Dress forms have long been a useful tool for fashion designers and sewers. But these sculpted mannequins also have many applications when it comes to home decorating. From displaying your latest DIY fashion creations to adding unique accents throughout your home, dress forms offer endless possibilities for creative decorators.
Using Dress Forms for Displaying Clothing and Accessories
One of the most obvious ways to use a dress form is to display your clothing creations. The human shape of the form allows garments to drape and hang properly, showcasing your sewing skills.
You can place a dress form in your bedroom, walk-in closet, or dressing area to exhibit your latest couture fashions. Switch up the outfits according to the season or your mood. Dress forms are perfect for highlighting elaborate evening gowns, tailored coats, and fancy accessories.
For a creative display, use more than one dress form to model coordinating his-and-her outfits or even children’s clothes. Place the forms together to create a fashionable vignette.
Displaying Handmade Fashions
If you sew or craft your own fashions, a dress form is an excellent way to show off your creations. Arrange your handmade skirts, dresses, blouses, or accessories on the form to admire the details of your workmanship. Having your designs modeled on a form helps you evaluate the drape, fit, and visual appeal of each piece.
You can also photograph your fashions on the dress form to create visual content to promote your sewing skills on social media or your handmade fashion business website.
Creating Seasonal Displays
The shape of a dress form lends itself perfectly to seasonal displays. Drape a cozy handknit sweater or your latest crocheted creation over the form for a fall or winter accent. In spring and summer, use the form to display cool, lightweight dresses, flowy skirts, or a stylish bathing suit.
Add props around the dress form to complement the season. For example, surround your summer styles with seashells, sand dollars, and driftwood accents. For winter, add evergreen boughs, pine cones, or a knitted scarf.
Showcasing Heirloom Clothing
Do you have vintage or sentimental clothes in your family that you want to protect and preserve? Using a dress form to display these delicate garments can help prevent damage from hanging or folding.
Arrange old wedding gowns, military uniforms, christening clothes, or other heirloom items on forms to keep the fabrics supported and the shapes intact. Place the ensemble in an area where you can enjoy the nostalgia of treasured memories without causing wear.
Incorporating Dress Forms Throughout Your Home
A dress form’s unique sculptural shape also lends itself to home decorating applications beyond the closet. Consider creative ways to add dress forms throughout your home to accent your style.
Entryway Accents
Make a stunning first impression by placing a dress form in your entryway. Use it as a decorative stand to drape coats, hats, and scarves. The human shape makes a far more interesting accent than a traditional coat rack.
Forvariety, mount multiple forms in different poses along your entryway wall. Coat each form in a signature color to coordinate with your interior design scheme. Or decorate them for the seasons by dressing them in coordinated scarves, mittens, and hats.
Living Room Silhouettes
The shapely silhouette of a dress form can provide visual interest when positioned in a corner of your living room. Use it as a display stand for hanging artwork or an accessory like a decorative wreath.
Or place a form behind your sofa and artfully drape the shoulders with an eye-catching throw or lace shawl. Turn the form periodically to vary the look.
Creative Book Displays
Are you looking for an inspired way to show off your book collection? Cover a dress form with book pages or old sheet music to create a distinctive accent.
For a themed approach, find book covers or pages that coordinate with the form’s eventual placement in your home. For instance, use cookbooks and food pages in the kitchen or gardening books in an outdoor living area.
You can also accent the form with actual books. Pose its arms outstretched to hold a row of novels or have it cradle a stack of large coffee table books. Add more books at the base.
Making a Candle Holder
Transform a dress form into a chic three-dimensional candle holder with some clever DIY. Simply affix candle holders onto areas like the hands, head, and heart. You now have a uniquely shaped candelabra perfect for dining room ambiance.
For more flair, decorate the candleholder with elements like fabric flowers, pearls, ribbons, or other embellishments. You can completely disguise the mannequin shape or integrate the decorations subtly.
Table Centerpieces
Dress forms make fun table centerpieces because their sculptural shape naturally draws attention. Position one lying horizontally in the middle of your table and pile books or flowers on top to continue the human form silhouette.
For parties, decorate the torso with strands of twinkle lights. At Christmas, turn a form into a snowman or let one model an ugly holiday sweater. There are endless ways to play up their human-like shapes!
Foyer Flowers
If your front door could use some extra floral flair, use a dress form as a flower stand. Wrap the torso creatively with a vine of artificial ivy or adorn the neckline with a gorgeous wreath.
You can bouquet the arm positions with abundant spring blooms. In winter, go for frosted floral styling with glittery branches, faux snowflakes, and fairy lights. Let your creativity run wild!
Bathroom spa Theme
Give your bathroom a fun spa vibe by utilizing a dress form in the decor. Drape the form with plush towels and add shelving so it can hold pampering products like candles, lotions, and fresh flowers.
For a soothing look, coat the form in moisturizing masks and exfoliating scrubs. Accent with vessel sinks, bamboo shelving, and natural textiles. Your dress form can help set the whole peaceful mood.
Making a Headboard
If your bed could use an artistic focal point, turn to a dress form to make a stunning upholstered headboard. Mount the form horizontally on a backing above the head of the bed.
Make it really eye-catching by decorating the torso creatively with buttons, fabric accents, or intricate stitching. You could even give it an uplifting affirmation in embroidery. Let your inner artist shine!
Kitchen Herb Garden
Give your kitchen a burst of fresh flavor by transforming a dress form into a unique herb garden. Mount the form by a sunny window and use the limbs and torso to display potted basil, parsley, oregano, and other favorite herbs.
Not only is it a great way to grow kitchen ingredients, but the herbal dress form makes an artistic statement. Adorn it further with gardening gloves, watering cans, and terra cotta accents. Your inner chef will love it!
Tips for Decorating with Dress Forms
Dress forms are incredibly versatile for home decor accents, displays, and creative projects. Here are some top tips for making the most of mannequins as you incorporate them throughout your home:
- Look for adjustable forms that allow you to modify arm and neck positioning. Posing the arms outstretched, angled, or bent will give you more decorating variety.
- Opt for forms with removable bases that can lay horizontally or stand upright with stability. Bases that can be filled with sand or other heavy material prevent tipping.
- Consider color and style. Forms come in silver, black, white, and other tones to coordinate with your decor. Some have more elegant, realistic styling while others are more abstract.
- Look for durable, high quality forms constructed from materials like fiberglass, chrome, or durable plastic if they will be actively used and displayed.
- If your form will just be a static decorative accent, inexpensive styrofoam forms work well and are lightweight.
- Remember that dress forms come in male and female variations along with options for different body types and sizes. Choose the form that best fits your display needs.
- Use leftover fabric, ribbons, garlands, paint, and other materials to customize your form for different decorative applications.
- Make sure your form is adequately supported and secured if displayed high up on a wall or ceiling. Use appropriate hardware.
- Improve stability on standing floor forms by widening the base or weighting it with sand or other heavy fillers.
With the right dress form and a little creativity, you can come up with endless inspired decorative applications. Let them showcase your fashion flair or make an artistic accent in any room. Dress forms are a stylist’s secret weapon for impressive displays and gorgeous decor effects throughout any home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about creatively decorating with dress forms:
What are some good places to buy dress forms?
Some popular places to buy dress forms include fabric and sewing stores, department stores with home goods and craft sections, art supply stores, online retailers like Amazon, and specialty mannequin shops. Look for both new and secondhand forms.
How much do dress forms typically cost?
Costs vary greatly based on materials, size, features, and detailing. Inexpensive styrofoam forms can be under $50 while high end professional forms run from $200-$500. Adjustable forms tend to cost more than static forms.
Do I need a male or female form?
Choose a female form to better display women’s fashions and a male form for men’s clothing styles. For non-clothing displays, choose whichever form type best fits your vision. Adjustable forms allow you to tweak bust, hip, and shoulder proportions.
How do I make a dress form into a candle holder?
Start by selecting form areas that can securely hold candle holders, like the hands, shoulders, or chest. Affix sturdy candle cups, vases, jars, or bowls to the form using strong adhesives like epoxy or silicone. Make sure to keep flames away from any flammable dress form materials.
What are some good filler materials for the base of a dress form?
Good sturdy base fillers include sand, pebbles, beads, and rice. For lightweight forms, you can also use materials like crumpled paper or polyester fiberfill to add stability without heavy weight.
How can I hang a dress form on the wall?
Securely screw eye hooks into wall studs and use strong wire, chain, or covered cables to hang forms. Use at least two hooks positioned near the shoulders to stabilize. For ceiling hooks, ensure ceilings are reinforced and use heavy duty hardware.
How do I keep the dust off a dress form?
Use a soft brush attachment on your vacuum to gently remove dust as needed. You can also protect your form by covering it with a cotton dress cover or large pillowcase when not in use. Store in a dust-free space like a closet.
What are some creative ways to light a dress form?
You can place battery operated string lights directly on the form. For more ambient lighting, use floor lamps or wall sconces positioned to cast light onto the form’s shape. Get creative with colored gels and lighting filters to completely transform the look.
Get Inspired Decorating with Dress Forms
Dress forms are a fabulous blank canvas that can lend shape, drama, and style to displays and decorative accents throughout your home. With their adaptable human silhouettes and sculptural forms, the decorating possibilities are endless.
Whether you want to showcase your latest fashions or add a little artistry to your decor, dress forms are sure to inspire you creatively. With just a bit of imagination, you can come up with all kinds of innovative ways to incorporate these decorative mannequins into your home projects.
So embrace your inner stylist and have fun experimenting with dress forms throughout your space. Use them to make playful displays, interesting accents, and unique DIY creations that impress your guests and show off your personalized style. The right form can truly dress up any room!
