Decorating tips for bachelors

Many bachelors tend to have only the very basic items. As long as they are comfortable, all is well. PHOTO/FILE

What you need to know:

  • Base your décor choices on your hobby, but it is also advisable to add a dash of femininity to your “mantuary”

Many bachelors tend to have only the very basic items. As long as they are comfortable, all is well.

Thus many bachelor pads often end up looking college hostel rooms, with no attention paid to aesthetics. However, this need not be the case, according to Mr Benson Hinga, an interior decorator.

“As a bachelor, your home should feel inviting and appealing not only to you, but also to visitors,” he says.

With a few decor tips, Mr Hinga says, it is possible to turn that drab space into a place that your friends and guests will enjoy being in.

Research tells us that women express their personality through their home décor while men prefer making a shrine of their home.

Thus a bachelor will acquire all the things he has always desired and stock them at home.

However, that does not mean that your house should look like a warehouse. “Despite a man’s intrinsic desire to have things remain unpredictable, his décor choices should be influenced by his interests and hobbies,” says Mr Hinga.

For instance, sport enthusiasts can have their houses themed along the colours and pictures of their favourite soccer teams while music enthusiasts could display instruments like,a guitar in the house.

Furniture

When it comes to picking furniture, Mr Hinga advises that one first identify if the home will serve other functions apart from simply providing a roof over one’s head.

“Do you want to host or entertain more? Or do you just want a place to unwind after work?” he asks.

Those who enjoy hosting should make maximum use of the space with sectional sofas and invest in ottomans that can be tucked under a table and pulled out to provide additional sitting space if necessary, he suggests.

But is you are an introvert, then a single sofa will do. It is even better if the sofa can be converted into a temporary bed — or if it’s a lazy couch — for the odd friend who occasionally crashes at your place.

One piece of furniture that will definitely add elegance to your living room is a bookshelf. “Books give the impression that you’re intelligent and well-read, but without appearing overbearing, and that’s one character women appreciate in men. A well-stocked bookshelf might just earn you reverence from your guests,” says Mr Hinga.

In addition, you can display trophies, marbles and other ornamental pieces alongside the books.

Another piece of furniture that is sure to impress is a wine rack. “Most bachelors have the habit of leaving empty beer bottles lying around the house, forgetting that times have changed and this is no longer considered cool. Instead, throw those bottles into the waste bin and invest in an elegant wine rack or a bar unit,” Mr Hinga suggests.

Lighting

When it comes to lighting, the interior designer suggests investing in lampshades and more task-specific lights such as strobe lights and dimmers.

“You should have an option to dim the lights during house parties and to have brighter lights when studying,” he explains.

Mr Hinga proposes that you add a touch of femininity in your “mantuary” by having curtains in a light colour such as white or pink, unless you want to be a bachelor all your life.

Men often associate tidiness with being feminine when, in fact, tidiness is gender-neutral. A clean and neat bachelor pad, says Mr Hinga, is a happy bachelor pad.

A common mood-killer in bachelor is a foul smell. No matter how hard you work at making your place feel cosy, it will be a waste if your place smells like dirty socks.

To counter this, he suggest liberal use of air fresheners and scented candles. And pick up guy-friendly scents, like herbal and musk.

“When done right, a bachelor pad can be not only be manly, but also liveable and classy,” he concludes.