His and Hers: Analyzing "Masculine" and "Feminine" Decor

Can a room be masculine or feminine? We've occasionally been known to describe spaces this way, which doesn't sit well with some readers. Of course, calling something 'masculine' or 'feminine' doesn't mean that particular room or decor style is only for men or women -- it means that the space being described has qualities we associate more with one gender than another. But WHY do certain aspects of decor make us think 'masculine' or 'feminine'? And is describing things thus a helpful way of gett...