Masculine and Feminine Design

What makes decorative accessories and furniture feminine or masculine? 

-Joey

What a great question! Femininity and masculinity present themselves in various ways across cultures, but I'll respond to this in the conventional American perspective. I think most Americans regard "feminine" furnishings to be primarily concerned with form, and "masculine" furnishings to be primarily concerned with function. Some may find this heteronormative way of approaching design to be dated, and even repressive! I think good design is ergonomic, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Here are some side-by-side traditional comparisons.

Shape

Crate & Barrel Clara and Davis chairs

Feminine furnishings undulate like a woman's body, while masculine furnishings possess hard, clean lines.

More comparisons after the jump.