by Bailey Shelton
A woman’s touch goes beyond the florals and pastels that generally spring to mind from traditional stereotypes of femininity. Not everyone wants a home that calls to mind a rose garden or nana’s cross-stitch. Still, a space where you feel at home can benefit from feminine elements, to make a room more inviting, cozy, warm, creative, or unique.
WHAT IS FEMININITY IN DESIGN?
To start, think of what you’re hoping to incorporate into your space. This may be heavily determined by your personality, or interpretation of feminine features. For some, fresh flowers and soft fabrics can exude femininity, where others might be drawn to the drama of light filtering in through billowing curtains, or the fenestrated glass panels of a vintage breakfront. In terms of traditional interior design, most agree that feminine design is dominated by lighter color palettes, soft textures, and curved edges, but your home should suit you. If a sense of order is more your style, forego excessive ornamentation for something that better fits your life.
DETAILS ARE THE KEY
While modernist design is having its moment, the details of a home can set the tone for your space. Add feminine elements to your home through details like hardware on cabinetry or unique patterns in textiles. This light shade from Aarven, for example, seems on the surface to be a sleek, geometric fixture, but when examined closely includes a hidden safari texture. Of course, some details might be less subtle for the more vibrant household. The work of South Bend/Chicago artist Jonathan Randall Grant is a great example of vibrant, playful color in an aesthetically pleasing and culturally potent setting. His work, especially as murals or on room dividers, is well suited for feminine spaces.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, GREEN PLANTS OR GREAT VIEWS
If florals are not well-suited to a space, plants can often fill that void while still allowing a home to feel bountiful, clean, and inviting. Monesteras and pathos plants are common and easy to tend choices, but cactuses also lend themselves to a unique visual without the close attention and care—a peanut cactus, with its long fingers and soft needles, will even occasionally produce a red bloom.
Alternatively, for those who respect nature from a distance, embrace the natural light and landscape through large picture windows. These views can define a space, often even better than anything you could hang on the walls.
COMFORT IN FURNITURE AND TEXTILES
Often comfort can be misconstrued as soft; but a truly welcoming space might benefit from some good old fashioned feminine sensibility. Consider whether furniture like couches are at a comfortable height, or whether they’ll shift easily. A carpet might look pretty but feel unpleasant underfoot. The same goes for throw blankets—if it will spend its whole life folded and draped over the back of the couch, that blanket might not belong in the room at all. If necessity is the mother of invention, utility is the daughter.
Above all, ask yourself how you want to spend time in a space, and what style speaks to you when no one else is around. Ultimately, your space can be as personalized as you are, and there’s no better way to express yourself than in your home.
