7 Things that Make a Room Made for a Man, but Livable for a Woman

I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst,... More »
I like to think of this ideabook as a guide to making a home "manageably masculine."

A lot of the design I notice in shelter mags and online has a distinctly feminine touch. Even if the rooms aren't all ruffles and cotton candy pink, they've got a girly vibe that's hard to deny. They're pretty rooms and they work in a lot of homes, where design is the woman's domain.

I, however, do not live in one of those homes. I'm married to a big, strapping guys' guy...who has a lot of opinions about our home. He's into home design and for me that's great - how many guys like both NASCAR and antiquing? - but it also presents a challenge. When it comes to decorating, we have to compromise.

As a result, our house is on the masculine side, but in a way that's quite bearable for me, a girl who lived in a pink room until I was 22. No ruffles in our house, but it's not all dark wood and dogs-playing-poker prints, either.

These seven tips represent what's worked for us - if you've got any additional ideas, please share them in the comments!
1. Furniture on a serious scale. These chairs actually inspired the whole ideabook. There's something very masculine about their scale, but they're interesting enough that their size isn't their only draw.
2. Intense color. I love this show house powder room - it's just off a men's lounge/bar area. The use of really intense color makes it masculine, but it's nice to see it softened with a flower or two.
3. Woodsy wood. Dark wood has long been the domain of man space - but I think the best wood is stuff that looks a little rough, regardless of color. This dresser is simple, but has some personality thanks to a little texture.
And this desk's natural lines give it an outdoorsy, woodsman feel. It's a perfect desk for the lawyer who watches a whole lot of Ax Men...
4. Serious rugs. This is Rainn Wilson's "man room" - and even if I didn't love Dwight, I'd lov ethe room for it's balanced combination of wood and light, and the way the rug works with the space. Masculine spaces need serious rugs in rich colors - just like this one.
5. Books. OK, I think books work in every room. But there's something traditionally masculine about a library.
6. Booze. I'm generalizing here, but when I see bars, they've usually got a bit of a masculine vibe. I like the way this one combines interesting wood and liquor...
And I like the intense color of this one.
7. No frills. Seems obvious, but it's true: guy-friendly spaces can't have lots of ruffles. For that reason, minimal, Eastern design lends works nicely, especially in the bedroom (which often suffers from girliness).
Minimally-decorated bathrooms are great, too, and have the added bonus of being easy to clean.

Comments

Mike Springer Motorcycle "art" in the dining room!! Nice!
3 years ago ·
Kit Pollard I know. Isn't that dining room so cool, all the way around? I love it.
3 years ago ·
houzzwho Does anyone know anything about the candle holders in the first shot?
3 years ago ·
markjbecker How about where did they find that rectangular dining table? I was looking for one just like that and can't find?
3 years ago ·
Yvonne Stehle I am with you when it comes to overly feminine rooms and I like maskuline touches because it shows that both take care of the design and really SHARE the home and live together. A man also needs his presence.
3 years ago ·
Kit Pollard I don't know about the sourcing in the photo - I bet everything was to the trade only - but if you email the designers, they might be able to point you in the right direction. Here's the website: http://schappacherwhite.com

Good luck!
3 years ago ·
gingham I am also married to a man with an opinion in decor. I came to realize it was better to compromise, because at the end of the day, I want my man to be comfortable (with me) in his home too. Better yet, he has the ability to do a lot of renovating himself which saves us tons of money, and woodworking is one of his hobbies. This gives our home a unique touch.
3 years ago ·
Laurie My husband and I seem to have found a balance that I call mission-cottage. We have a few mission oak pieces that I like to balance with softer touches, such as floral pillows, white and creamware, and wicker. Our house is a centurian, so our updating has included pedestal sinks in the bathrooms with white beadboard, and this also helps lighten the look of the mission oak furniture elsewhere. His ideas are as important as mine, and I don't want it all to be too feminine for him.
3 years ago ·
star_dust I am with you ladies... I am also married to a man with a STRONG opinion in decor...
Luckily, we both like modern design so it works :-)
stldesign and markjbecker- the first photo is beautiful and so does the rest of the loft...
3 years ago ·
Susan Jay Design the candle holders look like these from Global Views...
www.globalviews.com
3 years ago ·
giuditta127 All this reminds me of the five-foot high, tray toting "Butler Dog" on the new television show Modern Families. I live in a girly girl cottage on Cape Cod, and my beau and his three sons live a few miles from the stadium that houses the New England Patriots. Every wall (yes, I said every wall, and I mean EVERY wall) is covered with sports photos and memorabilia. Thanks for this article; it gives me some hope.
3 years ago ·
alvin love the wine places
3 years ago ·
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