The “Fisherman Aesthetic” Has Washed Ashore! Here Are Our Favorite Pieces

Tinned fish is on top right now. Retailers like Fishwife are turning the thrifty, salty snack into a stylish pantry accessory, and simply put, the sardine is cool again. The renewed love for the fish is bleeding into the most unexpected of places, though: interior design.

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.

Anthropologie

As a design and shopping editor, I spends 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. 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.

Janae McKenzie for House Beautiful

The “sardine corner” in my kitchen is filled with collected fish-themed decor from my travels.

Food-shaped pieces have been a favorite of Gen Z customers looking to add some dopamine decor to their homes. But sardines feel…oddly specific. In the 2025 Pinterest Predicts trend report, one of the forecasted styles was the “Fisherman Aesthetic.” The inspiration-driven platform cites interest to a “laid-back maritime attitude” and searches for “cable knit sweaters” “sardine tattoos” and “fish bags” all grew exponentially. It’s easy for fashion to predict what will come in interior design. Remember seeing oxblood on the runway before it showed up in every formal dining room?

Etsy

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Urban Outfitters Sardine Tin Plush Tufted Bath Mat

Daily Glow Sardina Cordless LED Table Lamp

Wedgwood Majolica Sardinia Sardine Box

It might seem like it’s come out of nowhere, but the seeds of this trend have already been planted. Designers have been already hunting for sardine-shaped majolica pottery at flea markets. Farrow & Ball even named one of their 2023 paint colors after the tinned fish, a serene silvery-blue. The whole House Beautiful team is hunting for ways to add the trend to their home, from wallpapers and blankets, to even their fashion. We named this TJ Maxx hand-hooked pillow as a favorite housewarming gift, and this multicolored fish-shaped cutting board as a kitchen gift for your foodie friend.

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.