Want Inspiration for Your Space? Try Turning Outfits into Rooms

Design and fashion psychology are not all that different. One uses psychology to create emotionally supportive spaces, and the other uses it to help people create outfits that support the better versions of them. Our spaces and clothes don’t just help us survive, they are also extensions of our identity; and many aspects of ourselves can be reflected in them—our personality traits, our mood, our goals, and aspirations.

I’d say one thing that differentiates putting together outfits and putting together rooms is the sense of permanency we feel when we decorate spaces. We can more easily switch out an outfit than we can a couch; or wallpaper that cost a pretty penny, not just to buy, but to install. Studies show if there is a large gap between the conditions of someone’s home and the expectations they had for it, the person will likely be dissatisfied. So it would seem we risk more when we decorate spaces than when we assemble outfits.

Considering the relatively high cost of decorating, what is one way that we can be more intentional about how we design our space? How can we best design a space that meets our psychological, social, and aesthetic needs, just to name a few? One way is to be more attuned to what inspires us. Inspiration can come from anywhere; and while we may be aware of what stimulates us, we may not always be able to articulate the reason. The elements of design we respond to are often connected to high positive associations between our experiences and the spaces they occur in. In other words, life happens within the context of design. An experience from childhood that is intricately connected with a certain color or design style can have a strong impact on our aesthetic, even if we are not aware of it.

In an attempt to get inspired, I turned to vintage pics to create virtual rooms. I love history, and I’m especially drawn to pics that remind me of my cultural background. Both my parents were raised in Jamaica, and my father is half-Chinese. During their young adult years, my parents relocated to England, and started our family there. My older siblings were both born in England, but I came along much later after my parents moved to the States. As the only one in my family born in America, I have quite the mash-up of cultural experiences. I’ve had the privilege (although it didn’t seem like it at the time) of moving through different cultural spaces— Black culture, White Culture, Jamaican culture, and Jamaican church culture. I’ve seen a lot; and these multicultural experiences have certainly shaped my aesthetic. So I’ve managed to take these vintage pics from Blackarchives.co, and turn them into a room that inspires and feels like something I could really live in. Not only did I use their outfits as inspiration, but the I considered the vibe of the entire picture. Check it out below.

This picture reminds me of the Carribbean— with all it’s blues, mints, and turquoise. I imagine everyone heading to church; and the children yearning for church to be over so they can eat dinner. But don’t even think of drinking or having dessert until after you finished eating everything off your plate! This imagery inspired the “Dumplings before Dessert” dining room. (photo by Otto Stupakoff via Blackarchives.co)

This man is fully decked out, and no one can tell him otherwise. He’s gonna give you all those reds, pinks, and purples—so be sure to take notes. I once read a study that showed African-Americans are more likely than other subjects to focus on appearance. And without getting into all the historical, sociopolitical reasons why that might be, it makes sense that appearance would be very important to a people group who have been oppressed or discriminated against for the way they look. This picture inspired me to create a smorgasbord of pink, purple, and red with super confidence. I’m calling this one the Ya Dig bedroom for obvious reasons. (photo by Michael Horsley via Blackarchives.com)

I’m not sure where these young people are going, but I imagine at least some of them are being forced (yes, I said forced) to attend week night service. The church skirts give it away—lol. I grew up in a time where parents made their children go to church multiple days of the week. This was often the case with Caribbean parents who used the church not only to meet spiritual needs, but to meet the social needs of their children who may otherwise get caught up in some negativity should they be left at home alone. For this room, I attempted to capture the feminine ruffles with the edgy leather. I’m calling it the Week Night Service Living Room. (photo by ? via Blackarchives.com)

I really enjoyed this process of turning outfits into rooms. How about you, would you ever give this a try? If you are interested in the links to my sources, see below.

Dumplings Before Dessert Dining Room

wallpaper; floor; table; abstract picture; portrait; chandelier; head vase; dining chairs; side chairs; blue cabinet

Ya Dig Bedroom

carpet; knotty pine wall; portrait; bed; rug; bench; side tables; lamps; chandelier

Week Night Service

carpet; wallpaper; sconces; chandelier; side chairs; couch; coffee table; portrait; abstract art; side tables