Bachelor pads have long suffered the stereotype of giant leather furniture and minimal décor. Today that stereotype doesn’t hold true for many bachelors, who want their homes to be impressive spaces for entertaining. Bachelors are typically decisive and practical when it comes to choosing home furnishings. They want their rooms to be comfortable while still offering striking features or personal touches to get their friends talking.

Every bachelor pad must have:

• Ample seating. Bachelors may live alone but many entertain often, which means seating is a priority. A large sectional can define the seating arrangement, and can be offset with twin arm chairs in a complementing color. An ottoman can also double as a footrest or additional seating for larger parties.
• Spacious and Versatile layout. Whether hosting a date or crowd of friends, you want to optimize your space. Furniture placement can have a significant impact on visual space. Always consider traffic flow, and create focal points to draw guests toward inviting spaces throughout the home.
• Storage. From massive flat screen TVs to gadgets of every shape and size, no bachelor pad is complete without gadgets. These aren’t limited to electronics, either. And, bachelor or not, everyone needs a space to hide the clutter.
• Accessories. Not all home décor is covered in floral patterns. The right accessories can take a bachelor pad interior design to new levels. A studded leather trunk adds storage and can also showcase bar glasses or serveware sets. These accessories are both practical and attractive – exactly what the modern bachelor pad needs.

Unfortunately, some bachelors don’t think about pulling a room together and simply choose items at random. These are a few bachelor pad no no’s:

• Buying too much furniture. Bachelors often see a piece of furniture in a store, look at the price tag, and take it home without considering how the piece will fit in the space. It’s important to choose furniture that is the right scale for the room.
• Skipping the window treatments. When it comes to windows, as long as there isn’t a glare on the TV, the bachelor is happy; but window treatments pull together the room, so leaving them bare leaves the room unfinished.
• Opting for practical without beauty. You don’t have to compromise on comfort. You may just need a professional eye to select items that are both comfortable as well as beautiful.

A little attention to detail can make all the difference in a space. Sometimes it only takes a few pieces to take a bachelor pad from “fine” to “fabulous!”