Tips for Awesome Bachelor’s Pad

The Bachelor pad. What’s that mean to you?

So often the term “bachelor pad” conjures up images of empty apartments with futons for beds and lawn furniture for a dining set. Sprinkle in a few near empty pizza boxes with some beer bottles and a handle of vodka sitting on the counter next to orange juice (from concentrate) and a stack of red solo cups, and now you’ve got everyone’s idea of how a single man lives.

But we’re in a new age now, and men have style too – and by the way,  we’re far cleaner than people give us credit for. Today’s bachelor pads are chic, stylish, and often minimalistic. After all, we are young, single men; we don’t have a ton of money to spend on furniture.

But if you’re still on the struggle bus when it comes to putting together an awesome bachelor pad, we’re here to give you some timely tips. For today we’ll stick to the place everyone spends a bunch of time in.

Quality Bed

The bed is the centerpiece of your room. It’s the piece of furniture that sets the tone for everything else in the bedroom. So you might want to put some thought into this. Sure it’s easier to just put your mattress on the floor (and more cost efficient too), but your lady friends probably won’t be too excited about that.

Art

Wall art is a great way to show your personality and a sense of style. It shows sophistication (depending on what the art is) and is also a great conversation piece for those awkward silences that crop up now and then.

Bedding

Bedding is just as important as the bed itself, nobody wants to sleep on a naked mattress, but also, nobody wants to sleep on your Los Angeles Lakers comforter set either. Put some effort in here, remember a little effort goes a long way.

Oh and everything doesn’t have to be black or white. Mix and match colors to add a splash of style to the bed, and ultimately your room. Try to stick to the higher thread counts too; it makes a giant difference in the quality of sheets. Check out this guide for some ideas; you can even pick up some throws that add even more layers to what you can do with your bed.

Night Stands

You need a place to set your phone at night while it’s charging. Not mention a place to store other private things that you don’t want sitting around for everybody to see. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on one of these either. There’s plenty of places you can get a quality nightstand without breaking the budget.

Pet Bed

Being single can be lonely at times, and what better companion could a single guy have than man’s best friend? Besides, any date you bring home will melt at when she sees the bond you share with your dog. Just one thing, get him his dog bed, so he doesn’t end up ruining those luxurious 600 thread count sheets you just bought.

Bar

Every great bachelor pad should have a nice place for you to store your alcoholic beverages. I’m not sure exactly what it is about a bar, but something about it just feels classy. A great bar does two things. First, it gives you a place to show off your favorite spirits without coming across as an alcoholic. Second, it provides a place for guests to gather around and talk.

Bar Seats

Your new bar isn’t complete without a place to sit while enjoying your cocktail. You can go for the high back, mid back, low back, or even no back. But whatever style you choose, mix and match different colors to add some life and style to the apartment.

Glassware

You’ve got the bar, you’ve got the stools, now you need the glassware to go with it, Solo cups just won’t cut it anymore. Find some nice lowball glasses to sip your whiskey in, and get some highball glasses for your cocktails. And for the nights your wining and dining that special lady, get some nice wine glasses to sip your merlot from.

Cocktail Kit

Now that you have the perfect setup for your home bar, you’re probably going to want to make some cocktails – like a lot of them. You could make your drinks by hand, but your drinks won’t taste right. And besides, you’re going to need shaker cups for your margaritas.

A quality cocktail kit has at least one jigger (the thing that measures the alcohol), shaker cups (preferably a Boston shaker), and a strainer. With a proper cocktail kit, and a few stable drink recipes your apartment will be the go-to place for all things fun.

Colors

One of the biggest mistakes men make is either having no color at all or too many colors in one place. Color is definitely important, but only in splashes, don’t go overboard with it. Have your accessories be where colors are displayed. It’s also a good idea to mix and match colors to add some extra depth.

Throws and Accent Pillows

You’ve got a dinner date, the meal is over, and now it’s time to curl up on the couch with your lady. Have some throw pillows and blankets for laying around on the couch. Throws are a dual threat. They’re a great way to add some style to your living room, and they’re a great excuse to snuggle up next your date.

Keep It Clean

Now that you’ve got your place put together keep it cleaned and organized. There is no worse feeling than having people over knowing that your home is dirty and gross. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been over to a friends house and couldn’t wait to leave. Not because I wasn’t having fun, but because it was so freaking dirty. Don’t let that be you.

The idea of bachelor pads is changing. No longer does it bring images of dirty apartments with clothes strewn all over the place. Instead, it says sophistication, grace, and style.