Crafting a gender-inclusive interior
Stylish spaces that appeal to all genders is possible with some key guidelines.
Decorating any room or space is an exciting task. Typically, the décor reflects the personality of the individual or, in the case of commercial design, reflects the identity of the brand. Along with the usual seasonal trends, one is emerging that is capturing attention for its connection to culture: a fluid future, one that doesn’t focus on specific genders. Alex Ehmcke, chief operating officer at PinkNews, said in a recent interview,
“In 2020, there was a noticeable shift away from societal gender norms, with the conversation around breaking down gender barriers becoming more mainstream.”
The impact of this increasing acceptance is that gender neutrality is becoming more accepted. This extends into the world of décor where parents are no longer sticking to the stereotypical “pink is for girls” and “blue is for boys” design cliches. Some parents don’t know the gender of their baby when they’re expecting, others just don’t want to be bound by certain colours and there’s also the consideration that doing gender neutral décor gives a child’s room much more longevity and fits into the overall aesthetic of the family home.
By the same token, offices want to be more inclusive and not highlight one specific gender group. For this reason, office design is increasingly shifting to gender neutrality. There’s a need to acknowledge gender-conscious design parameters that can promote and support the preferences and needs of individuals to be comfortable and productive in shared spaces.
So, with all this positivity around gender-neutral décor, the next big question is how to achieve it.
Start with neutrals
The key to a good gender-neutral design is to build from a foundation of neutral shades. Ideally, the major elements of the room should be neutral but this doesn’t mean everything should be white, cream or beige. Neutral is about balance and this can include colour. Green, for example, works incredibly well for gender-neutral designs with an exciting palette of shades that range from deep forest green to mint. It’s also representative of nature; always a great place from which to draw inspiration for a gender-neutral design. You can also play with blue with grey undertones, mauves, and greys.
Draw inspiration from neutral design styles
A style like Grand Millennium might be seen as feminine while the industrial design style can be considered masculine. There are design styles, however, with a more global approach. Organic Modern is a design style that merges modern lines with natural and organic materials. It has elements of Scandinavian design sitting comfortably alongside mid-century modern forms for a look that is minimal but has that lived-in warmth.
What’s great about Organic Modern as well as Japandi and Belgian style is that they balance masculine and feminine with a mix of natural palettes, organic materials, clean lines and soft textures. Organic Modern is also a great jump off point for a gender neutral nursery where Scandi inspired furniture works with boho decor where colours like terracotta, apricot, cream and green can give the space warmth.
A pop of pattern
Just because you’re designing for a gender-neutral space, it doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate patterns. Circles, stripes and other simple geometrics are considered gender-neutral so one can never go wrong choosing one of those staples. The other consideration is to choose a masculine pattern like an abstract with strong lines and a feminine pattern like a floral or damask and layer them together. This is far easier with fabrics used for accessories such as pillows and perhaps an upholstered headboard or small ottomans. For bigger elements like drapes or wallcoverings, it’s preferable to go with a neutral pattern or skip the pattern altogether and go for a soft texture like linen.
Nursery and beyond
Gender neutral design is a wonderful and modern approach to decorating a nursery but this can extend to other spaces. Whether it’s a playroom, a family room or even a work from home office, the style does offer more flexibility and potentially a more timeless look overall. For grown-up interiors like an office or living area, it’s important to include something that reflects the individuals who occupy that space. In offices in particular, it’s important to get suggestions from employees before a redecoration occurs, even on simple things like the colour palette. It not only makes the process more inclusive but instills a sense of pride in the workplace with a greater connection to the space.
