Have you ever been stuck in your interior décor choices and looked to your wardrobe to get a sense of style…or vice versa?
For many, personal fashion and home décor might seem like two distinct worlds. However, in the realm of design, they overlap far more than we often realise. Just as our fashion choices reflect our personality and tastes, the same principles apply to how we decorate our living spaces.
In terms of clothing, our style choices can speak volumes about us. They can communicate our mood, our personality and how we want the world to perceive us. They show our creativity, attention-to-detail or whether we prefer a minimalistic style or a more extravagant one. Similarly, our homes are often seen as an extension of ourselves. The way we decorate our homes can reflect our personal style just as much as our clothing does. From the colours we choose for our walls to the styles of furniture we prefer, each decision contributes to the overall aesthetic that is ‘us.’
Interior Designer and author of The Well-Dressed Home, Annette Tatum explains that personality is key when developing your wardrobe and the same is true when creating a unique decorating scheme for your home. Her book guides the reader to identify their personal fashion style and then inspire them to use the same creative influences to design their home décor. She reveals eleven of the most universal fashion styles, including romantic, couture, classic, casual, bohemian, retro and modern and encourages readers to use the colours, fabrics, textures and pattern characteristics of these aesthetics to decorate your home.
In recent years, the lines between interior and fashion design have blurred. Trends that begin on fashion runways often find their way into our homes, influencing colour palettes, fabric choices, patterns and over all styles. The process also works in reverse, with interior design trends influencing fashion. Both interior and fashion design share a common goal of combining styles, colours, and personal taste to create a pleasing and comfortable environment.
Here's a breakdown of common fashion styles and their corresponding interior design aesthetics:
Minimalist: In fashion, minimalism emphasizes clean lines, simple designs with a neutral colour palette. The focus is on quality and practicality rather than trends. In interior design, minimalism translates to uncluttered spaces, a monochrome or neutral colour palette plus simple and functional furniture.
Bohemian (Boho): Bohemian fashion is all about eclectic and free-spirited vibes featuring bold patterns, rich colours and natural materials. The interior design boho aesthetic similarly involves a mix of textures, patterns and colours with materials such as macrame and rattan.
Classic: Classic fashion translates to timeless pieces like a simple white shirt, little black dress, tailored trousers and trench coat – staples that never go out of style. In interiors, it translates to traditional furniture, neutral or muted colours and materials such as leather and wood.
Glamorous: Glamorous fashion typically involves pieces such as sequin dresses, luxury fabrics and statement accessories. Glamorous interior design might include luxurious elements such as velvet upholstery, crystal chandeliers and mirrored surfaces.
Industrial: This fashion genre may incorporate elements like leather, denim and metallic accessories. The look can be edgy and somewhat rugged. In interior design, industrial style often involves exposed brick walls, metal accents and reclaimed wood giving a raw, unfinished look.
Your home, just like your wardrobe should be a place where you feel completely at ease and utterly yourself. Whether it’s fashion or décor, it’s all about self-expression.
Which fashion and home style are you?
By Irene Feeney Steele