Just recently graduated and newly relocated from New York to Los Angeles, Jonny Carmack is already turning heads. He picked up this eye-popping ceramic from an estate sale and it’s now the gorgeous focal point of his “fruit room” in Danbury, Conn. This whimsical space, adorned with various fruit-themed decor, exemplifies the latest trend sweeping across homes and social media platforms: the embrace of produce motifs in interior design. This trend is all about having fun and a sense of nostalgia. Yet it resonates profoundly with today’s culture, appealing to people’s desire to have comfort and creativity at their fingertips.
The “Tomato Girl Summer” trend on TikTok has made this aesthetic trend one of the most popular in 2023. From influencers to fashion designers, everyone has gotten onboard with fruit patterns. They love anything rainbow and free-spirited, often featuring these vibrant designs on everything from boho to modern decorating styles. The trend includes colorful 3D grape planters and diamond mirrors wrapped in peapods or pineapples. It captures our shared yearning for comfort and certainty in an ever-changing world.
The Grandmillennial Influence
Then about two years ago, Barrett says she started noticing the fruit-inspired decor making an unexpected comeback. She further links this growing interest to the “grandmillennial” design movement. This vintage trend embraces prized antique pieces and retro inspired styles that stir nostalgia. Commonplace, Barrett admits, but this trend isn’t limited to aesthetics. Its reach extends to apparel, where it’s responsible for a whole line of products decorated with cartoony produce prints.
There’s a lot of romance in the farmstand — it captures the pastoral lifestyle that everyone is longing for these days. Barrett stated. This deeper connection to nature and return to simple living theme strikes a chord with consumers, too. This time they focused on more general themes of wellness and sustainability.
Barrett notes that this trend fits in with all decorating styles. “If your style is more retro or youthful, you can embrace a little kitsch. For a more sophisticated look, opt for fruit motifs in the form of wallcovering or fabric,” she explained. This freedom creates space for people to reflect their identities and build whimsy and nostalgia into their home spaces.
The Revival of Vintage Motifs
Cabbageware and lettuce ware of the 18th and 19th centuries have recently gained popularity. Now, they’ve become a trending feature in contemporary design. Once made famous by luminaries such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, these motifs are re-emerging in popular destinations today. Barrett says she’s seen a resurgence in popularity for these objects. As he critiques, they only seem to resonate with those whose mythologies are deeply interested in reconnecting with their past.
Kim Cook, a prominent designer, showcased her ceramic vessels decorated with lemons at the recent Ambiente fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Her line further encompasses personal storage messenger bags and stationery decorated with strawberries, available exclusively at Anthropologie. Cook’s work exemplifies how these vintage motifs can be reimagined for today’s consumers, appealing to their desires for both nostalgia and novelty.
“Colors were supersaturated, shapes were exaggerated and cartoonish,” said Courtney Porter, adding that this aesthetic aligns with broader trends in home decor focusing on joy and self-expression. The charm of these types of designs is in their ability to elicit joy and whimsy.
Social Media’s Impact on Decor Choices
Today, social media platforms—especially ones like TikTok—have changed the game again, making influencers and tastemakers even more powerful harbingers of decor trends. Jonny Carmack’s “fruit room,” inspired by beloved childhood references from Dr. Seuss and Animal Crossing, serves as an example of how these platforms can inspire creativity in home design. Carmack shares his thoughts on the fruit motif trend: “Dressing your home with this aesthetic is an experiment in self-expression that so many people are connecting to.”
As time marches forward, and trends change, the need for sustainable materials and practices in the industry grows as well. Barrett notes that “there’s an accent on sustainable materials and youthfulness with this trend, too. People are nostalgic for natural abundance.” Eco-friendly awareness meets whimsical innovation to deliver a striking new take on home decor. So many people can’t wait to experience this new creative fusion!
The viral popularity of things such as a lemon-shaped ceramic stool at HomeGoods shows the breadth of this trend. Decor that balances the playful with the practical now captures the imagination of consumers more than ever. One thing’s for sure, vegetable patterns aren’t going anywhere.
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