During a time filled with fast-paced trends on every social media platform, people are longing for something more homey. Inspired by three icons of domestic elegance—Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, and Nancy Meyers—this shift embraces a lifestyle that prioritizes warmth, hospitality, and refined simplicity. This trend is about more than just aesthetics—it’s a return to the art of entertaining, home cooking, and living with an understated yet intentional elegance.
At its core, this movement is simply a desire for comfort, tradition, and refinement. Each of these women embodies a slightly different aspect of this aspirational lifestyle. Martha Stewart, the queen of homemaking, has long championed the beauty of well-curated tablescapes, elaborate holiday decorating, and mastering skills like gardening and baking from scratch. Her influence has promoted the idea that a well-run home can be seen as an extension of creativity and personal expression. Ina Garten is known for her warm and welcoming approach to cooking. Her “store-bought is fine” mantra allows for a balance between indulgence and practicality. Her recipes emphasize high-quality ingredients, simple techniques, and finding joy in sharing meals with loved ones, making her kind of domesticity accessible to many. Nancy Meyers, a filmmaker rather than a lifestyle guru, has influenced home aesthetics through her signature style. The cozy-yet-luxurious kitchens and homes in films like “Something’s Gotta Give” and “The Parent Trap” have inspired an entire generation to seek out white marble countertops, oversized kitchens, and relaxed yet refined interior design, similar to those seen in Martha Stewart and Ina Garten’s kitchens.
After having to spend more time at home over the past couple of years, people are eager to adopt a sense of home-centered comfort. Many discovered (or rediscovered) their passions for cooking, gardening, and crafting, and those habits have stuck. The stark, minimalist aesthetic that dominated the 2010s is now giving way to a warmer, more lived-in feel. The Meyers kitchen, filled with fresh flowers, copper pots, woven baskets, and inviting furniture, represents the opposite of white and soulless spaces—people want a home that feels curated and lived-in, not sterile. Instagram and TikTok have made aesthetics more influential than ever, with the “cozy-but-elevated” look thriving online. Accounts dedicated to #NancyMeyersKitchen and #InaGartenVibes showcase dreamy homes, mouthwatering recipes, and lifestyle inspiration that have captivated younger generations looking to embrace a more domestic life. In a world of instant gratification, people are beginning to appreciate the charm of slow living. Whether it’s spending a weekend preparing a homemade meal or taking the time to set a beautiful table, there is a growing appreciation for doing things intentionally.
If you’re looking to channel the effortless elegance of Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, and Nancy Meyers, focus on investing in quality over quantity, whether it’s cookware, home dĂ©cor, or linens. A welcoming home is the key, with plush seating, warm lighting, and “organized clutter” kitchens designed for easy use and entertaining. Cooking with love, as Ina Garten says, means good food with simple ingredients to be shared with people you care about. Indulging in small luxuries, such as fresh flowers, beautifully plated meals, and comfortable homes, can go a long way in elevating everyday life.
The beauty of this trend is that it isn’t really a trend at all—it’s a return to timeless, classic living. Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, and Nancy Meyers have spent decades cultivating their respective brands, and their influence doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon. Instead, their approach to home, food, and style is proving to be exactly what people are looking for: warmth, elegance, and a little bit of aspirational magic.