From Runway to Room: Translating Recent Fashion Trends into Interior Design Styles

Interior design takes inspiration from various sources, including nature, culture, and history.

It's also heavily influenced by fashion trends, especially since we are exposed to it daily in the clothes we wear. The intersection between fashion and interior design is observed in how textiles, patterns, and colors in clothes can be incorporated into furniture, fixtures, and decor as an extension of one's style into their space. For instance, a person's penchant for fur coats can be embodied in the home through a fur throw blanket.

So it's not unusual for fashion trends to be translated into interior design styles. If you're seeking more ideas and inspiration, here are some fashion trends that you can take from the runway to the room.

Crochet Textures

Handmade textures like crochet are recurring fashion trends, especially during spring and summer. Crochet has been observed in recent men’s clothing fashion trends, particularly in tops. Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana previewed black crochet tops paired with trousers and long skirts. The delicate details of this pattern added daintiness to the bold, monochrome look. It also adds exquisite structure and texture to the whole outfit.

Crochet blankets and throws have been showing up in interior spaces more and more. This seemingly old-fashioned item has made a comeback and can be found in plenty of modern spaces. It seems to be a case of ‘the more colorful, the better’ as well

Tortoiseshell Patterns

This distinct pattern originates from the shell of the hawksbill turtle. Its use as a decorative aid dates back to ancient China, and it eventually emerged in fashion items like buttons and hair accessories. With the endangerment of the hawksbill turtle, synthetic tortoiseshell patterns became popular for eyewear in the 1950s. Today, it remains among the most popular women's sunglasses designs. As observed in models like the Persol Elio and Costa Saline, they serve to bring attention to the faces while complementing a wide variety of outfits.

Today, Apartment Therapy reveals that tortoiseshell is the most popular animal print for maximalist interior design. The pattern is extremely versatile and can be leveraged for everything from tabletops and bookshelves to vases dinnerware and candleholders. Since it has a warm tone, tortoiseshell is more suited for interiors with a red, yellow, orange, gold, brown, and tan palette. Tortoiseshell light fixtures, like lamps or lanterns, also allow the pattern to shine through when illuminated from the inside. Indeed, this pattern can bring warmth and elegance to any room.

‘70s Style

The ‘70s were an eclectic and colorful era in fashion. It was characterized by contrasting colors of tops and bottoms, vibrant zigzag patterns, and fringed hems. Many people—and fashion designers—return to this style because it's fun. Michael Kors brought ‘70s flair to New York Fashion Week 2023 by showcasing dresses in vibrant reds and eye-catching patterns.

This fashion trend can be translated into an interior design style with flower-power-inspired wallpaper. You can also expect textured fabrics—like sequins—in upholstered furnishings: think sequin pillowcases or ottomans. Designers can use geometric fabrics for curtains, fringes on table runners, and burnt orange colors on tabletops or wall decor. Funky tiles, like black and white tiling in the kitchen, can also bring back that retro vibe.

Fashion and interior design are closely related. By taking inspiration from the latest clothing trends, one can have more personalized and uniquely designed rooms and spaces.