Single room or double room? A bachelor’s is a high office

They say the best times of one’s life are the college and bachelor years. College years for the obvious reasons; lots of activity, freedom, and access to nearly everything. You can get away with anything, including pulling off the sign post of a bar and grill from the roadside and hanging it from your hostel window. You grow up, make friends, get into fights, and learn the things that matter in life.

Bachelorhood is breaking-out time. Life takes shape as you shake off the carelessness of your college days and train your sights on money and the need to stabilise. While Alexander the Great went about trying to conquer the world, a young bachelor, since there is no more world to conquer and needs more time to conquer the office, will have to find an alternative. The reason is simple; a man ought to conquer some place... or something.

The natural place to direct his conquering energies is his cave, the place he lives and calls home, even if it is a bed-sitter on top of a crowded flat or a one-bedroom apartment. This is the place where he invites his friends for post-match banter, the place where he entertains his female friends, the place where his folks can find him for a weekend of village and family talk, the place where he can welcome his mother and father, the place where he rises every morning and goes to sleep every night.

A man aged between the mid-20s and late 30s is a complete man; his character is developed, his style is evident, and his likes and dislikes are easily discernable. In general terms, a bachelor is an unmarried man living independently away from his parents’ home or any other institutional setting. Target acquired, let us zone in on where he lives, shall we?

What makes a bachelor’s pad? How should it look like? Does he need to decorate it? If yes, how? What are the basics? What works for the stylish bachelor? What works for the cool, reserved, but easy bachelor? Above all, how can he make this place comfortable and welcoming without losing himself too much in it?

Most houses these days come already fitted and almost ready for use, but that does not mean you cannot model your pad according to your taste and liking. Landlords allow for changes in wall colour and minor fittings and additions. You can even pull down the door… or maybe that is too much.

Bachelorhood is that period in life when you have all the freedom and space to be as creative as you can since you answer to no one and, therefore, your ideas of comfort, style, and utility will be subject to no voting process.

When fixing your pad to project an attractive and welcoming home, there are a few rules that apply: The pad must be clean, comfortable in all rooms, unique (as in personalised), and stylish.

The entrance

A simple doormat outside the door for dust, mud, and all the dirt works here. Grey, brown, or maroon colours are the best for this piece. As for the door, who said it must be a plank of wood fixed on two hinges? A bachelor needs a serious wooden or metallic door that is stable and fitted with good knobs. They call it the first line of defence, and you need to be sure that it can hold its own when the time comes.

The sitting room

Wood, concrete, or tiles are the most common flooring materials used in sitting rooms. The woody type of bachelor can work with dark brown wood that is well laid. Tiles and concrete give little room for manipulation, but here is where a floor rug and carpet come in. A floor rug that covers just part of the floor, or a sizeable carpet, are best suited for this.

Serah Wanjiru, a sales executive with Victoria Furniture, who also dabbles in interior design, looks at a bachelor’s sitting room as the first grading point to whom and what the person is. But the needs of a bachelor are minimal, except on special occasions when they have decided to host a crowd at their place, and during such an occasion, arrangements can be made to meet the need. This, according to her, means that a bachelor’s sitting room will differ greatly from that of a normal household.

To start with, a single three-seater couch or an L-shaped corner seat will do well in the sitting room. If you go for fabric, the colours should be mild and masculine; beige, grey-black, black-white, and burgundy. If you have more space, you can add a single seat of the same nature as the couch. Throw cushions, especially those that contrast with the colour of the couch, are okay.

For the table, a small, low-lying side table or coffee table fits the bill. This could be wooden but stylishly done, or glass with chrome frames. On the table, add a decorative item which will also serve as a centrepiece. Just about the table, have a magazine rack with good magazines on it.

The radio and TV sets

Your electronic gadgets will have to find room right here in the sitting room. A music system, preferably a home theatre, and some nice reasonable screen will do just fine. Gadgets reflect your personal taste and will be keenly gauged by your guests, especially the male ones. When buying, go for complete sets and have a great collection of original music albums and movies. Original, remember.

If you have the money, go big and stylish. Your screen can stand opposite the couch on its own stand or pinned to a wall, but at a good level. The music system ought to be placed in such a way that the sound effect is felt throughout the house. Have a well-placed stool where you can permanently place your laptop.

Wall hangings

A man hangs paintings and portraits that are reasonably large and well framed on the walls of his pad. Never, ever, buy a plastic imitation of a plant for your pad; you are better off with a cactus if all else fails. Live plants add colour and a natural feel and uniqueness to your pad. On your window, make a bold statement with a curtain that flows down to the floor. The curtain colours ought to contrast the colours of the couch.

Lighting

One of the simplest ways to ensure uniqueness is through lighting. You do not have to stick to the usual on-off switch to a simple bulb hanging from the ceiling. Get creative with your pad. Regulate the brightness of your lights, change the positioning of the lights, and even have floor lights. Do something different; get a lantern or have standing steel lamps.

The kitchen

This is not so much of a bachelor’s best place, considering that most bachelors eat out or buy already cooked food. Once in a while, though, they will prepare a meal... or someone may be present to do the cooking. So, how should your kitchen look like? Get the basics; cutlery, table cooker, and a good fridge — for that Guinness six-pack. Do not forget cleaning materials. And all the time, there must be good food and in good quantities in your kitchen, whether you cook or not.

If you do not have a mini-bar in the pad, do not worry; get a wine rack (this can sometimes be put in the sitting room), but let it be a good one (say, steel or wooden) and stock it with some good old wine. If you are not the drinking type, get yourself a good-quality espresso machine for your instant coffee. The good thing with these two is that they also work in boosting the bachelor’s taste, style, and status and also work to improve your hosting services.

Washroom

Nothing much here. Portrait mirror above the sink area. A shelf or cabinet where medicine and detergents and soaps will be put. Two towels and lots of space.