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If you search “Bachelor Pads” on Pinterest, you will come across beautiful apartments that are so sleek they would give anyone a serious case of house envy. Designer cream sofas, rugs to die for, a kitchen a chef would design, wall mounted cinematic TVs and soft furnishings that shout money, elegance and “I’ve made it.” But in the real world, a typical bachelor pad often screams of too much black, glass and chrome and where art is represented by posters stuck on the wall with blue-tack. Too much space is allocated to one, massive sofa and a disproportionately small coffee table (with beer mats for coasters) and it can feel like you’re stuck in a “just out of college” time warp. Memorabilia is everywhere and the plants are nearly always dead. Whilst these are both extreme examples of what bachelor pads may look like it is true that at some point, it’s time to move on from a place that is purely functional to a place with style.
Begin the transformation by having a clear-out. Dump all the clutter you no longer need (beer mats included) and store those items you want to keep. Have a scan of the living room and make sure the sofa is comfortable and well-upholstered and is not a two-seat (fake) leather variety. Chairs for guests, also known as occasional seating, create an inviting atmosphere – get some! Accessorize with cushions and keep to a color theme. Coordinate with a rug, coffee table and lamps that you can dim as ambient lighting is a simple way to take your room from daytime practicality to evening romance. Dressing your windows with curtains that fall to the floor, rather than just below the window sill, will complete the makeover. Beautiful drapes transform any room and buying custom curtains is a worthwhile investment.
In the bedroom, the bed is the centerpiece and is best placed away from the door. Get a statement headboard, a new mattress, good quality bedding and some key pieces of furniture such as a chest of drawers and wardrobe. Place bedside tables and lamps on either side of the bed, making it inviting for two people and not just for one. Again, you need full-length curtains, preferably lined, as short ones are for kids.
The bathroom should be cleared of clutter and have fluffy, soft towels. Get rid of those scratchy multi-colored towels your parents gave you. A mirrored cabinet is a chic and practical way to store all the bathroom paraphernalia. Finally, the kitchen needs to be well stocked of all that grown-up a gear (cooking utensils, plates, pots and pans, glasses, etc.). Recipe books, fruit bowls, herbs and spices and some functional pieces, such as a coffee machine, all look fabulous on the countertop. A table and set of chairs are essential.
There is no need to blow the budget in changing the look and feel of your home. By gradually doing the things listed above and adding small touches such as candles, ornaments, soft furnishings and framed art you can totally transform your apartment from a “just out of college” investigate a sophisticated home ready to take you through the next chapter of your life. Make your place represent who you are now and not who you used to be. Finally, don’t forget to water the plants.
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This content is sponsored by Jim Bevin.
Photo: Shutterstock
