At BonneGueule, for years, our philosophy has remained unchanged. Clothing is a way for Man to feel better, to find or regain self-confidence.
And that's exactly what Julien thinks, a loyal reader who offers you an article combining his two passions: fashion and interior design. Dressing well or decorating your interior well remain two very similar factors. The importance of colors, materials, and associations are completely vital for a successful outfit or decoration.
In this article, I will try to show you that there are parallels between the construction of an outfit and a decor. But I will go even further by proving to you that stylistic knowledge can be transposed to your apartment.
1. Declutter first
In clothing as in decoration "Less is more", in other words "less is more" . However, many of us still accumulate a whole series of objects out of a spirit of conservation.
Credit: Gettyimages
We all have old souvenirs at home that we refuse to throw away, gifts from our grandmother that we never used or even the exercise bike that now serves as a coat rack, because one day, we had the good idea of becoming a great athlete.
Well, you get it, the idea is to give new life to unused objects. I suggest you look around you, observe all the objects that are present in order to sort them.
Because yes, as Benoit already recommended in “Let’s Talk Clothes #17”, before adding a piece of clothing to your wardrobe, it is best to declutter it first. The same principle therefore applies to interior design.
List and evaluate all objects without any qualms, even those that are not used or broken. There is no point in keeping old debris, the same goes for clothes. I don't think you would keep a sweater with a hole in it, a shirt with a completely deformed collar or a t-shirt with a yellowed armpit from sweat .
Also, a little tip, don't hesitate to give or sell these famous objects. It would be a shame to generate even more waste than the planet already knows, but it can also allow you to start establishing a budget.
2. Determine your budget
The rule that Benoît sets out for clothing applies perfectly to decoration: do not spend more than 8% of your salary on clothing in monthly budget , always be able to save and must not take precedence over life experiences.
Some clothes are expensive, as are decorations and furniture. In a room, there is a particular universe determined by stronger pieces. We can mention the sofa in the living room, the table in the dining room and of course the bed in the bedroom. So many elements, which will instantly capture attention.
Credit: Gettyimages
Finally, it is important to know which decorative element to put your budget into and which ones are difficult to compromise on in terms of quality and needs.
This will allow you to create a wish list before going to the checkout.
3. Cultivate yourself, seek inspiration
Our interior is ultimately a reflection of ourselves.
Would you be surprised to find a Native American patterned blanket on Kevis' couch?
Very often when we decide to redo our interior decoration, it generally starts with a trip to IKEA, Leroy Merlin... and we then buy a cushion or a lamp, telling ourselves that the deal is done.
Satisfied, we go home but very quickly, we get tired! We often realize that something is wrong without really knowing why. And the reason is the following:
As in an outfit, a successful decoration is based on major principles: play of volumes, colors , mixture of materials, with a continuous thread of polarity.
That is to say that opposites must respond to each other and create a certain harmony: for example, having a style with sober clothes and a strong piece by its color or its texture which enhances the outfit.
In this photo, the pink sweater matches the brown corduroy shoes and pants that echo the fields behind. Credit: @triplepape_
There's no need to rush and, just like building your style identity, it takes time!
Know your body shape, your tastes, your needs... Nothing is set in stone, if you choose the right statement pieces you can change the atmosphere of a room. Let's put this into practice: in autumn, you can very easily give an autumnal touch to your living room without having to change your sofa or coffee table.
The fundamentals remain the same but some accessories will change (like an accessory in clothing).
The most important thing is to start by looking at different decoration styles, whether by watching TV shows, YouTube channels, Pinterest photos... (In this regard, I recommend two interesting YouTube channels: Fressya and Another Home ).
And if you don't know the exact terms, look at the styles or objects that appeal to you, and try to understand what captures your attention.
Textures? Color harmonies? Materials? Volumes?
4. Work on volumes, materials and colors
Style and interior design are based on very similar principles : volumes , materials, colors.
The volumes
Volumes are a very important point and it is essential to take them into account for your decoration. We do not all have the same volumes, in the same way that we do not all have the same silhouette.
Successful decoration is based on knowing your strengths and weaknesses. In fashion, looking at yourself objectively to know your strengths and weaknesses allows you to choose what you want to highlight. The goal is to erase our complexes up to a certain limit.
But don't panic, in architecture as in undermining, it is possible with a few tricks to correct them but above all to highlight the advantages.
Take David's photo for example: he tucks his shirt into his pants to highlight his waist and the double pleats on his pants highlight his very slender legs. These same techniques are used in decoration.
MATERIALS
As with outfits, it is important to create a play of materials that can be divided into two categories: so-called warm materials and so-called cold materials.
For example, wool and wood are warm materials, marble and glass are cold materials. They obviously have advantages and disadvantages and it is essential to know what their roles will be in a room.
In principle, we recommend this little mathematical formula: 3/4 quarters of hot materials for 1/4 of cold materials . (Be careful, this is not a science, there are also other factors that can come into play, such as the brightness of the room for example)
Imagine a room entirely covered in marble, an unpleasant feeling of coldness would emanate from the room. Conversely, an old rustic chalet composed exclusively of wooden furniture and objects would give off a feeling of suffocation.
It is therefore necessary to ensure that the room has harmonious colours and materials.
For example, here, Eero Saarinen's marble tulip table has a cold look. To counterbalance this trend, he uses objects in a warm shade like the carpet, the chairs and the window (which opens onto greenery). All of this responds to the play of colors and materials.
THE COLORS
The principle of 3 quarters - 1 quarter applies for the same reasons: it is better to start with basic colors like blue, sand or white at the beginning and then decline the remaining quarter in warm colors. You can take inspiration from color wheels or colors present in nature.
In this photo, there is not a quarter of strong color but here it is the material of the wood which gives the sensation of warmth.
It is not impossible to start with a strong color, but it is like style, it requires a certain mastery. It is better to first understand the rules in order to free yourself from them later.
The orange of the beanie and the azure of Jordan's sweater are two strong colors that immediately catch our eye. Everything is softened by the corduroy jacket that is soft in color but has character in texture.
5. Create an inspiration board
The mood board is a good solution to determine the desired visual orientation in your decor.
In an inspiration board, place objects, furniture, and even things outside the decoration that suit you (like a photo of a beautiful car, a trip that inspires you, or even a passion...).
From then on, you will realize that there are certain aspects to which you are sensitive and thus you will be able to determine more easily which style of decoration suits you. Moreover, each style has its own code.
Here I offer you the most important different styles in interior decoration.
JAPANDI
Japandi is a style of decoration that mixes Scandinavian and Japanese decoration , it is inspired in particular by the concepts of Hygge advocating comfortable intimacy in living spaces, and wabi-sabi (so dear to Benoît) which refers here to simplicity and aesthetic sobriety.
The style is characterized by minimalism, functionality over superfluity, sober colors, clean lines, raw and natural materials.
THE ARTY STYLE
The arty style focuses on details for interiors that look like art galleries. It is a colorful style that mixes different eras and aims to be extravagant.
BOHEMIAN CHIC STYLE
The bohemian chic style is inspired by the hippie world and travel. It is appropriate to make a colorful and warm decoration with objects from many regions of the world.
INDUSTRIAL STYLE
Industrial style is an architectural style that takes codes from industrial architecture for buildings and interior designs. A raw and imposing look by mixing raw materials such as wood, metal or brick and associating them with noble pieces such as leather.
The world of sape and interior decoration both share iconic pieces. The objects are created by designers and have a recognizable signature look. Most people sometimes don't know their names but the silhouette of these objects seems familiar to them, like the perfecto for example.
Do you know the Martinelli Luce Pipistrello lamp? I think the name doesn't mean anything to you, but its design is iconic.
An example of this famous lamp at our friend Luca's (@lucallacio)
There are many other examples like this, such as the plastic chairs invented by Charles and Ray Eames. or the “Vertigo” ceiling light by Constance Guisset.
I hope that, in my own way, I have been able to provide you with some answers, give you food for thought and perhaps arouse some desire.
With clothes, as with interior decoration, you have to try, start again, but above all have fun!
