Bachelor pads have a reputation for either looking cold and clinical or being a cluttered mess. However, somewhere in between these two extremes is a homely, stylish and masculine home.
Your home is an extension of you and as a result, it should reflect your individuality. The ‘bachelor pad’ is synonymous with the idealised life of a young, trendy man, so your apartment should be fun, stylish and functional. It should also be a place where you can relax, as well as a social space for entertaining others.
As a woman, I’ve never lived anywhere that could be described as a ‘bachelor pad’ although I feel I can offer a feminine perspective on what is a very manly space. The most important thing is that your home should have a personality – yours!
Liven Up Your Walls
Nothing feels less homely than bare walls. It makes a room feel unfinished and that is why it’s probably good a starting point for this guide. There is a huge variety of framed prints online ranging from landscape photography to old advertisements, and from abstract painting to graphic design. There is something to suit any person and any room, so pick out a canvas or two that reflect your personality or interests.
Another great addition to a wall is a mirror. It brings in light and makes the room look bigger.
Let Things Grow in Your House
And I don’t mean mould. Pot-plants add a bit of life to a room and help it feel fresh. If you’re worrying that your green-leafed friend may die, then you could always try a cactus, as they are very hard to kill! Bamboo requires infrequent watering too, so if you’re a bit forgetful that’s another stylish but low-maintenance option.
Add a Bit of Colour
A colour scheme that works can really alter the mood of a room. It is important to think about which colours you like and what mood they would create. You may love bright orange but it would be hard to relax in a bright orange cube, so it’s not the best colour for your bedroom!
Good, masculine colours are blue, grey, brown, green, white and deep red. Think about combining two colours that work well together, like a bold red with a muted grey.
Lighting: From Functional to Fun
Lighting can make a real difference to how you use a space. You can make the same room fun or relaxing in the flick of a switch.
Try adding ‘feature’ lights to a living space that allows you to turn off the main lights and create a different atmosphere. Swapping your overhead pendant for some dimmed wall lamps creates a warm, romantic environment – perfect if you’ve got a date round!
Striking Design
You don’t have to fill your home with unique designer furniture in order to get a striking look. Just pick one or two pieces that are a bit unusual and they will draw the eye, such as quirky bookshelves or a uniquely-shaped armchair in the corner.
If your budget can’t stretch to new furniture then you can liven up a room in many other ways, such as reupholstering your sofa in a more eye-catching color or, as I mentioned before, installing a large artwork on the wall (IKEA art is cheap and looks good!).
Create a Social Space
Whether you want to invite friends over or a girlfriend, you want to feel like you have a place where people would actually want to visit.
This involves some thinking about how best to use your space. Try arranging sofas and chairs so that they create a circle or a right angle, providing a place to socialise. No one likes to be left sitting at the end of a straight line in a group of people!
You’ve also got to consider whether you have space for dining with friends. If you do, an elegant glass dining set could add a sophisticated touch to your bachelor pad. If this isn’t for you, another great social space would be a pool table. I’ve heard it is on every man’s wish list, and this one is particularly special as it is shaped like a car!
Simple Yet Stylish
The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple. It’s better to have a few great items that really work, than a whole apartment cluttered with wonderful (yet hidden) things.
When designing your bachelor pad remember that you can have decorative items, which provide a masculine and stylish look – not all trimmings are feminine! And in not decorating at all, your apartment could easily become a genderless and generic box.
