Fall lovers may be breaking out the sweaters and pumpkin spice, but if September heatwaves are any indication—summer’s not over yet. And thankfully, a new trend making its way across TikTok and Instagram can help you carry those carefree summer feelings into the next season and beyond: the lemon girl aesthetic.
Just like tomatocore, strawberry girl summer, and other similar fruit-inspired styles, the lemon girl aesthetic originated in the fashion world. Celebrity sightings of Sofia Richie, Margot Robbie, and Rita Ora stepping out in bright yellow outfits have inspired others to try the look themselves—and not just in their wardrobes. With a few easy decor updates, you can take it a step further by turning your home into a lemony dream.
Here’s everything you need to know about this dopamine-inducing style.
What Is the Lemon Girl Aesthetic?
If you see yourself as zesty, energetic, fashionable, and unafraid to stand out, then you're a "lemon girl." This aesthetic evokes feelings of happiness and optimism because it's centered around the cheery color yellow.
In fashion, it’s epitomized by color-drenched outfits paired with elegant accessories like gold jewelry, dainty handbags, stylish sunglasses, and strappy sandals. The look trends more toward minimalism than maximalism; accessories are kept simple to give the style a touch of sophistication and glamour.
“Bold, bright, fresh, and fun, the lemon girl lifestyle combines the lighthearteded optimism of dopamine dressing and manifestation manicures while simultaneously embracing tomato girl’s Southern European vacation style,” Danielle Sinay wrote in an article by Glamour.
In home decor, the same principles apply: Bring yellow into your space in an elegant way, pairing it with plenty of white, botanical patterns, airy linens, and chic decor for a sophisticated yet breezy final look.
How to Get the Lemon Girl Aesthetic at Home
While the lemon girl aesthetic first took off in the fashion world, the basic principles can also be applied to home decor. Here are a few effortless ways to bring the lemon girl aesthetic into your space.
Decorate with Yellow
First and foremost, you need to embrace all things yellow. While there are certainly other elements that pull the look together, it isn’t the lemon girl aesthetic without plenty of sunny hues.
While you can go all out and choose a lemon-yellow paint color for your walls, you can also bring the color into your space in more subtle ways (you know how these microtrends come and go). That doesn’t mean you can’t have your fun with paint though, says Beth Martin, founder and principal designer at Charleston-based design studio Bath R Martin.
“Try painting the legs of a table or a chair in a bright hue for a punchy surprise," she says. "Update dingy frames and make your art feel fresh with some citrus paint to create a focal point, [or] paint the edge of a few of your doors so you can only see the color when the doors are open."
For more little ways to transform your space, try swapping your throw pillows, adding a bright-colored or lemon-print throw blanket, filling a vase with fresh daisies, adding yellow artwork to the walls, or switching up your area rugs with lighter, lacier options.
Provide Balance With Light Neutrals
Keep your space feeling light and airy by mixing in plenty of neutral tones like white, ivory, and cream. These hues pair well with yellow and incorporate a coastal vacation aesthetic that goes hand in hand with this style. Think: sheer white curtains, cream-colored ceramic vases holding bouquets of bright yellow sunflowers, or ivory throw pillows featuring a minimalistic pattern.
COURTESY OF ELLEN HOLT / JOSHUA DRAKE PHOTOGRAPHY
Add a European Touch
Just like tomatocore, this aesthetic has roots in effortless European elegance. Picture a sun-soaked seaside vacation home on the Mediterranean, and bring that relaxed energy into your home using botanical patterns, natural materials like wood and linen, clean and simple lines, and some vintage decor items.
“Italian ceramics sporting lemons on a blue and white background give the lemon girl look a bit of gravitas,” says Pamela O’Brien, principal designer of Houston-based Pamela Hope Designs. You can find plates, trays, pitchers, and more that are a great addition to any kitchen collection. But the simplest way to bring the lemon girl aesthetic home is a home stager favorite: a simple and elegant bowl of real lemons or other citrus styled on a counter or tabletop.