For most young men, the upgrades of adulthood go like this: their first car, their first apartment, and finally, someone special waiting for them when they get home. It’s not unreasonable to assume they need the first two before landing the latter.
But here’s the thing about that bachelor pad; what seems like a palace might look – and even smell – like a pigsty. You won’t have much success in the romance department so long as your digs are dirty and devoid of any design or decor.
The good news is it doesn’t take much to upgrade your bachelor pad into a gentlemen’s suite. Sure, it’ll probably require a pay raise or two before you have the funds to go all-in on the transition we’re talking about, but it’s money well spent if the objective is to graduate from bachelor to partner.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at five ways to convert a bachelor pad into a beautiful and respectable living space:
Fine Art
Movie posters make for great wall decor when you’re in college. But once you’ve reached the age of 30 or so, it’s time to shift to something a little more sophisticated. While original fine art paintings are an investment, fine art prints are a reasonable compromise. Name a profound work of art, and chances are you can find a high-quality print to frame and hang up in place of those posters. If you can swing it, go all in on an original painting or two. It’s a simple yet effective way to transform a dungeon-like man-cave into a space good enough to host parties and invite people over on a regular basis.
Beautiful Rugs
We’re willing to bet your bachelor pad has hardwood floors. That’s because most landlords and property managers know better than to have young men move into units with carpeted floors. With this in mind, consider buying one or two Persian rugs to lay down on those hardwood floors. Not only do they do a great job tying any room together, but they also keep your floors protected and will look great for decades so long as you take proper care and have them cleaned as directed. It’s like having your own custom carpet you get to roll up and take with you when the time comes to move on and move out.
Good Lighting
If your bachelor pad looks like a dreary den of despair, chances are you need some lamps and other forms of lighting to provide adequate illumination. While the specific style of lamp depends on your overall decor theme, they should always have shades that help diffuse the light over a greater area while reducing its brilliance. That way, your guests aren’t at risk of staring into a miniature sun whenever they happen to look in a certain direction. If allowed under the conditions of your lease, we also recommend adding track lighting to illuminate the artwork you’ve chosen to decorate your walls. That way, you and everyone else can enjoy the beautiful images no matter what time of day or night.
Well-Stocked Kitchen
Few things prove to be a bigger turnoff to potential partners than a kitchen lacking in the essentials. This includes appliances, utensils, and cookware in addition to the basic ingredients like spices, sugar, flour, et cetera. Trust us – a man with a well-stocked kitchen will look like the catch of a century to those used to meeting men who have nothing but baking soda and beer in the fridge and even less in their kitchen drawers.
Clean Bathroom
Men – we cannot emphasize it enough – you need to keep your bathroom clean and tidy! Smells, stains, and the general sense that the room hasn’t seen a mop and bucket in months are going to drive people away. Given the size of the typical bachelor pad bathroom, it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to clean, tops. In doing so you endear yourself to virtually everyone who ever spends any time in there.
When it comes to the living conditions of a man in his late-20s or older, the college dorm approach isn’t going to fly anymore. Especially if the goal is to convince someone to go beyond the first date. All it takes is some thoughtful planning, practical investment, and the ability to keep your dwelling from looking like a dive bar. Do that, and you’ll be on your way to a home shared with someone you love. And there’s a bonus: you get to keep all that valuable stuff and use it again in your next place!
Michael Driver is a freelance writer from Texas. He enjoys covering topics related to history, movies, and sports. Michael can be reached at ReddishRaddish87@Gmail.com.
