With the advent of social media, and the widespread use of the internet, the lifecycle of trends is continuously decreasing in length. Afterwords like “slop”,“67”, “rage-bait” and “parasocial” were set as the words of the year for 2025, 2026 has a brighter horizon ahead of it. According to an article from the Huffington Post, 2026 is looking to be the year of “whimsy.” The word began to circulate in late 2025, and it is still thriving on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest. Looking up the word on those platforms will lead to titles such as “Hobby Ideas that Inspire Whimsy,” “How I Add Whimsy toMy Everyday Life!” or “A Guide to Whimsy.” People are looking for ways to implement a sense of whimsy into their clothes, homes, food, hobbies and daily routines, and with the dreariness of winter subsiding and spring approaching, it is the perfect time to join the whimsical movement.
Life is oversaturated with stimulation from social media, and the mundane and ordinary are struggling to keep people’s attention. The whimsical trend aims to add a sense of playfulness and vibrancy to everyday life, combating the frequently weighty world we live in. In contrast to the fast-paced lifestyles many lead, whimsy fights to lose the urgency and take a breath.
The surge of interest around the concept echoes society’s current mental health status: limp and hungering for a sense of playfulness.Whimsy asks for color and fun; it is a call to the feminine and childish. People who seek to create an environment that embodies this reject the repetition and drudgery of the ordinary.
Whimsy is the “Pinterest girl’s” best friend. When you search for “whimsy” on the inspiration and organizational image site, you are met with swirls and stars, construction paper cut-outs and an assortment of crafts filled with pinks, greens and polka dots. Reaching out for the novel and lighthearted lies at the center. Its childish themes call back to a time for most when life felt the lightest.
In addition to childish themes and slow intentional pacing, many people who are embracing a sense of whimsy are also swapping out their digital media for analog replacements. People who wish to lead a more whimsical life can swap out streaming platforms for collections of CDs and DVDs, and take up hobbies like film or digital photography. Scrapbooking is another analog hobby many are taking up for the sake of the whimsical. It is all about the novel and playful.
When asked how to add more whimsy to their lives, one Reddit user said, “A fabulous projector setup to watch shows or movies outside or inside. I’ve also invested in squirrel and bird food and take care of the flower garden in my yard to make this a friendly, welcoming, beautiful place.”
Another user said, “I’m a plant hoarder, and I’ve given them names and personalities.”
Whimsy influences clothing styles, hobbies and small ways of life. It is how a person interacts that slows them down and offers them a moment of joy.
Photo by Sigmund via Unsplash
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