apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

" it gives off a decidedly masculine vibe in a bedroom or living room"

It does? I don't see anything particularly masculine about either of these photos. If anything, the first photo looks incredibly feminine to me.

I think the first photo looks very feminine as well. While the colors are indeed "masculine", the curve of the headboard, the texture of the satin/silk coverlet and the delicate legs of the console table all give it a more feminine feel.

Very nice color palette though.

I have always thought black and blue together look 'bruised.' It's one of few color combinations I really don't like. Also reminds me of bad 80's fashion -- black any other color in plaid, stripe, etc.. (though I don't actively dislike black with any other color)

I have a black couch with light blue/gray dupioni silk pillows and I think it looks great. I'm also a girly girl..I think it's great for men and women.

I love blue and black together. And agree that it can be used in both masculine and feminine ways. It just depends on what you do with them (like most colors).

I think black and blue tend to read as "masculine" rather than "feminine" because they create high contrast; I think darker colours in general tend to be associated with masculinity, and lighter/softer ones with femininity. The first image has a slight lavender cast; if the walls are/were white, it would read much more explicitly "male".

It's odd that "black and blue" is associated with bruises, which tend to run purple/red/brown/green/yellow according to age.