Things are getting critical: the women in your life are threatening to redecorate your bachelor flat. Now is the time to take the reins before you are ambushed with an explosion of “girly” décor.
Start with a new coat of paint. Painted walls are the first thing you notice in a room, so a change in color or the addition of a new texture quickly enlivens a living space. Unfortunately, painting is also laborious and time-consuming if you can’t afford a professional painter. Why not invite your girlfriend or other women who have threatened to update your decor to help with the painting? In other words, hush or hush, ladies.
When choosing paint, keep in mind that a lighter color will make your space look bigger – an important consideration if you live in a small apartment or a cramped condo. Similarly, a darker color can make a room feel more closed, although a wall in a darker shade can have a sharpening effect. If you go for a lighter color, you don’t have to stick with the usual “eggshell white.” Softer shades are definitely an option, especially tans like mocha or cappuccino, light blue-gray, and sage green. Stay away from pinkish-hued pastels (unless you WANT the guys to make fun of you incessantly).
It might be worth the investment to hire a professional painter to do a special effect wall for you. New paints have textures like denim, linen, or suede, or you can go for a pattern like sponge paint. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Now that your walls are beautified, show them off in new lighting. No, we are not talking about the expensive repair required for recessed or track lighting. Instead, think about how lighting affects your favorite TV show or movie. Then get some new table lamps, floor lamps, and ceiling fixtures that can replicate what your mind imagines. Look for lamps with minimalist designs so they don’t distract from your manly decor. You should be able to find lamps with wooden, leather, or ceramic bases that suit your mood.
Finally, what about the furniture? After all, isn’t it about time you got rid of that cable reel table you’ve been using since college?
If your budget doesn’t allow you to buy new furniture, try rearranging the ones you have. Chances are you didn’t think much of the location when you moved on your couch, dining table, dresser, and bed. You can get strong friends to help you move things around, or you can take the geeky approach: measure the dimensions of your furniture, then enter the data into any of the many home decor software available today. Then you can move little icons from your furniture around a virtual room until you find an arrangement that you really like.
However, as a man on the rise in life, it might be time to invest in some furniture improvements. Consider sprucing up the living room with a giant ottoman that doubles as a coffee table (and taking that spool of cable to the trash can!). Even if you have wall-to-wall rugs, you can cover them with an area rug in a complementary style for a focal point. Install a wall unit to display some of your collectibles or hang old posters. Use cushions to add pops of color to neutrals in the room.
With just a little effort and expense, you can rack up points with the ladies for being a man in charge of your home environment!