So you’re in your plus 20’s to low 40’s, you’re single, and you live alone. (I’ll give you a moment to answer the phone, it’s your mother right?) So many of us gents put forth a good effort in dressing well and even driving well, but the space we call home looks more like a dorm room than a modern man’s refuge. Time to shape up! Sure you may still rent or live in a less-than-stellar townhome, but the inside is your domain and it should reflect you and your sense of style. So banish the clichés of black leather and chrome, and let’s change your drab pad to a luxe retreat.
Start with the most basic surface: your walls. “Generic apartment white” has never graced the pages of Arch. Digest, nor should they remain that way in your space. Go for subtle, muted, masculine colors: different shades of gray, blue and tan will be perfect backdrops for any style. Don’t be afraid to use varying tints of the same color for open floor plans, it will lend a cool calm to your space. The word ‘curtains’ may conjure up flowery, nauseating images in your head, but these as well as thick wood blinds will lend a finishing touch to your home. Simple, solid colored or graphic, geometric window coverings will spice up the more restrained color on your walls. Wall coverings such as grass cloth can be $$, but if you just do a small accent wall in a dining room or bedroom, it adds handsome texture and color to your space.
Back to those walls: don’t even think about leaving them bare. Get to a museum and find what kind of art actually excites you. It could be anyone from Audubon to Warhol, it’s just important the art reflects who you are through color, texture and subject. Next stop: local art galleries, vintage shops and online art stores. There are even websites with well-made replicas where you can choose your own size, matting and frames to make each piece truly your own. For real drama, go for some oversized art pieces. No one cares if it’s the real deal as long as it’s making a definite “POP” on your walls.
Next up, time to buy some real furniture man! Hand-me-downs and Target were fine in college, but it’s time to invest in well made, lasting furniture. So much great furniture is made in the USA, an added bonus to your one-time spending spree. Brands like Crate & Barrel, Room and Board, Ethan Allen and Restoration Hardware are easily accessible online and in most urban malls, but be sure to find some unique pieces in vintage stores or in your own family to mix things up. If it comes as a ‘set’, say ‘no way!’ Sophistication is easy through mixing styles and periods, textures and colors.
Most important, be sure the finished product feels like home: clean, well lit (every light needs a dimmer!), and a space you can relax and be yourself. So once the game is over, get off that futon and get creative!
