These people are 'beautifying' the insides of their refrigerators with fresh flowers and framed art: 'My mission in life is simply to make everything around me pretty'

For decades, it's been simple. Food goes into the fridge … and that's pretty much that. But with social media posts about maximalism and home decorating trends on the rise, people are sprucing up and organizing a new part of their home: the inside of their refrigerator.

Clare Sullivan, a TikTok content creator, is a master of all things interior design, especially when making the functional, beautiful. "Organizing and beautifying my fridge makes me happy," she tells Yahoo Life. "This may sound impractical or silly to some, but my mission in life is simply to make everything around me pretty."

It's a mission Sullivan believes everyone could embody to add a bit of joy to their daily lives. She explains that this practice, which involves storing items like fruit, condiments and canned beverages in beautiful containers, as well as adding decorative elements like wooden bowls and framed art to a fridge, goes beyond just aesthetics, serving a more important purpose in her home.

"On a less frivolous note, beautifying my fridge encourages me to cook more meals at home," she says, "which saves me money on takeout and pricey restaurant dinners."

TikToker Eve Scampoli's weekly fridge restocks have become a pillar of her content creation. She says she was inspired by her aunt's organized home to create a meticulous living space for herself.

"After seeing her form of art, I invested in revamping each area in my home because it brought calm to my chaos," says Scampoli. "Having everything in order kickstarts the rest of my day to be productive. My day-to-day can be extremely hectic and starting my day with a clean and decorated fridge and home gives me peace … small investments can make a big impact."

While Scampoli says her home organization endeavor was only a small financial investment, she knows the process of getting started can feel overwhelming and expensive. Luckily, she says, it doesn't have to be.

"Contrary to popular belief, I have not spent any additional money than I normally would buying groceries, flowers and decor," Scampoli explains. "I organize my food strategically, use flowers I have around my house and decorate with random pieces I find lying around."

Sullivan agrees that a great way to begin glamming up your fridge is to find pieces in your home that you already enjoy, and give them new life.

"I mostly repurposed things I already had," she says. "I used clear stacking bins to store yogurts — these boxes are meant to be used for makeup storage, but since I already had them, I decided to reuse and recycle them."

In addition to recycling old bins, Sullivan says utilizing bowls and baskets you already love from home is a good way to add some personality.

"Putting the wooden fruit bowl in the fridge was a thrilling little move … people on TikTok got so mad about it, mostly because it is — and I'll admit it — absolutely strange," she says. "But when you stop and think about it, what's so crazy about storing fruit in a bowl inside the fridge? We do it on the counter."

"I [also] like using glass Tupperware with wooden lids, this way I can see what's inside but avoid using unattractive plastic," Sullivan adds. "Beautiful things can definitely be practical."

Scampoli, who restocks her fridge live on TikTok every Sunday night, reminds viewers and readers that this trend is all about individuality: finding the style that brings joy to your home and kitchen space.

"My top tip? Think outside of the box," she says. "Decorate your space based on your preference. So many people leave negative comments because they personally wouldn't do what I am doing. I don't care, nor do it for other people. I use decor and organization to make me feel calm and do what makes me happy, like putting a picture of my cat in my fridge."

Even Sullivan, a master of fridge decor, agrees each element should be personalized — based on what brings beauty and function into your fridge, as what works for some might become cumbersome for others.

"I will admit, I did not keep the flower vase in the fridge for long," she says. "I like to remind people since I'm a content creator, a bunch of the little moves I make in videos are frivolous for the point of entertainment. Everyone should remember when they see my (and other amazing creators') fridge organization videos, it's all a bit of a show coupled with genuine enthusiasm for aesthetics and organization."

So how practical is this decor trend? As a foodie, my kitchen is my favorite room in the house. I was thrilled that my recent move to a new home meant a brand-new kitchen and fridge space to organize and make my own. Eager to try this trend out for myself, I started with some fun clear containers for fruits and veggies. With little trays on the bottom to catch water and clear flat lids for stacking, these instantly changed my space. They've kept my produce fresher for longer and I don't get overwhelmed by a mess in my fruit and vegetable drawers.

I also opted for some decorative food-safe glass bottles for juice, milk and creamers. Of course, I was thrilled when an old vase I love — but rarely have an opportunity to use — fit perfectly inside my fridge. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing the flowers every time I opened the doors, and it has certainly given my flowers some added longevity.

After months of watching videos and planning for my own space, I'm glad to find that in reality, it's a practice I plan on keeping up with. I no longer forget about food in the back of the fridge, and my time in the kitchen feels more enjoyable. Opening the fridge just feels like a happy task, and I've loved slowly adding things that make it look better or adding more organization and decor from week-to-week.

Sullivan says no matter what fridge or tools you may have on hand, this style, which may seem a little frivolous at first, is for everyone and should inspire you to find comfort and joy in a new corner of your home.

"All that you need to take away is the idea that your fridge can be beautiful," she says, "which will inspire you to eat better and cook more."

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