Interior Design Inspired by Fashion

What do you think of when you hear the names Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein and Adrienne Vittadini? Your first response may be clothing, but think again. All of these fashion designers have ventured into the home decorating realm. Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren were the trailblazers of home fashion and a legion of designers have followed their lead.

One example of runway fashion colliding with interior design is the popular nude trend. No, I’m not talking about running around in your birthday suit! The nude look encompasses neutral colors in clothing, shoes and accessories—even makeup and nail polish. Fashion industry experts say this trend will survive for quite some time—and why shouldn’t it? Nudes look fabulous on everyone.

This fashion trend transitions perfectly to interior design and the home furnishings arena. Neutrals soften the hard edges of a space and exude a relaxed, tranquil feeling. An important note: if you have kids and pets, make sure your neutral upholstery items are removable or easily cleanable.

Just look at this nude dining room—exquisite! Feel free to get carried away with this trend--there’s nothing stopping you from doing the entire house in shades of nude. Just stick with complimentary hues and intensities in each space to avoid a jarring contrast. This will ensure a calm visual flow from room to room.

Let’s say for the sake of argument that you were not blessed with the stature of a supermodel and your home is not a villa in the south of France. In reality, you are petite and so is your house. Not to worry! You can overcome these perceived shortcomings easily. The same visual trickery we use to fool the eye with fashion works equally well with interior design..

Dressing in a dark color from head to toe gives the illusion of height and slims the body. You achieve the same results in a room. If your kitchen has floor to ceiling cabinets, get rid of the light oak or white and go with a dark stain or paint to draw the eye up. Even if your house has standard 8-foot ceilings, this little bit of fakery from the fashion world will make them appear higher. This trick works the same as a perfectly tailored black jacket, pants and pumps!

If you are stuck coming up with a design direction for a room, look no further than your closet! Thom Filicia’s Style Network show, “Dress My Nest”, helps women find interior design inspiration based on their fashion sense. By simply examining your favorite clothing and accessories, you can bring a personal touch and unexpected sense of style into your home. Take a cue from the colors and designs in your closet and use them as a starting point for your next home decorating endeavor. 

This concept is seen in renowned interior designer, Barbara Barry’s office. Is this not an amazing example of the confluence of fashion and interior design? It makes me absolutely giddy! Not to mention the fact that I worship Barbara Barry!

In the early 80s, I owned a gorgeous, deep purple Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress with gold piping. It was a favorite of mine for many years. Now this businesswoman, former princess and fashion icon has embarked on a career in interior design. Her first major client? None other than the iconic Claridge Hotel in London--featuring her decor and home textile collection. See how the room interiors mirror her runway creations? Cool!