The Wiggle Trend Will Never Go Out of Style: Hear Me Out

By Erika Owen

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I feel the bittersweet pang of getting a little bit older as I look around my apartment and see the design trends of yesteryear dotting various nooks and crannies—a millennial pink couch pillow, a plastic magazine rack a la Giotto Stoppino for Kartell, pieces of castaway terrazzo on display in a glass jar. With countless trend forecasts reporting on what aesthetics are coming into the home, which ones are leaving, and possibly how some might be evolving, it's easy to constantly wonder what's next. But what if you don't want to?

Throughout 2021, we saw many variations on the wiggle trend. You know, the quirky-meets-high-design shape that made its mark on brightly colored rugs, unexpected dining tables, whimsical in-home murals, and more. We even wrote our own thought piece around the trends people should be looking forward to as they waved goodbye to the beloved squiggly shape. But as a person who loves the peculiar personality the shape can bring to a room, there's a question that keeps pin-balling around in my brain: Can a fleeting obsession grow into a permanent part of your design footprint? I enthusiastically say yes. A little wiggle can instantly soften a room full of sharp corners, and at the very least adds a touch of intrigue—and there's nothing ephemeral about that.

The glam room inside Demi Lovato's trippy home fully embraces the wiggle with a Gustaf Westman floor mirror.

Take a moment to brainstorm all of the places you’ve spotted the wiggle in a home—I’ll wait! Off the top of my own head: Puddle Pieces floor mirrors, Sophie Collé side tables, Sophie Lou Jacobsen pitchers, Dusen Dusen duvet covers, the list goes on and on. Despite what Instagram is targeting you with, integrating this fun shape doesn't have to be a massive statement. You could track down the perfect squiggle-shaped dining table, or simply accessorize one with a set of graphic squiggly placemats. Opting for subtle accents will help take the shape out of trend territory and into your permanent collection.

Ahead you’ll find five places in the table-scape where you can shift the ephemeral wiggle into timeless conversation pieces, and we’re not talking about conversations that start with: "Oh, I had one of those way back when…" I’m not saying to incorporate these aspects of the wiggle trend all at once, but I also won't discourage you.

Subtle is better here—you don't want the shape of your fork to make it completely impossible to, well, spear your dinner. Look for a subtle wiggle shape, like this five-piece set from Misette that almost comes off more as an optical illusion (in a good way). This set comes in four colors; you can opt for matte black for a bold statement or shiny silver for something a bit more timeless. If you aren't ready to fully commit to wiggly silverware, consider starting with a beautiful pair of wood utensils for serving salad or a glass spoon for your morning tea.

Never underestimate the power of a graphic napkin. It can detract from a less-than-pretty meal. It will look great on the table, even if you aren't sitting at it, and yes, it can take care of spills. An organic squiggle can be an artsy touch for your space. Both of our picks lean into the playful side of the squiggle, both in color and form.

Placemats may seem like something your mom pulled out around the holidays. And maybe she even forgot putting them away, leaving behind a wishful memory of snowmen at each meal as you sweat your way through July in Wisconsin. (Just me?) Placemats offer more than a defined space for dining. They can also be a fun design touch when you drag your laptop to the table for some afternoon work. Find a design you love, and you’ll come to appreciate the fact that your table looks ready for guests at the drop of an unexpected text.

Although finding the right color may have been the priority for dinnerware shopping in the past, consider breaking the mold a bit and opting for a smile-inducing design. There are plenty of makers creating hand-painted options, but there are also budget-friendly bamboo options if you’re looking for something a little less precious (like the simple and bold Poketo set below). We’re especially partial to the warm blush hue of Rhode's new dinner plates, but the organic wiggles of paint along the rim of these plates, as well as the lunch plates from Maison Flaneur, can only be described as fun.

Glassware is a simple place to integrate the squiggle shape without breaking the bank. Thanks to the vast versatility of drinking vessels—water glasses moonlight as cocktail glasses, and champagne elevates any cup you choose to put it in—even the trendiest tumbler has a permanent place in the cupboard. But for the sake of the task at hand, consider something with a subtle waviness. Fans of color will love the blown-glass Swing Tumblers from the MoMA Design Store, which are actually a throwback to the same design that gained a cult following back in the 2000s.