12 Design Tips From Guy-Friendly Spaces

Decorating a space with a guy in mind can be tricky. What exactly defines "masculine style"? The short answer is that it's different for every guy, just like it is for every girl. Design is personal. It's a reaction to years' worth of psychological and environmental complexities, and trying to narrow one gender's style down to a handful of characteristics is a fool's game.

But we can learn from one another. By looking at various spaces designed either by a man or for one, we can get a small snapshot of what guys all over are incorporating into their decor schemes.

It's in no way a catchall for guy style, but here are 12 tips gleaned from bachelor pads and other guy-friendly spaces that should make designing a masculine space a little bit easier.

1. Find the perfect chair. Every guy needs that one spot where he can kick back and enjoy a book, a movie, a glass of scotch or soda, or great conversation. For bachelor Edwin Pelser, it's his reupholstered emerald-green armchair that once belonged to his grandmother.

See more: My Houzz: Buried Treasure in an Eclectic Bachelor Pad


2. Define your space with something surreal. Maybe it's an abstract painting or sculpture. Or maybe it's turning a Manhattan high-rise into a wood-like setting with forest wallpaper. Either way, adding something outside the box will help give your space character.

See more: My Houzz: Boutique Hotel Ambience in a Manhattan Bachelor Pad


3. Go big. Nothing does more visual chest beating than an oversize light fixture. When you go big, even a subtle minimalist vibe makes a strong statement.

See more: Houzz Tour: Sleek San Francisco Bachelor Pad


4. Get a TV in the walk-in closet. Guys love a good closet. That's why this Toronto bachelor smartly paid extra attention to his, incorporating dark, sophisticated colors with a punch of bright yellow. The crown jewel is a flat-screen TV that makes this more than just a place for getting dressed in the morning.

See more: Houzz Tour: Superclean Modern Suits a Canadian Bachelor


5. Learn how to bring more romance to the bedroom. So you're a bachelor because you've figured out a secret to having more romance, or you're a bachelor because you can't figure out how to have more romance. (As a married man, I pray it's the latter. Sorry, pal.) To create a more romantic space, you'll want to declutter and pay attention to your bed, wall color, lighting, furniture and more.

Learn more: Improve Your Love Life With a Romance-Ready Bedroom


6. Get weird. By thinking more abstractly, you can turn a simple loft space into something mesmerizing. How abstract, you ask? How about putting a gallery wall on the ceiling, as this Buenos Aires, Argentina, bachelor has done.

See more: Houzz Tour: Luxurious Modern Loft in Buenos Aires


7. Be functional. Guys are utilitarian. We love to think in practical terms and believe we're MacGyver. That's why Murphy beds and functional, versatile storage units are key to any guy space.

See more: Houzz Tour: 400-Square-Foot Unfolding Apartment


8. Get a plant. Even if you prefer neutral colors like black, white and gray, a houseplant can add a subtle daub of vibrant green, as evident in this Houston bachelor pad. Most houseplants are easy to maintain, can take long periods of neglect and help keep indoor air clean.

See more: Houzz Tour: Exclusive Houston High-Rise


9. Say "cheers." A home bar can create a lively social spot in your home, plus it's a great space that benefits from a more masculine design.

More bar spaces: Home Bars Tap Into Guy-Friendly Style


10. Build something. Every guy's home should have at least one piece of furniture or accessory built by his own two hands. Here a Vancouver bachelor has created a work desk from Hexacomb cardboard.

See more: My Houzz: DIY and Modern Mix Entertainingly in Vancouver


11. Get a workshop. Studies have shown that working with your hands can actually relieve stress. What guy doesn't love hanging out in a garage tinkering, hammering and creating?

More workshops: Stressed Out? Try Hitting the Woodshop


12. Create a man space. A psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin has found that space is very important for regulating emotions. For us guys that means creating a space where he can watch a sports game or movie, play a musical instrument or brew our own beer.

More:
Why Men Really Do Need a Cave
Father's Day Extravaganza! 19 Glorious Man Spaces by Houzzers

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