by Angela Beach
These days it's no secret that appearance is important when getting to know people. When a woman first meets a man, she immediately checks out his shoes, car, clothes, and hair, but nothing is as important as checking out his current accommodations. To be honest, a man can get away with everything else if his abode is somewhat classy, but if not, it's most surely ciao for now.
Here are some great ideas on how to keep that girl visiting, and your guy friends, too. For a quick but effective change, a great place to start is with the living room. For those of you still holding on to the couch from college, a slipcover is an easy way to change your couch from college dorm to city sophisticate. A neutral tan, caramel or dark gray one will work in any room and it will hide the stains underneath. Then, if you or your friends spill on it you can just take it off, throw it in the wash and no one will be the wiser.
If you are really serious, and if you can afford it, toss everything and start anew with a simple ultra-suede couch and chairs. Polyester Ultra Suede is impervious to stains and can be cleaned easily with soap and water - thus making it the perfect furniture for single guys. Throw on a few large black or red pillows to add some contrast and give you something soft to lay your head on. Try a sturdy but sleek dark wood coffee table - it can take a beating but still look good.
Roll out an exotic area rug under the coffee table to add some pizzazz. Not only will it liven up the room but it will also hide that nasty stain from last week's poker party. Adding a tall plant or two to an otherwise sullen space will definitely impress. And as long as you keep it alive, it proves that you can be responsible for a living thing!
If you're like most men, you are probably obsessed with gadgets and gizmos. Instead of having your DVD player on top of the TV and your Xbox on the floor, buying one large entertainment center is the best way to eliminate clutter. Keeping each item on its own shelf displays your trophies while keeping everything neat and organized.
Don't be afraid to paint! Plain white walls just add to the "cave" effect of your room. Try adding one rich color like dark putty gray, sage green or chocolate brown, even a deep, rich red that will open up the room and add real drama. The biggest myth out there is that colors will make a room seem smaller or darker - it is just not true! The more color you put on the walls the brighter and more open the room becomes. Put with an ultra pure white trim, any color you choose will get you out of the Stone Age and into the 21st century!
One last piece of advice: Remove those Sports Illustrated calendars from your walls (don't worry you can still keep them in your desk cabinet). Instead, hang one big piece of artwork, a colorful print, or just a large canvas that is painted only one or two colors - any one of these will sophisticate any room.
Less is more though, so whatever you do, don't go overboard. A few really cool, well placed, big items will make a room look fantastic and pulled together, whereas a bunch of little things will look cluttered and messy. Just a touch of color here and there against neutral backgrounds is all you really need to make a room look trendy and lived in. And by making your home cozier, she might be likely to stay awhile and not make you lose your bachelor pad.
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