Whether you’re dolling up a glorified man cave in the basement or growing into a generously proportioned loft all your own, your bachelor pad needs certain accoutrements.
Start with these seven must-haves.
1. A Sectional Sofa
Sectional sofas aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and larger models simply don’t work in modest bachelor pads. If you plan to entertain regularly, though, it’s hard to imagine a better living room centerpiece. Choose a comfortable sectional that seats at least five and can double as a crash pad for impromptu (or scheduled) guests.
2. Super High-Quality Bed Sheets
For yourself and any overnight guests who manage to make it to the bedroom, up your snuggle game with the best sheets money can buy. Even active guys spend something like one-quarter of their lives in bed, so there’s no reason to skimp on comfort in the bedclothes department.
3. Multiple Footrests
As Montgomery Burns once said, “Who doesn’t enjoy a good sit?”
Your sectional sofa is a good start, but you’re not really sitting until your legs are parallel with the floor. Sprinkle a handful of ottomans or reclining chairs around your bachelor pad, reserving at least one per bedroom. (After all, sometimes a half-seated nap is better than fully horizontal.)
4. Plenty of Shelving
The perfect bachelor pad is well-appointed without any appearance of clutter or discord. Striking this balance is tough without ample shelving in your pad’s public and private spaces. Use common-area shelving to display books, art, and gadgets that you don’t mind (or actively want) your guests seeing. Reserve bathroom and closet shelves for the boring or embarrassing stuff — remember, guests are supposed to enjoy themselves in your bachelor pad.
5. A Floor Piece That Really Ties the Room Together
Movies have been made about guys seeking justice for befouled bachelor pad floor pieces. Here’s to hoping your area rug or tapestry stays safe from bumbling toughs.
6. A Bar (or High Table)
Much as you’d like, you can’t spend all day on the sectional or in your recliner. When it’s time for more active socialization, make sure you have a nice standing bar or high table to shoot the breeze with your buds (and mixed company, if that’s your thing). You’ll want at least three stools or high chairs for a small bar, and at least six for a wraparound.
7. Smart Home Gadgets Galore
The future is here — at least, for fans of smart home devices. Among other goodies, your bachelor pad begs for a learning thermostat, a smart speaker, and a smart lock. There’s still time to wow late-adopting guests, but the window is closing fast.
The Perfect Bachelor Pad Awaits
Like any great decorating project, your bachelor pad is a work in progress. Don’t expect it to be perfect three weeks (or three months) in — it takes time, and probably a handful of wholesale redecorating efforts, to create the ideal space.
Bear in mind that your tastes may change in the interim, too. After all, bachelors are nothing if not adaptable. Perhaps the perfect bachelor pad, then, is versatile enough to accommodate your whims — and adjust to your post-bachelor life, should the winds of fortune blow so.
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This content is sponsored by Drew Hayles.
Photo: Pexels