It doesn't matter how nice the things you own are if you have a dirty home. Even if your bachelor pad looks like a DWR showroom, gross man smell will create an urgency for guests to leave your space immediately. If it's too hard to keep clean on your own, splurge on a cleaner to pick up your slack. Oh, and wash your sheets often; dirty sheets smell and feel gross. Yes, we know you have every gadget known to man, but we don't need a web of cables to tell us that. Use a cable organizer to keep your cords neat and hidden. If you've got a lot of stuff or have a hard time keeping your bookshelves organized, buy containers for storage or put doors on your shelves. Sure you're proud that you own two copies of every game ever released on your favorite console--one to play, of course, and one to keep sealed as a collector's item--but that feat isn't one to display. Keep your place looking tidy and modern by putting all your media behind closed doors. Not only will this make your space look better, but your home will reflect the grown up version of you rather than your inner man child.
If you don't already have one, it's time for a real sofa. Futons are for people who don't care about comfort (aka youths). So the best way to make your bachelor pad look like it's not a dorm room is by getting rid of your futon. You need an extra bed for friends who visit and that's why you can't get rid of your futon? Get a sleeper sofa or an air mattress (a nice one that wont deflate in the middle of the night). Henry Leather Sofa, west elm 5. Mix High and Low It's still ok to shop at IKEA, just don't buy everything there. Stay away from the college IKEA classics like the LACK table and POÄNG chair. You can afford to spend more than $7 on a side table, right? When shopping at IKEA pick out things that are a bit higher quality and look like they belong in a home, not a dorm room. To create depth in your interior design, add a few pieces from stores like west elm or CB2, and pick one splurge piece--maybe a leather chair, designer piece, or plush rug. 6. Show Your Personality
I realize that I did tell you to shove some of your favorite possessions behind closed doors, but that's not because your space shouldn't reflect who you are. Your bachelor pad shouldn't reveal everything about you at first glance. Be a little coy. If you love Star Wars or the Giants, don't fill your whole house with figurines and pennants so visitors react, "Holy crap. This guy loves ____." Choose a few interesting decorative accessories that show your passions in a modern way. Are you a tech geek? Display a vintage radio or flip alarm clock. If you love music, perhaps create a gallery wall of your favorite album covers. Pick out throw pillows that incorporate patterns from your favorite countries. Do you bike all over the city? Hang your bike on the wall as a statement piece. Basically, highlight your passions in ways that look cool and create curiosity. Now your interior design will work in two ways: it will look great and provide conversation starters for your guests. Bike rack by DIMINI, etsy
A few more tricks to elevate the space: have (and use) ceramic dishes and metal silverware, frame any posters you might hang on the wall, use throw pillows and blankets to add color and comfort, and make your bed every day (wont your mom be proud?). Have questions about bachelor pad interior design? Drop me a line.In the early weeks and months of motherhood, you’re going to be up a lot at night feeding your baby, then getting her back down to sleep. You can do this in your own bed, but eventually you’ll want a comfy seat for nursing/bottle feeding, snuggling, and rocking your little one, especially if he has his own room. A comfy upholstered club chair will do the trick, but most babies are more easily calmed by staying in motion. Wooden rockers have been around for ages, but gliders have recently taken their place as the favorite because of the more subtle, backward and forward movement. Plus, your butt will prefer sitting on a cushy, upholstered chair rather than sitting on wood or cane for long stretches of time.
Thankfully, many gliders nowadays look like regular living room chairs and can be used as such after your nesting days are over. The one must-have feature, in my opinion: arm rests. Arm rests will support your elbows and thus, the weight of the baby. Trust me, your arms will get tired VERY quickly unless you have something bolstering them up. I mention this because many of the fancy-pants, modern-ey chairs for nurseries don’t have arm rests. As with any new piece of furniture, gliders and rockers can be pretty expensive, so be prepared for sticker shock. Remember, if you can’t afford a new one, many of these are readily available for sale second-hand on Craigslist and such (seriously, that’s how I got mine). Many of these gliders come with optional ottomans that glide along synchronously with the chair. If you have the space, I highly recommend getting the ottoman as well, especially if you’re breastfeeding. At the very least, get a nursing stool that will help position your body ergonomically.
We asked 84,000 of our closest friends what their favorite nursery rocker/glider is. Here are the results: This sleek-looking rocking chair from IKEA is the favorite in the budget category. Tried and true, this rocker has a nice, high back for you to comfortably rest your head (and doze off, you will). The cover is also easy to clean, which is great for spit-up. Best yet, it’s great for everyday use once your baby (or babies) graduate/s from nursing. There is a foot stool available as well. Also in the economy category is the Shermag rocker/glider. A step down from Dutailier (#3), this seat has nice, padded arms (which I love) and a matching, gliding ottoman. I personally own this seat. My only complaint is that the ottoman is a bit top-heavy and will easily fall over on your older children (if you have any), who can’t seem to resist jumping and playing on it. This seat glides along on ball bearings, although a few readers had problems with the gliding or claimed it was too noisy (mine was not, FWIW).
This chair glides or locks in a stationary position; the locked position helps you get in and out of it without falling on your ass. You can buy a Shermag almost anywhere: Target, Amazon, Babies R Us and Sears. *A cheaper knock-off of this chair is the Stork Craft glider ($146).The Dutailier is the Cadillac of “regular” nursery gliders (Shermag, Stork Craft, etc.). Parents who own this chair love it and there are very few complaints. By all accounts, it is a higher quality chair than the Shermag, with an ultra-smooth gliding system and a six-position adjustment. Some models recline (others do not). This chair is generously apportioned, so there will be room for you, your babe, and your favorite nursing pillow. Widely available: Amazon, Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Costco, Target, and local specialty stores. Moving on up the cost ladder is the beloved “Little Castle” Glider. Little Castle is a family-owned company that specializes in club-chair-looking nursery gliders and offers a VERY wide selection of styles and fabrics.
Each glider is handmade in the USA (they also make really cute kids’ chairs). Their complete gallery can be found here. Many models are only available at exclusive retailers. Amazon carries select models as well. Otherwise, contact your local children’s furniture store. Best Home Furnishings makes gliders that moms are wild about; the runaway favorite being the Storytime Series “Tryp” Recliner. The Tryp is a swivel glider/recliner, which can extend to a complete layout position (yeah yeah!) with the pull of a lever. The chair is customizable out the wazoo, with 700 fabrics and colors to choose from. Available only at local furniture dealers. Tips from owners of this chair: 1. Buy the microfiber (instead of cotton), it’s easier to clean. 2. Be careful when trying to unearth yourself and baby from the reclined position; the footrest comes slamming down with a bang – not great if you want a sleeping baby to stay that way! The Land of Nod, a Crate & Barrel company, makes a few favorites that are well-liked in the modern department.
These include the Paramount, Luca, Mod Nod, Marley, Milo, and the Attractive American Rocker (pictured below). These chairs fall into the $700+ price range, but will last forever. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a sucker for PBK. Their expert color coordination and overuse of monogramming tugs fiercely at my Southern heartstrings. The Comfort Swivel Rocker is a reader favorite in the “pricey” department. High-quality club chairs tend to cost this much on a normal day. Just visit any department store or furniture store and you’ll see what I mean. This beautiful, traditional upholstered chair is custom made to get just the look you want. For an extra $400-$550(ish), you can purchase the matching ottoman as well (might as well, yeah?). These chairs swivel 360 degrees, so your older children will have a blast spinning each other around until they throw up (speaking from experience). Tip: If you register at PBK, you can get a 10% completion discount for anything you add on your registry (even if no one uses it…).