How to Design a Masculine Room
There's a huge difference between a "man cave" with excessive animal heads hanging on the wall over decorative beer steins, and a room that has been subtly designed with masculine sensibilities in mind. Designing a masculine room goes beyond merely eliminating the feminine: Masculine design has some rules that are all its own, such as paying close attention to texture and shooting for a streamlined look. Function tends to trump form with masculine design, but the form remains an important part of the design. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose a color for the room. Keep it in harmony with the rest of the house if at all possible. "Neutral colors for walls like taupes and grays are...reminiscent of a factory or a loft, which are both considered very iconic masculine environments," notes interior and set designer Kyle Schuneman. Painting with these colors rarely clashes with paint in other rooms, as taupe is available in many different tones, as is gray.
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Select furniture that has a pleasing masculine texture, such as a nubby tweed chair or a rustic leather couch. Keep texture in mind when choosing window treatments as well. A Roman blind in a rough-hewn bamboo fabric may turn out to be the perfect complement to other items in the room.
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Choose a rug that's not too "busy." Look for rugs that are either a solid color or that have square or triangular geometric designs. Stay away from circles and arabesque motifs. Consider texture in this area as well---a seagrass rug may turn out to be just the thing.
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Give the room life and color by adding plants. "Succulents are a great way to add softness while still keeping a manly edge," says Schuneman. Try other varieties of nonflowering plants as well, such as ferns or mother-in-law's tongue.
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Designate one piece of artwork to be the focal point of the room. Select a piece that is solid---either in form or appearance. "Better Homes and Gardens" advises that people who want a masculine room "keep walls, shelves and tables generally free of knickknacks, accessories and purely decorative items."
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Buy lighting for the room that has smooth, clean lines---one overhead glass globe and an upright halogen lamp are good choices. Provide a lamp especially for reading if the room will be used for that purpose.
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Keep comfort in mind. Pound Ridge interior designer Lisa Smith Faitell points out that "comfort is number one" when designing for men. Stay away from excessive throw pillows, however---many men find that they're a nuisance. Two large throw pillows on a comfortable sofa along with a footstool will do the trick.
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References
- Photo Credit sofa image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
