Amassing over 2 billion views, the "Me-ism" trend has taken Chinese lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu by storm. "Me-ism," originally called "shiwo zhuyi" in Chinese, means that people are no longer blindly chasing fads but instead placing greater value on self-expression. Today, this trend is even more closely tied to youth culture - especially interior design.
In the past few years, interior design styles such as "Wabi-Sabi" and the "buttercream-style" have become praised aesthetic trends. Yet, it is clear that once it became a viral trend, the style turned into a cookie-cutter viral template. It was exactly this template-like, one-size-fits-all approach that gave rise to the beginnings of "Me-ism." In other words, the very root of "Me-ism" is that people have grown tired of being defined, being categorized, and being just like everyone else.
How do people reject being defined? The answer can be seen in the various sub-categories that have emerged within the "Me-ism" trend. These include "pet-adaptive design," "laziness-adaptive design," and even "spiritual-freedom-adaptive design." In a personalized pet-adaptive home, every door might feature a small pet door. Meanwhile, a laziness-adaptive design is about eliminating the small discomforts of daily life by rethinking spatial flow. As for a spiritual-freedom-adaptive home, it is actually nothing less than an outward expression of people's inner needs.
Behind these examples lies a clear shift: People no longer view living culture as an act of consumption aimed at proving themselves to others. Instead, they see it as a creative act of self-expression. There was a time when a home filled with expensive furniture was a symbol of "doing well." But today, a truly "Me-ist" home might strike those same people as "impractical," or even "odd." Yet it is precisely this kind of home that allows its owner to find peace within.
Hence, the "me" in the "Me-ism" trend is not about selfishness; it is about self-awareness and expression. The notion of "Home" has been gradually redefined as well. It is no longer just about square footage and location, but more about whether it supports the homeowner's personal growth.
If we observe the evolution of home decor styles through a socio-cultural lens, we may find that what it truly reflects is how people in different eras have variously understood and aspired to a "good life." Looking back to the 1950s and 1960s, the Chinese home décor philosophy of that era valued practicality and durability above all else. Later, home decor shifted toward individual self-expression.
This evolution reveals a profound transformation in social culture - from seeking validation externally to nurturing a sense of inner fulfillment. Therefore, rather than viewing home design as a discourse on changing aesthetics, it actually serves as an epitome of changing social mindsets. The reason why the current "Me-ism" trend has sparked discussion is also inseparable from society's growing embrace of people's diverse expressions and individual choices.
On the one hand, young people are more willing to share their "unconventional" homes. On the other hand, the public's open attitude has created a safe space for such expression. This is therefore a two-way journey - a meeting point between individual self-narration and society's embrace of diverse values.