This year’s big home decor trend pops with a delightful and quirky feel. It features fruits and vegetables patterns, adding an artsy, lively farmstand feel to your decor. And Rachel Hardage Barrett, the editor-in-chief of Country Living magazine, has seen a big uptick in this phenomenon. Something for everyone It’s beauty isn’t limited to architecture; it’s found in interior design, fashion, etc. From oversized carrot chandeliers to kale lamps, the whimsical use of vegetable motifs has piqued the interest of designers, customers and Instagram influencers.
A very popular part of this trend is the “Tomato Girl Summer.” Along with bright red colors, the logo would decorate the street with a dozen different tomato renditions. This theme not only celebrates the joys of summer produce but highlights a cultural shift towards embracing natural beauty in home aesthetics. Barrett emphasizes that this trend transcends traditional decorating styles, enabling individuals to express their personality through their choice of decor.
Jonny Carmack, a designer known for his imaginative projects, has made headlines with his Fruit Room design, which features cartoon-like references from beloved children’s literature and video games. He explains how the delightful character of these motifs introduces cheer into people’s homes, adding that it just makes people happy.
Today, Carmack’s work is part of a larger movement in which decor is embraced as a means of expressing one’s unique personality. He seeks to dazzle us with the exotic appeal of fruit patterns. As Moore explains, “Creating a residence adorned with this aesthetic is an adventure in self-expression that more and more individuals are welcoming.” He continues that cherries signal a flirtatious nature, as strawberries represent “a cuter, young girl” appeal.
And the optimism feeding this trend was incredible to witness at recent design fairs such as Maison et Objet and Ambiente. Colorful booths featured creative planters made out of 3D modeled grapes and watermelons. Los Angeles-based design editor Courtney Porter said the playful, experimental directions designers were pursuing at Ambiente fair in Frankfurt. She noted the emphasis on sustainable materials and youthfulness within this trend, observing, “There’s a certain romance to the farmstand — it speaks to the pastoral lifestyle everyone’s craving these days.”
Perhaps most timely of all, Barrett calls attention to a newfound craze for cabbageware and lettuce ware. These one-of-a-kind works nearly enamored the Palm Beach high society of the 60s. Iconic admirers included Jacqueline Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, vouching for the uncharacteristic yet explosive shift in these designs. Yet today, Barrett finds himself in the midst of a painful revival of these motifs. He says, “Tomato Girl Summer certainly had a moment, but now there is an entire garden’s worth of produce to pick from.”
As an avowed “Grocery Girl” aesthetic her whole life, this one is especially close to my heart. Alyse Whitney, cookbook author and food newspaper columnist. She collects unique food-themed decor pieces from thrift stores and discount retailers. The series is a testament to her lifelong obsession with food adornment. Whitney’s excitement is palpable and adds to the infectiousness of this emerging trend in residential décor with a butterfly motif.
Carmack’s design philosophy is well suited to this focus on nostalgia and natural abundance. He believes that the exaggerated shapes and vibrant colors associated with fruit motifs resonate with people’s desires for connection and celebration in their living spaces. He noted, “Colors were over the top, shapes were overdone and cartoonish.”
This trend continues to gain momentum, especially as more people bring the outdoors in with houseplants. They create warm, welcoming interiors that beautify their homes. Barrett notes that this aesthetic of course resonates strongly with the “grandmillennial” design trend. It pays homage to beloved family heirlooms and vintage aesthetic, paired with today’s modern sensibilities.
The burst of creativity in home decor inspired by fruit and vegetable themes encourages consumers to experiment with their spaces. From whimsical dinnerware to elegant mural installations, there’s a plethora of options available for every aesthetic. Barrett illustrates this beautifully. He explains, “If you want to go retro, if you want to go youthful, you can go with some kitsch. For a more playful vibe choose fruit patterns as wallcovering or upholstery.
