Through the materialistic eyes of a sophisticated & chic woman, the dapper attire, nice watch and good shoes of the gent chatting you up at a swanky bar, quickly dwindles when we walk through the door of their poorly styled and obscenely ‘bloky’ bachelor pad; Stark colours, oversized furnishings and obnoxious technologies.
Similar to the concept of ‘peacocking’, home styling is about using décors, furnishing and colours to impress women by manipulating the way they portray you & by creating a lasting first impression. It seems a no brainer considering most men assume triumph leading a lady through their front door for the first time. However, surprisingly enough it is more than often overlooked.
Men are all about functionality when it comes to their humble abodes & tend to lean towards simplicity, the less in the pad, the easier it is to keep clean. A well-styled bachelor pad meets a nice medium of comfort, style and simplicity. The three most important elements to achieving this are furnishings, color and decors.
Furnishings
Guys are naturally drawn to the big, plush and comfortable, particularly when it comes to lounges. With many men traveling for business and spending time in hotels, this is a great starting point for designing your home. Hotels are styled on the premise of comfort and functionality with a great degree of style. Guys should channel this style and their exposure to travel to draw inspiration and refine their preferences.
From my experience, lounges are one item most guys get wrong. They tend to lean towards huge lounges, often the ‘L’ shaped chase in bold, block colours. Lounges in neutral shades, such as the featured Matt Blatt ‘Kolding Sofa’ are comfortable and appealing to the eye. A lighter hue, such as a beige, allows gents to get away with a slightly larger lounge, without totally overwhelming their space. I would advise gents to also stir clear of leather or suede. These furnishings in a manly environment are clichéd and read a little greasy. Gents should utilize their sense of style, such as dress sense and personality to choose furnishings that meet more than just functional purpose. The look and ambience of your home says a lot about you personally, tailoring it to your style is important.
Colour
image source: mentmorestudios.co.uk
Gents tend to lean towards dark, stereotypical masculine colours; big blocks of blues and reds. These in combination with overstated furnishings & technologies diminish the spatial feel of the room & omit a dull & sluggish energy. Channeling muted shades of greens and blues with grays, stone and beige hues, creates a manly & refined aesthetic, whilst creating the illusion of space. Utilising colours to create more space, minimizes the eye saw effect of big tv’s, speakers, gaming consoles and cords.
Decors
Decors are effective in adding an element of character to the male’s typically streamlined and simplistic abode. Retro styled technologies such as the featured Tivoli audio system are great for adding a touch of mad men and style, whilst also serving technological purpose. Retro adverts, abstract artworks and cityscape illustrations are also perfect for adding personality to the man cave. Desks are often a must, particularly for professionals, antique clocks, yacht models and world globes are great pieces to tie into your office space to elude your stature as a professional and ambitious man. Whilst it may seem feminine, soft furnishings such as cushions and rugs create a homely vibe. Cushions in stripes, chevron and greek key prints are masculine and will make your home feel comfortable, whilst also portraying a laid back and relaxed personality. Rugs, such as basic beige or ratten also create a similar feel.
Incorporating your sense of style and personality into your home, will ensure your personality speaks through, as a first impression. As we all know first impressions can make or break, so tailoring your home to be reflective of the style you want to portray is just as important as peacocking with clothes and behaviours when it comes to swooning females.
