The tinned fish craze has captured the design world’s heart, with the sardine becoming a motif that’s no longer reserved for beach houses or fishing fans. It’s now synonymous with a love for rustic, slow living.
As a design and shopping editor, I spend hours daily scanning the furniture and decor market for trends, and it’s clear that we’re absolutely swimming in sardine and fish-themed decor. Coastal touches in design are nothing new, but the fisherman aesthetic has replaced subtlety with something a bit more on-the-nose.
Sardine and seafood-shaped decor is flooding the market, from bath mats to throw pillows. This trend is an easy way to get that Nantucket look in your home, whether you tuck it away after the summer or keep it out year-round.
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Food-shaped pieces have been a favorite of Gen Z decor enthusiasts looking to add some dopamine decor to their homes. But sardines feel oddly specific. For someone who loves seafood, like myself, it’s about wanting an escape in my own home.
The decor evokes seaside getaways, and reminds me just how easy it is to add that relaxing energy to my own home. I’ve bought into the trend, creating a “sardine corner” in my kitchen with a few of my favorite fish-themed pieces.
Designers have already been hunting for sardine-shaped majolica pottery at flea markets. Farrow & Ball even named one of their paint colors after the tinned fish, a serene silvery-blue. The whole House Beautiful team is hunting for ways to incorporate the trend into their homes.
There’s a fine line between fashionable fisherman and nautical nonsense. To help you strike that balance, we’ve rounded up a few of our trendy favorites. Remember that less is more—you don’t need your home to look like a fish market.
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As the trend continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and whether it becomes a lasting part of home decor. For now, it’s clear that the sardine is here to stay, at least for the summer.
To incorporate the trend into your home, start with small, subtle pieces, like a sardine-shaped paperweight or a fish-themed throw pillow.
It’s a lighthearted, playful way to add some personality to your home, and it’s definitely worth trying out this summer. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
