Well, things can change, if you wish to not just impress your girlfriend, but employ room decor for hygienic and organised living.
If you think decor implies floral-patterned sheets and drapes and walls painted pink, you’re mistaken. Interiors can be refurbished to cater to masculine tastes too. Whether your home is a little shack, a studio apartment, a luxury flat or an independent villa, a facelift transforms your cave into a home. Select decor elements adhering to the comfort criterion. Which other aspects will you add: maintenance-ease, opulence, aesthetics...? Use partitions for clear demarcation or privacy in a single-room apartment. For the living room, pick a sturdy leather couch, recliner, daybed and low coffee-table in minimalist style. Mount a widescreen plasma-TV on the wall. Arrange your music system and other electronic gadgets in an entertainment unit. Keep the cords tied and concealed. Crates shouldn’t serve as tables, CD-towers and storage-units. A sober carpet heightens the minimalist look.
An ottoman serving multiple purposes such as seating, storage and a glass holder helps save space. Display memorabilia on shelves and travel photographs, souvenirs in grid-patterns. For wall art, posters fixed with tape and nails appear overly school-boyish. Get some framed prints of bikes, cars and sports, if they are your interests. Spread light magazines and a coffee-table book on the coffee-table. Consider whether you want a mini-bar in the living-room. Get an aquarium only if you’re prepared for heavy-duty maintenance effort.
Light colours make the space look larger. If colour combos are not your style, stick to a two-colour scheme: beige-white, blue-gray, mud-cream, pale-yellow for the walls and a bright colour for the accent wall - dark-red, lime-green/periwinkle. A lighter shade than the walls makes the ceiling appear higher. Muted tones for the upholstery can be contrasted with bright throw-pillows. Coordinate wall-colour with these as well as with area rugs. Off-white rugs look elegant but if you have any pets, dark hues best hide the stains.
Tastefully arrange no-frills floor and table lamps, inset lighting for cabinets and shelves, pinpoint lights to highlight artworks or corner-tables and a floor-lamp with a coloured bulb in one corner. Avoid bright lights. They hurt the eyes and rapidly heat up the area. Create a ‘spa’ niche/room with white walls, calm lighting, wooden floor, a Zen garden and sheer drapes for window treatments. Use a comfortable chair or meditation mat. Bamboo plants in clear, glass vases and aromatherapy candles complete the Zen scenario.
Accommodate a neat, little workstation. A flat-screen computer, ergonomic chair and sleek table with ample storage are essentials. For the bedroom, opt for a simple platform bed and a futon-style mattress with sheets of high thread-count (280-500). Garnish with a headboard in dark wood tones. Stash away belongings in boxes/baskets arrayed on shelves. Sheer and pale window treatments allow more light inside. A big, framed mirror over the sink, heated towel racks and multiple showerheads are basic bathroom denizens. The luxury-loving can throw in a Jacuzzi!
If your wallet doesn’t approve of swanky, modular kitchens, pick a stainless steel oven range. Install a rack over your stove for hanging pots and pans. Squeeze into your budget a stainless steel exhaust hood, coffee-maker, refrigerator and retro-appliances like mixer, blender and toaster.
No decor can fulfil its duty where cleanliness is a casualty. De-clutter and vacuum constantly to banish dust. Dark rugs, carpets too need it once a week. Dust furniture regularly. Wiping away spills, stains on the kitchen counter, island, tables immediately makes for convenient cleaning. Toothpaste globs in the bathroom sink/floor are a definite no-no! A clean toilet-bowl, mildew-free tiles and odour-free atmosphere are mandatory.