Art is Subjective
While he’s all for tossing ugly college mementos (trust us, you don’t need to frame your old rugby jersey), Trip does implore men to make their space an expression of themselves. “It’s okay to have trinkets and movie memorabilia,” he says. “But use them in moderation. Posters can become instant artwork if displayed in simple gallery-style frames.” Art doesn’t have to be a priceless work if done correctly. Flags, posters, jerseys and vinyl record sleeves can be mounted on a wall for a cool, untraditional décor.
The One Piece You Need
Every home needs that ONE outstanding piece; a piece that represents the room as a whole, and Trip knows exactly what that is. “Every man should invest in a good chair,” he says. “A chair is something you’ll always use and any piece of furniture with good quality and style will travel with you as well.” What this means: you need to find a piece of furniture that is practically an investment. Really do your homework and find a chair crafted from materials that will hold up and look better over time. Like this classic looking lounge chair from Montauk.
The Mistakes
You might think looking like you have terrible taste is obvious and easy to avoid, but in reality, it’s your favourite knick knacks that will be your downfall. “I often find that when men decorate their homes they fill their spaces with movie posters and tchotchkes,” says Trip. “Which is fine if you live in a college dorm.” Pack up those pieces (lovingly!) and instead exercise some restraint against filling every available surface with something. An end table should be home to a clean-lined lamp and possibly one framed photo. Keepsakes need to be curated, not cluttered.
Where Should You Start?
Redecorating your entire home can be a huge undertaking. Like anything else, you need to work through it a little bit at a time. Trip advises that you start with the place you spend the most time in and give it your all. “It’s stereotypical that most men gravitate towards the TV,” he says. “But more often than not, it’s true. Whatever the space is, make sure that it’s comfortable yet stylish. Stay away from reclining chairs and overstuffed sofas.” Couches, sofas and chairs should be streamlined with sophisticated upholstery. They can be easily accessorized for a new look with the changes trends or seasons.
The Rules
1. Make it comfortable but don’t sacrifice style
What this boils down to: although we know how many hours you could lose in a LayZ Boy chair, that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice the look of your space for one. A well-made leather chair can be just as comfortable and it won’t be a callback to Martin Crane’s decrepit chair on Frasier.
2. Invest in quality
We can’t stress how important it is to look at furniture as something that will be with you for life. A sturdy wood- and leather -made chair will last you decades and won’t ever be in jeopardy of going out of style. A good English oak bed frame will be the only thing you ever sleep on. You see where we’re going with this…
3. Keep away from ‘matchy’ colours and styles
Just because you started with blue paint does not mean your couch, pillows, rug and adjoining art have to come in shades of blue as well. Every colour imaginable has different complimenting shades to go with it. A white space is easiest to add colour to and will maintain its modern look forever. Greyscale pieces are also easy to match with and will have your artwork popping off the walls.
4. Keep it clean
So you’ve just redecorated your home and everything is new and shiny. Why let all that hard work go to waste by letting your space get messy and cluttered? Keeping things tidy is really the best way to display interior changes. It’s better to actually see all new additions rather than have to lift up a stack of magazines in order to show off a new coffee table.
