Studies show that single female homeowners have grown from a rate of 49 percent to almost 51 percent from 2016 to 2019. If you are a single woman who’s building your own home, this is an impressive feat and one that’s worth celebrating. You broke a lot of glass ceilings to get here, and you should be proud of this incredible achievement.
If you are proud to be a woman building your dream home and want it to reflect on your new house’s architectural design, here are some feminine design ideas you can incorporate.
English countryside
Perhaps the biggest aesthetic trend that emerged out of the quarantine period is cottagecore, or an updated version of shabby chic, boho, and grand millennial. It is a look marked by romantic English castles, dainty teapots, cutlery, and cups, gardens filled with flowers, floral patterns, and whimsical touches.
To achieve this look for your home’s exteriors, you can coordinate with your architect and home remodeling contractor to achieve a modern farmhouse-inspired design. This can be achieved by using rustic wood accents, stone walls, and other reclaimed materials. Landscaping will also play a crucial part in achieving the romantic English countryside vibes straight out of a Jane Austen novel.
Marie Antoinette-inspired
Another distinctly feminine home design idea is modern French regency, commonly referred to as Marie Antoinette-inspired aesthetic. To give this luxury French provincial home a modern upgrade, there needs to be a balance and symmetry in proportions. Elegant French provincial homes are known for their symmetry that provides an aura of peace and a sense of calm. Steep roofs and tall windows are also some characteristics of a French-inspired modern home.
For the interiors, pastel and light colors like millennial pink, mint green, soft yellow, and baby blue need to be center stage. Taking design cues from the Palace of Versailles, gold or white crystal chandeliers and delicate wall molding are also markers of this style.
Soft contemporary
Soft contemporary homes emphasize lights, which means that houses built with this design are also often energy-efficient. This home-style exudes a feeling of warmth and openness with a hint of modernity. This concept is all about tying together the new and the old using traditional materials like timber to build a more contemporary style. It’s all about glass windows and even doors, open floor plans, large mirrors, long walls that face the sun to reflect more light, windows onto stairwells, and skylights. At night, this energy-efficient home style will be lit up by layered lighting through solar lights not just on the main property but also on the side yards.
Tuscan-style home
Taking another page from the European countryside, Tuscan-style homes are also inspired by yet another romantic European region—Tuscany. This design is marked by design elements and inspirations from neighboring places cities as Siena, Florence, and Pisa.
Since Tuscany is commonly associated with the Italian Renaissance, it follows that this exterior design style has many Mediterranean elements like terracotta roof tiles, stone detailing, and a sophisticated and cozy atmosphere. This design style is perfect for homeowners building their dream houses on the West Coast since it’s reminiscent of Tuscany’s generally warm climate. When you can’t fly to Italy, you can bring Italy into your home through specific exterior and interior design choices.
Greenery
White brick combined with greenery like a creeping fern draped over the walls can bring a fairytale-like atmosphere into any home’s exteriors. If you are building your home in an area with plenty of trees, you can achieve the upgraded modern log cabin look with the right materials and landscaping. Big, open-framed windows will also maximize any rural setting by mixing the indoors with the outdoors.
Outside of “masculine” or “feminine”
Some experts argue that we shouldn’t refer to architectural design elements as inherently masculine or feminine because this nomenclature tends to enforce some gender stereotypes, and they have a point. For example, simple or industrial spaces being referred to as having a “masculine” touch may imply that more elaborately-designed or “frivolous” rooms are more suited for women.
So if you want to step away from what is commonly considered feminine, like light colors, curves, and soft touches, that’s not any less representative of your womanhood. What matters is that the design of your home expresses who you truly are and how hard you worked for this achievement.
Building your dream home is an incredible feat and privilege. Let your unique personhood and personality shine through with the design choices that you make.
