Article:
Good design transcends gender
By Shelley Anderson
December 2007
Professional single males are often stereotyped as having homes that are of mismatched and sparse design. But today’s man is looking for his equal share of good design for his home.
It can be difficult to pin down what masculine décor is. Labeling an entire gender with a certain personality is not an option. Men, as well as women, are diverse and deserve to be treated as such. Defining male decorating preferences is a matter of understanding what we expect from this gender. While females appreciate beauty, guys like things that work. General conceptions are that men are annoyed by useless decorative accents. This translates to a “function over form” direction for the male interior. The classic recliner is a case in point.
Another expression of the male trait is to decorate using their hobbies and interests. Sports accessories are a favorite for the manly room. By incorporating tasteful elements, it is possible to use gaming- or auto-related wall décor and reproductions of vintage items like cameras or film reels, in a man’s interior design.
A major factor in designing for the male is that men are generally larger than women. This means they need more room to be comfortable. They need to be able to stretch out and feel like the world around them is proportionate to their size.
Size and function tend to go hand in hand for men. They like big sofas, big dressers, big beds and big tables. This is both because the size complements them and because these objects tend to function better. Bigger dressers and tables are considered stronger and more durable, for example.
Color can be a distinctly male-driven element in their décor. Men tend to be drawn to darker, earthier colors. Red, brown, black and green are traditionally masculine, and in some shades have a definite male feel.
While these trends may hold true for some males, every man is different. It is important to design and decorate a man’s home using the desires and preferences of the homeowner.
Shelley Anderson has been creating interiors in the greater Seattle area since 1990.You may contact her at (206) 719-6814 or email her at
shelley.anderson@shelleyandersoninteriors.com.