Decorating A Dude Room

i have a new project. 

and it's not decorating my own home and it's not everygirl-related. this is VERY exciting people. i don't even know the last time i took on a styling or decorating job just for fun. and the best part is it's a GUY'S room! i've written a few columns on men's style (part 1, 2, 3 and 4) and have dogeared dozens of pages in magazines (virtual and real) that feature men's homes. i always hoped one day some guy would want my help in making his space look good, and finally that day has come.

it's a bit of a challenge because it's a SUPER teeny, tiny, shouldn't-have-been-advertised-as-a-bedroom bedroom. 7' x 8' and no closet. so really it fits a queen bed, a nightstand, and not much else.

i probably wouldn't have been inspired had i not found this terrific item from cb2 only days before...

here it is. the cornerstone of the room. pun intended.

a brass and black corner hanging rod with enough space for a week's worth of clean, pressed shirts. and it's only $40!

i saw the bedroom and thought i know JUST the thing this room needs! so we went online and ordered it. and picked up another goodie as well...

there's about a foot of "room" or dare i call it "walking space" at the foot of the bed with just enough space to throw one of these bad boys in it. the perfect storage for folded sweaters and shoes. vintage locker room meets kindergarten cubbies with the right amount of industrial edge.

now that those two items have made it past the checkout page, i am feeling good about this project. i mean really, there's not a whole lot more we can fit into the teeny room. it definitely needs new bedding, a new nightstand, lighting (perhaps a wall sconce to save precious surface area), and wall decor. and we'll be painting the walls gray, of course.

wait, what's that? you want to see said tiny room? 

fine. here it is. in all it's glory.

the ikea malm bed was the roommate's and has since been removed. the jersey, other frames, and "curtain" will be coming down, as well.

it'll be a clean slate. a small slate, at that. but clean, small slate.

the cubby will go at the foot of the bed against the wall. a bed frame or headboard isn't really an option since it just takes up precious space. so what we need now is a new nightstand. 

my first stop for nightstand shopping is always west elm. i fell in love with these four styles, particularly the first. west elm has been killing it lately, bringing in one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted pieces made from reclaimed wood, all still for very reasonable price points: $250-400 range.

stria nightstand | lund nightstand | alexa reclaimed wood | mid-century

i researched some budget-friendlier options, as well, sourced from ikea and target.

malm | malm gray | mid-century | dark gray oak

i know he doesn't want to spend $400 on the favorite pick so we'll see... might have to dig out my dusty headlamp and delve deep into the digital caverns of craigslist for a suitable option.

then there's bedding.

while i toyed with the idea of plaid or hunter green, it looked a bit too collegiate when i put together my photoshop mock-up. i love the look but this guy's 28 and looking for something a bit more grown-up. the two styles above from crane and canopy are great - charcoal and black and white.

also like these urban outfitters options - gray arrow motif and double stripe. but maybe too young.

i'm a little worried the gray options will be too much gray with the light gray walls.

and this crane and canopy style is also available in a steel blue. so we'll add it to the list.

so here's what we're working with in terms of the room layout.
gray gray gray

steeeel blue. 

i like it.

as you can see from the before photos, the carpet has seen better days, so i think we'll cover it up. love this triangle patterned rug from my go-to resource, rugsusa.

in summation...

cubby | bedding | rug | nightstand | light | clock | pennant | floating shelves | hanging bar

but we shall see! all in good time. this will be fun watching it come along... i'll be updating on instagram also so follow there @alainakaz. and stay tuned for updates!

OTHER MEN'S STYLE POSTS:

Men's Style Part 1: Always Dress Like You're Going to Run Into Your Ex
Men's Style Part Deux: The Tie Clip
Men's Style Part 3: I have many leatherbound books.

Thoughts on Men's Fashion: Cuffed Jeans