Gender-neutral room design with our easy clean fabrics

Gone are the days when a little girl's room had to be pastel pink, or a little boy's room defined by blue. In fact, not only has gender-neutral nursery decor become increasingly popular, unisex interior design as a whole is big news this season.

Here, we look at masculine and feminine approaches to interiors, and how gender-neutral design can be applied to any room of the house, not just nurseries.

Organic modern interiors fit gender-neutral design schemes

The current trend for 'organic modern' design sees clean lines combined with natural materials such as wood, rattan and bamboo. This pared-back approach fits perfectly with the new emphasis on sustainability, provenance and a celebration of handcrafted pieces.

It's the perfect antidote to a digital lifestyle and works equally well for all members of the household, regardless of gender.

What is masculine interior design?

With an emphasis on dark colours, straight lines and chunky accessories, masculine interior design traditionally adopts a functional approach. Colours tend to be either dark and moody or pale and neutral, and there is little or no embellishment. Patterns and fabrics are kept to a minimum, and where fabrics are used they tend to be practical choice such as an easy to clean plain weave upholstery.

When it comes to the colour palette for masculine design, monochromatic schemes are typical here, as are dark, dramatic colourways and classic neutral spaces. While the colours are kept pared back, textures take on a lot of the heavy lifting in a masculine scheme. Think leather, grained wood and brassy metallics, as well as accessories such as chunky lamps and shelves of dark-spined books.

The trend for Mid-Century Modern design fits well with a masculine aesthetic. This uncluttered approach takes inspiration from 20th Century furniture designers such as Eames, Knoll and Wegner who celebrated clean lines and natural materials such as teak and elm.

What is feminine interior design?

Feminine interior design typically celebrates curves, colour and florals, bringing softness to a space and a sense of uplifting frivolity. The fabrics used are decadent velvets and delicate sheers, with patterns such as chintz, chinoiserie and blousy florals.

In terms of colours for feminine design, pastels such as pinks and mauves are popular, as are pops of bright accent shades such as hot pink, magenta and orange.

The current interiors trends for Cottagecore and Grandmillenial style tie in perfectly with a feminine approach. Cottagecore is a romantic and quintessentially British approach to design that combines rustic touches with vintage-style florals and checks. It's all about simplicity, nature and comfort, featuring shades such as muted greens, yellows and warm whites.

The trend for 'Grandmillennial' style is similar to Cottagecore, but puts more of an emphasis on vintage pieces – placing them alongside contemporary elements to create an interesting juxtaposition. This celebration of 'granny chic' is an antidote to minimalist interiors. Chintz becomes cool again and period pieces take centre stage.

How to create the ultimate blend of feminine and masculine interior decor

So, when it comes to gender-neutral spaces that can be enjoyed equally by all members of a household, the key is to take a pared-back approach. Stick to simple lines and calming colours, softening the look with interesting textures and tactile fabrics such as our wide range of easy to clean, stain resistant options (contact us to learn more).

The best colours for gender-neutral design are those inspired by nature such as mossy greens, terracottas and plums. And neutrals such off-white, beige and pale grey are also perfect for creating a calm backdrop for the base of your scheme. It works well to keep the bare bones of the room neutral and then add bolder colours via accessories such as cushions, lamps and rugs.

Read our guide to neutral interior decor >

It's also important to embrace texture in a gender-neutral space and create visual interest with elements such as wooden panelling, sisal flooring and lighting made of natural materials such as wicker, bamboo or seagrass.

Patterns that are neither masculine nor feminine include geometrics, stripes and nature-inspired designs featuring leaves or trees. And when it comes to decorating a room for a new baby, a white nursery is a now a rare sight. Instead, parents are opting for gender neutral colours such as yellow or green and combining them with practical fabrics.

Our stain-resistant fabrics are easy to clean and highly durable, making them perfect for the rough and tumble of family life. Incorporating them into a gender neutral space combines practicality with an elegant simplicity that will work for the whole family.

Be inspired by our gender-neutral decor board on Pinterest! >