Designing For Him:

When it comes to design, men tend to lean more toward simplicity and low-maintenance, while women hone in more on aesthetics and detail. In a nutshell, many men want comfort and functionality without too much fuss. To create a comfortable masculine space you really only need to focus on four main things: furniture, electronics, color and materials. The rest will fall into place.

Furniture

Believe it or not, furniture such as seating is pretty important to a guy. A common stereotype is that men only need a recliner, but that’s not necessarily the case. Just like women, men enjoy a couch to stretch out on or even an oversized chair with a foot ottoman. It just needs to be comfortable and low-maintenance. No need to go with something frilly in this area. Other pieces of furniture to consider would be a coffee or end table, and of course, an entertainment center to house electronics. There are even pieces out there that serve multiple purposes. Think simple. Think functional.

Electronics

Some electronics to consider would be a large screen television, a sound system and a gaming system. Not all of these may be necessary, but often times, they are an integral part of a masculine space, so check to see what is important to the man you are designing for. When you do incorporate electronics, work the furniture around it in a manner that makes sense. Also, pay attention to the lighting. The equipment, mainly the television, will need to be placed in an area where there is adequate light and minimal chance for glare. You also want to make sure that all wires and cords are concealed as much as possible.

Color

The men of today are becoming more color savvy, which means it’s more than okay to avoid leaving the space white. With that said, in a masculine space, men tend to prefer neutral colors, as well as deeper tones of colors such as burgundy or navy. Think strong and think bold.

Materials

Dark wood and leather pieces are generally what works best with a masculine space. If you are buying something other than leather, stick with pieces that have durable fabric in deep colors. You want something strong as well as something that conceals dirt easily. If you have leather pieces already in the room, you can incorporate manly geometric prints and such into the room by way of some pillows, and yes, even window treatments. Just remember to keep it as simple as possible. Area rugs can be a nice addition as well.