AS MEN, OUR HOMES ARE A PLACE THAT NOT ONLY SHOULD BE A CALMING AND RELAXING ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO REFLECT OUR TASTE AND PERSONALITIES. WE SPEND TIME AND MONEY ON IMPROVING OUR LOOKS AND ATTIRE THAT WE SOMETIMES FORGET OUR HOME SHOULD ALSO REFLECT WHO WE ARE. TODAY WE’RE LISTING 15 ITEMS THAT A MAN SHOULD HAVE IN HIS HOME. MOST OF THESE THINGS AREN’T EXPENSIVE; SOME YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO BUY. TRUTH BE TOLD, A HOME IS REALLY A HOME WHERE YOU TAKE AN EMPTY SPACE AND FILL IT WITH THINGS THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU AND TELL YOUR STORY. WE’VE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE ITEMS IN OUR HOME SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN, THEY CAN SEE OUR STORY AT A GLANCE.
SOMETHING FROM YOUR FAMILY/CHILDHOOD
When you have a home of your own, it’s not truly a home until you have something from your family or loved ones past, or your childhood. Having old photos, knick knacks or vintage children’s toys is a great way to start up a conversation with visiting guests or relating to newcomers who are in your home.
BOOKS
Having a tablet or reading on your phone has become part of our social norms, but physical books still hold a big spot in our society. Over the course of your life, you should amass over a few hundred books that you can and should re-read and enjoy over and over again. While some feel books are just a waste of space, reading has serious health benefits, which helps improve your brain and memory functions. Reading a physical book is also a lot less stressful on your eyes. Eye strain is a common occurrence among most 23-33 year olds.
CLASSIC MUSIC COLLECTION
We know that you have the best Spotify playlist, but hear us out. There’s just something about pulling out an old rock record and firing up that player and sitting back to enjoy. Try resisting the urge to change the music every 30 seconds, what we like to call, “music ADD.” We’ve grown accustomed to listening to the entire album back to front for the sake of enjoying the music. A collection doesn’t have to break the bank. You don’t need to fill up your shelves with albums, but having a few classic records really make you appreciate the way music was made in the old days. We’d recommend the classics, like
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC - Back in Black, Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
PERSONAL OR INTRIGUING ART
Art is typically anything you deem worthy sticking on your walls, but as you grow up you realize that band posters just aren’t going to cut it anymore. Typically, we’re in a rush to put something up for the sake of putting it up. However, when choosing art for your home or apartment, be sure to select art that has a purpose. Does it remind you of something? Is it something you made? Was it passed down? Is it one-of-a-kind? We’ve made it a point while traveling to select art that speaks of the city or country we’re in. It’s a simple reminder of where we’ve been and the reminder that just because you’re in a different part of the world, doesn’t mean there aren’t talented or soon to be coveted artists around. Check out one of previous posts where we also talk about how you should put art in your apartment/home: WALL ART YOU CAN BE PROUD OF: THE BEST WAY TO LAY OUT YOUR ART.
AN ORGANIZED CLOSET
As a guy, we’re typically not as well organized as our girlfriends or significant others. It’s not that we don’t care; we just don’t prioritize keeping things tidy when it’s not necessary. Organization is a habit that is learned. We need it in our careers, we need it for our schoolwork, and we need it for everyday life. Organization is vital in our busy lives and it should carry over into the home. A man’s closet is a place that should be very well organized. Waking up every morning, you spend about 30 mins each day (some of us more) picking out and selecting what to wear. With your clothes being organized, finding what to wear can be much easier when knowing where to look for that brown pair of cap toe shoes and that pale blue shirt.
UNIQUE LIGHTING
There’s something about having an interesting lamp or feature lighting piece in your home that just screams sophistication. Most men’s homes today have your typical overhead dome lighting that is lifeless and dull. As a sharp dressed man, one can really liven up their space by adding a lighting feature that represents their style. Whether it’s pendant lighting that’s not too rustic, a modern overarching floor lamp, or even a simple Edison bulb table lamp, the right lighting elements can really take a home from plain to unique and while lighting fixtures aren’t the sexist topic, it’s those small details that can really leave an impression on your guests.
Cool looking lighting doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
A BOTTLE OF YOUR FAVORITE WHISKEY/CHOICE SPIRIT OR WINE
Having a bottle of whiskey, choice spirit or wine in your house is always a great ice breaker or celebratory gesture towards a guest. While we don’t think drinking should be an everyday thing, we feel like if shared responsibly, having a bottle of your favorite libation in the home is great for celebrating a work promotion or when a friend unexpectedly visits from out of town. As a responsible adult, you can choose the situation to offer a drink, but always being prepared is a sign of someone who knows what he likes and someone who is also a great host. Being caught without having something to offer your guests is the work of an amateur.
NOTE: FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE RECOVERING OR DON’T DRINK, YOU CAN JUST AS EASILY KEEP SOME NON-ALCOHOLIC SPARKLING CIDER AROUND THE HOUSE. THE TRUE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS TO OFFER SOMETHING TO YOUR GUESTS WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
CLEAN TOWELS OR LINENS
We can all remember those times in college when having towels meant a random assortment of both printed beach towels and the few stolen ones you’re your parents house. We didn’t care what we used as long as it dried us. A home with clean and matching towels and linens doesn’t take much work, guys. Nothing screams lack of maturity more than having a random mixture of towels and mismatching bed sheets on your own bed or your guests. As much as it doesn’t matter to your male guests, the females will notice if you’re still using sheets from your college years. Our advice for towels is to stick to pure white, grey or a muted brown. For sheets, we’d suggest white, cream or some very light shade of any color. Stay away from the dark colored sheets, which dirt and hair can easily cling to.
HOUSE PLANT OR SOMETHING LIVING
There’s a quote we were once told from a female friend: “If you’ve been dating someone for a month, give him or her a plant as a small gesture or gift. If they can’t keep that plant alive, you should think again about where this relationship is going.” Plants to a home are a constant reminder that life is fragile. Studies show that there are real health benefits to having plants in your home. Air quality, minor dust control, even improved mental state. Plants are something that every home or apartment should have for no other reason than to learn to care about something other than yourself. Some typical, easy to maintain options would be a snake plant, a rubber tree and/or an aloe plant.
A COMFORTABLE BED
It’s goes without question that one of the most important elements of a home is your bed. A place where you spend almost 1/3 of your life, sleep is known to be the number one factor when it comes to improving your health on a daily basis. It’s suggested that all men should get between 7-9 hours of sleep. Luckily, we’re in a digital age of buying and the perfect bed is as easy as a few clicks. It’s now as easy to order your California king mattress as it is ordering a new pair of selvage denim jeans. There are a TON of different mattress companies online that are able to give you a quality mattress with whatever you need to support your back and still be comfortable. Take a look at our article on WHY THE MIGHT MATTRESS CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH, where we point out our favorite mattress company.
A good sleep doesn’t have to cost a fortune
A CLEAN BATHROOM
This isn’t rocket science. A clean home is a happy home. As guys, we’re definitely not always the cleanest. The way that a man takes care of his personal appearance should also be reflected in his home. Your bathroom should be a place of harmony. The look, the smell, the cleanliness… Make sure to have your vanity, mirror and yes, even the toilet must be cleaned before any guests arrive. Always have fresh towels, as mentioned above and put away random objects like toothbrushes and toothpaste, which no one wants to see. You can impress your guests even further if you scent the space with a simple reed diffuser or candle. Just make sure to let the candle burn about an hour before they come and then blow it out. You don’t have to do the dirty work too often. One deep cleaning a week can really make a difference and save you time when expecting guests.
ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
As a host, there will be times when the gatherings at your house will become larger than one or two people. Having other forms of entertainment at the home can really make your space a bit more inviting and feel full when you’re not around to talk or engage with your them. While we don’t condone watching too much TV while guests are present, it can be a great way to keep people occupied while you make your way around talking. If you’re not the TV type, investing in a great sounding stereo system will allow you to play music and create a mood or ambiance for the people at your place. Try something soft or light on the ears of your company. We’d suggest a jazz or piano station.
TOOLS
There’s definitely been a time for all guys, during college or after we’ve graduated, where we’ve been in need of a hammer or a screwdriver. Sometimes, like life, we make the choice to simply not care about having tools. As you grow, so does the need for having a dedicated tool kit. Think of how many things in your house need tightening or tapping. We know that you’ve probably kept those Ikea tools around, but as a man, having a tool kit can prove to be vital in a home. Missing a bottle opener? Need to fix a broken mirror? Is your dresser drawer loose? We’re not saying you need to fill up the shelves with saws, drills and sockets, but having a basic tool kit with an adjustable screwdriver and pliers can really prove its worth in a new home or apartment. We’d recommend TRYING THIS ONE for those who need to get started.
This kit might be too much for some but you’ll have them for the rest of your life.
WORKSPACE OR OFFICE
The modern home today has gotten much smaller than what it once was. If you live in a city, it’s even smaller. The idea of having a office isn’t a new one, but has recently fell out of favor for a more streamlined approach. Though many of us have a small computer in our pocket, having a dedicated office space can really make your home or apartment both a more useful and harmonious space. The office has a myriad of uses: its a space for not only taking a quite call, but also to take a minute away from everything hectic in your life. It can also be a place where there is no distractions…no TV, no kids, no loud noises. It’s a place where work and personal divide. There’s a long list of other uses you can find for having a home office, but we’ll leave that to someone else to give you the fiscal benefits.
SET OF SHARP KNIVES
One of the easiest things you can do is to make sure you invest in a quality knife set. Years of working in a kitchen has taught us that having a sharpened knife makes prep work faster, more efficient and safer than using old, dull knives. A dull knife may force you to apply more pressure to you cuts, sometimes slipping and then who knows what can happen. Throw out any set of knives you’ve had from college, especially all those serrated. We’d suggest trying out THIS set or THIS set. Also, purchasing your own HONING STONE can really help keep your knives in great condition before using.
Header Image credited to Aaron Huber via Unsplash
