Should You Try the Viral “Fridgescaping” Trend?

October 2, 2024

Courtesy of Lynzi Judish/@lynziliving

Social media trends around food and cooking are sometimes worth trying, sometimes not. Fridgescaping has been popping up in FYPs all over FoodTok lately — and though organizing your refrigerator is nothing new, this trend represents a very different (and sometimes over the top) approach.

Is fridgescaping a real thing?

Fridgescaping takes the concept of an appealing-looking fridge to a new level, with people not just organizing the food, but also decorating the space with flowers, antiques, string lights, and even framed pictures. It’s a riff on tablescaping. “Fridgescaping is very eye-catching, especially for people who have a dash of style and are into meticulous organization,” says productivity and organizing expert Jane Stoller, author of Decluttering for Dummies.

You may look at fridgescapes and feel inspired, or they might be a total eye-roller — especially if you have an active kitchen and kids in and out of the fridge at all hours. But there may be elements of it that make sense for you; it just depends on how far you want to take it. “Personally, I think that it’s not just about making your fridge Instagram-worthy, but it’s also about making it function for you,” Stoller notes.

Benefits of fridgescaping

Whether or not you want to break out the twinkle lights and flowers, there can be some benefits to fridgescaping. “In my opinion, there can be pros to this trend, such as having easy access to the food you’re looking for, a clean fridge, and, of course, it’s aesthetically pleasing,” Stoller says. “Cons are that it is time consuming, and not always practical.”

Benefits include:

Clear visibility: “Fridgescaping makes everything in your fridge easy to spot, minimizing the chances of food getting lost or going to waste,” says home organization expert Liz Williamson.
Neat and clean–looking: “A neatly organized fridge with labeled containers creates a tidy, attractive look that adds a touch of order to your kitchen,” Williamson says.
Inspires healthy eating: “When your fridge is organized and appealing, fresh produce and healthy snacks are more inviting, which can encourage better eating habits,” Williamson notes.
Less waste. “Organizing food by expiration dates helps you use up older items first, reducing waste and keeping things fresh,” WIlliamson says.

Potential drawbacks:

Time-consuming setup: “Getting your fridge organized can be a bit of a project, especially if it involves buying and arranging bins, containers, and labels,” Williamson warns.
Wasted space: “If you invest in specific containers that aren’t fully utilized, you might end up wasting space or needing to purchase smaller quantities of some items,” she says.
Hassle factor: “If the system doesn’t fit with your shopping and cooking habits, it might end up being more of a hassle than a help,” Williamson adds.

Fridge organizing best practices

The underlying principle behind fridgescaping — organization — is worth doing, even if you don’t add decorations. Here are some aspects of fridgescaping to implement:

Clean regularly (but not obsessively). As with any home organization project, the smartest way to get started is to take everything out and start fresh. “Fridgescaping encourages you to completely wipe down your fridge weekly. While weekly is likely not necessary, cleaning regularly is an excellent practice to add to your routine, as it encourages you to remove expired or rotten food and gives your fridge a fresh smell and appearance,” says Genna Bross, co-founder of Happily Catalogued. Aside from wiping up any spills as they happen, give your fridge a thorough cleaning every couple of months.
Group similar items together. Sorting related items together looks attractive, and also makes it easier to find what you need. “Start by separating all of your fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, condiments and drinks,” says Bross. Incorporate products such as clear bins, dividers, containers, and turntables for organization. Drip trays are also useful to contain spills and avoid cross contamination.
Mind the temperature. Different parts of the fridge are cooler or have more variable temperatures; arrange foods accordingly. For example, put condiments on the door, where it’s warmest, and place meats in the bottom shelf or drawer, where it is coldest, Bross says.
First in, first out. “Incorporate practices such as rotating new to the back and old to the front to reduce waste,” Bross says. “Wipe down drips on any sauces, store ready-to-eat items and leftovers in clear bins for visibility, label and date leftovers and perishable items to track freshness.” Keep items you use a lot — or want to use a lot, like fresh fruits — clearly visible.

Bottom line

The key to a clean and beautiful yet functional fridge is a balance between adding some organization and style while maintaining practicality. Focus on that before thinking about adding flowers or antiques to your fridge.