Splat aesthetic is the trend about to take over your Instagram feed

A composite image of interiors items that represent the splat aesthetic. They include blob-shaped candles, paint-drip cushions, and a rug that looks like a paint splat

Credit: Talbot & Yoon, Wolf & Badger,

Home Stylist


Splat aesthetic is the trend about to take over your Instagram feed

All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article

1 min read

The Y2K influence shows no sign of waning when it comes to interiors. Its newest guise is the splat aesthetic, a trend for home accessories that appear gooey, messy and melty.

What do you get when design Instagram’s love of wiggles and waves meets TikTok’s obsession with slime? The splat aesthetic.

 So named by Architectural Digest’s offshoot site Clever, it’s the latest evolution of the Y2K influence that has had fashion and interiors in a chokehold. The trend incorporates rugs that look like they were spilt on the floor rather than placed there, cushions that appear as if melting and mirrors that seem to be sliding down the wall. 

The trend is playful, avant-garde and maybe even a little bit gross, like the Loewe broken egg heels but for interiors. While the wave trend went hand in hand with 00s pastels, the splat aesthetic embraces the decade’s more vibrant shades. With both gooey contours and zingy colours, the trend appears to be channelling that 00s classic – the lava lamp.

If the squiggle handles, wavy-edged mirrors and soft, round sofas of the curve trend were a little too gentle for you, then the splat aesthetic is its slightly edgier, “psychedelic” cousin, as Clever notes. When asked what’s behind the new aesthetic, designer and ceramicist Ellen Pong told Clever she believes it’s a direct reaction to the cuteness of the curve and squiggle trend.

“I think the coining of the term ‘avant-basic’ signalled the demise of cuteness,” she told the publication. (Avant-basic being another name for the pastel-toned interiors trend filled with curvy and wiggly items). Where the curve aesthetic was characterised by neatness and sweetness, the splat aesthetic has a more accidental, imperfect feel that we can get behind. Next stop: making red wine spillages chic.

So how to go about trying out the trend in your own home? Even if you’re not fully sold, there are some easy ways to start. Candles and coasters are a fairly low-risk way to introduce the splat aesthetic. If you don’t want to give up your pastels, Goober candles even give you the blobbyness of the splat trend with some of the softness of the curve aesthetic.

If you’re feeling braver, a bold-coloured splat-edged mirror from House of J will make a statement on any wall, while one of Ellie Pearce Textiles’ cushions will liven up a sofa that feels a little tired.

If, however, you’re feeling brave – a Tarta Gelatina splat rug is a great way to add texture and colour to your space.

For those even more dedicated to the splat life, you could make like interior designers 2LG Studio and create a splatter-effect feature wall. At least you won’t have to worry about keeping the edges neat.

Main image: Talbot & Yoon, Wold & Badger, Ellie Pearce Textiles and Tarta Gelatina 

Sign up for our edit of what to buy, see, read and do, and receive a free mini-mag of the top 5 fashion trends you’re sure to see in 2024.

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.