses.
Although for many it may seem incomprehensible or excessive – and even more so if they barely manage to do their weekly shopping – the refrigerator, also known as “Fridgerton” by a well-known TikToker, has generated popularity. Some see it as a fun way to personalize your home, but this trend has also been parodied and criticized, including by food health experts.
Food technologist Jorge Jaldón warns that decorating the inside of the refrigerator is not only impractical, but potentially dangerous: “There is no adequate air circulation, which can cause cross-contamination. Ordering from the refrigerator is essential to ensure food safety.” And with so much decoration, fruits and vegetables could be mixed with raw produce, increasing the risk of illness.
Despite its drawbacks, the fridge-design continues to gain followers. While in Spain we are content with the classic cathedral magnets and the tower of stacked yogurts, in the rest of the world some people take the decoration of the refrigerator to unthinkable extremes. Will the fashion last or will it soon be forgotten? Only time will tell, but just in case, it might be best to leave the fairy lights for the living room.
