School may be back in session, the Starbucks fall menu may be out—but strawberry girl summer is still in full swing. Ever since model and founder of skincare brand Rhode Hailey Bieber graced the Instagram world with a series of sunkissed, freckle-filled photos captioned “strawberry girl summer,” beauty and fashion aficionados everywhere have obsessed over the concept.
Defined by minimal makeup, dewy blush, and, of course, strawberry-red everything, the trend works wonders during the summer months and beyond. But for those more into decor, you can take the strawberry aesthetic beyond your skincare and into the space you call home—for a fresh, sunkissed look all year round.
KIM CORNELISON
What Is Strawberry Girl Summer?
The latest take on this summer’s fruit-inspired craze (following the ultra-popular tomatocore aesthetic), strawberry girl summer originally sprung from Bieber’s viral Strawberry Glaze Erewhon smoothie, packed with skin-enriching nutrients and sold for $18 at the California-based grocery chain. Along with causing commotion on social media, the beverage seemingly led to a collaboration between Krispy Kreme and Rhode.
The brand’s Strawberry Glaze Peptide Lip Treatment, which launched in late August, has consistently sold out—you can only get your hands on it if you join a waitlist. Bieber also created buzz online this summer with her milky, glazed nails, making the match-up with Krispy Kreme even more fitting. Arriving to interviews in stunning red dresses and pumps, Bieber has claimed total ownership of the strawberry theme.
Each and every addition to the strawberry-themed lineup heightens the excitement over the fresh, sunny look. Wearing and accessorizing with red is on the rise, and minimal makeup is in for good. And although not originally a home decor aesthetic, taking elements from strawberry girl summer gives you the potential to transform your living space into an airy, sunny paradise.
How to Strawberry-ify Your Home
Strawberry girl summer is all about leaning into vibrant colors and catching rays, so it’s no surprise that embracing the trend can also glow-up your living space. If your home could use some post-summer sprucing, here are some simple steps to bring your home to life—strawberry style.
Keep It Natural
Whether it has to do with makeup or fashion, strawberry girl energy is clean and classy—and this translates beautifully to home decor. Choose natural, sustainable materials like linens and light woods (bamboo makes for an eye-catching option) for furniture and accessories. House plants fit the theme seamlessly too, as their color and liveliness bring the vibrant outdoor elements featured in the aesthetic right inside.
Just like Bieber’s signature makeup look, less is more for this type of design, so don’t go overboard with the mixing and matching. Stick to a simple color palette—while not forgetting the essential pops of red, of course. If you’re looking to bring in patterns, think “picnic,” and stick to the classics with cutesy gingham and muted stripes.
Let the Light In
The strawberry girl makeup look stands out for its bright and breezy qualities that scream summer. Luckily, no matter the season, you can find easy ways to spotlight the sun and emulate Bieber’s look at home, from the living room to the kitchen.
Natural light has the power to completely transform a space, so start by enhancing the light you’re getting naturally. Swap out heavy, dark curtains for light, lacy ones, and cluster furniture around windows to take advantage of light already flowing through your space (and maybe just neglecting).
Then move on to experimenting with a combination of overhead and task lighting to create hubs of brightness that keep you in the strawberry summer mood. Maneuver your mirrors to bring more light into a dimly-lit space without venturing into renovations. Whichever route you choose, more sunlight is the name of the strawberry girl game—the Bieber freckles might just follow.
Run with Reds and Pinks
Red and pink are notoriously difficult colors to decorate with; it’s easy to go overboard and let a simple pop of pink permeate a space completely. But with strawberry girl decor, you’ve got the green light: Don’t be afraid of these bright colors, and try implementing them throughout your home in creative ways. Bringing in bright colors with furniture, throw pillows, fresh flowers, or even an accent wall gets you the strawberry look in no time (and with little effort).
As long as you keep the rest of the color scheme simple and down to earth, weaving in bright bursts of red (think: the stunning cherry red Vivienne Westwood dress Bieber wore on Good Morning America) won’t stray into kitschy territory.
Don’t Be Afraid to Have Fun
It’s proven to be the summer of girly, whimsical, and fun-loving design, from Barbiecore to the coquette aesthetic—and strawberry girl decor is no exception. Wherever your taste takes you, make sure the final product is true to your personality. If you like the idea of more natural light but aren’t sure about the color red on your walls, it’s no sweat. As long as your design choices leave your home feeling light and airy—and full of sun—you can confidently say you’re living out the strawberry girl summer aesthetic.