2 min readThe tinned fish craze has captured the design world’s heart. The sardine is no longer a motif reserved for beach houses or fishing fans. The salty snack is now synonymous with a love for rustic, slow living. It’s a sardine girl’s world, and we’re all just living in it. Summer’s hottest aesthetic is all about this seafood. As a design and shopping editor, I spend hours daily scanning the furniture and decor market for trends. And pardon the pun, but we're absolutely swimming in sardine and fish-themed decor.
Coastal touches in design are nothing new—it was just a few years ago that the coastal grandmother was king and we all wanted our homes to look like Nancy Meyers beach houses. But now the fisherman aesthetic has replaced subtlety with something a bit more on-the-nose. Sardine and seafood-shaped decor is flooding the market. Everything from bath mats to throw pillows is sardine-shaped. It’s 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.
Serax Fish Glass Water Pitcher
GreenRow Marnie Sardine Tablecloth
Seletti Sardina Glow Portable Table Lamp
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. As someone who loves seafood, I can't help but buy in. I even created a "sardine corner" in my kitchen with a few of my favorite fish-themed pieces. A lemon squeezer I snagged in Portland, Maine, a platter from Martha's Vineyard, and a DIY art frame with a cutout from a San Francisco sardine box. For me, 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.
It might seem like it's come out of nowhere, but the seeds of this trend have already been planted. 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. We rounded up a few of our trendy favorites to help you strike that balance. Remember that less is more—you don't need your home to look like a fish market.
Anthropologie Sardines Doormat
Stupell Industries Portuguese Sardines Painting
Beautiful 3-Compartment Bamboo Melamine Sardine Serve Tray
Sunbrella Capri Fish Outdoor Pillow
West Elm Sardine Metal Napkin Ring Sets
