Making The Home His Castle – Stylish Manly Spaces

Helping our customers pick new paint colours is one of my favourite jobs, but I noticed that when it comes to picking a new shade for the home, the women are usually in charge.  Most of the men stand by the counter and absentmindedly nod their heads in agreement.  They sometimes provide a half hearted opinion but for the most part, they just want their lady to be happy.  But just because they’re agreeable doesn’t mean they don’t want a stylish home, too.

Recently,  I wanted to replace the rugs in the living room and include my husband in the process.  This sparked a lively discussion about men’s feelings on home decor.  In the end, as long my choice wasn’t garish and I felt it matched the rest of the room, he really wasn’t interested in looking at dozens of rug photos.

Even though they may defer to our choices, men want their homes to be functional and stylish too.  Sure, they’ll live with those with those hot pink bath rugs or floral sheets but a little compromise will go a long way to make them comfortable.

Decorating with your man in mind?  You can’t go wrong with natural elements like soft leathers, rich woods, textured stone (a big TV won’t hurt either).  For the most part, men are generally drawn to clean lines and minimal clutter so try to incorporate modern pieces.  For walls,  try deep shades with grey undertones.  Some of my favourites are Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, Carriage Red, Iron Mountain, Whittall Brown, Creekside Green, or on the lighter side Revere Pewter, Gray Cashmere, or Manchester Tan.

Need inspiration?  Click on any of these Houzz photos to see more of these stunning rooms.

Love DIY?  You can make this stunning headboard on a budget by using donated palette wood, sandpaper and stain.