Masculine & Feminine – How To Find The Perfect Balance

We’ve just had the wallpaper in our guest washroom redone. After considering too many options, my husband and I finally agreed on a surprisingly masculine, dark, bold, floral print. It got me thinking about how in interior design, the difference between too masculine or too feminine can be as simple as a variation in shade or the carefully chosen shaped or patterns. Whether you’re moving in together for the very first time, or have been married for 25 years, the home you live in is a real reflection of the both of you. It should be “Just right”.

It’s interesting how much you can learn about a couple just from looking at the home they live in. Do they share an aesthetic? Does one half wear the trousers when it comes to décor? Whose taste is most strongly represented? Or have the couple in question taken a collaborative approach to interior design? The results speak volumes.

From arguments about paint colours, to spending weekends perusing furniture stores together looking for the perfect piece, there’s a whole spectrum of ways couples create the interiors around them. Whether you have contrasting styles which really set each other off, or are interior décor soulmates, it’s the compromises you make and the decisions you come to that tell your guests who you are as a twosome.

Even if your home is one where you each have your own space (for instance he has his den, she has her walk in closet and the kids have everything else!) your master bedroom would be the perfect place just for the two of you where you can perfectly balance your individual style and tastes. I’ve put together a few helpful ideas which could help you find the perfect design balance of his and hers.

1. Play with Pinterest

Pinterest is an indispensable online resource when you’re looking for interior design inspiration. And it can be a real help when you’re trying to settle on a bedroom design you both love, helping you to understand each other’s aesthetic.

Try creating two individual boards full of styles you both like; one for him and one for her. Then create a third board where you can both add the designs you like from your partner’s selection . Ask your other half to do the same. You’ll soon end up with a collaborative board covered in interior ideas you both like! Just remember to keep an open mind...

2. Do it Together

When one half of a couple is more interested in interiors than the other, it’s easy to let them take control of a space. But remember, this is a home you both share, and one you should both enjoy. If one of you is more enthusiastic than then other, a couple of joint shopping trips can make a big difference to your final design, ensuring that everyone has a say in the final look.

3. Be Colour Neutral

Even when we’re babies, colour is used to define our identities as male or female. Powdery pinks and pastel shades are stereotypically associated with femininity. Stark, bold colours like slate, navy and black are considered male. Strong contrasts, too, can have a masculine feel; just think about the contrasts and colours you see on sports strips.

So, to ensure your new boudoir gets the balance right, opt for a “neutral” shade which is neither masculine, nor feminine. This doesn’t necessarily mean choosing a bland colour. Shades like rich purples, deep reds, golden browns, yellows and greens all have a gender neutral feel which will please both parties.

4. Keep Patterns Geometric

From your wallpaper and upholstery to your bedding, if you’re both fans of print, opt for geometric or graphic styles to get the balance between masculine and feminine right. Most free-form, floral prints are stereotypically ‘girly’, reminding us of our bedrooms as young ladies. More organised, geometric prints give you the feminine design flair of strong patterning, whilst maintaining a masculine edge.

5. Don’t Meet Halfway

Compromise is good, but if you simply go 50/50 on your new bedroom design, you’ll find yourselves with a jumble of looks which don’t work together. This should be a project which is all about harmony, something that is crucial in your favourite relaxing space.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about your other half, getting to understand their taste and finding common ground. Take time to undertake the project together, ask questions, argue, fall in love with the same chest of drawers – whatever you do, make sure you’re open and vocal about design which makes you tick, but open and receptive to the styles which make your loved one happy too. Good luck!