It takes less than 30 seconds for someone to form an opinion about who you are. When someone comes to your home, they glance at your home décor and, in less than a minute, decide if you have style, panache and how well you keep your home. Does your home’s entrance reflect who you are correctly?

Before you do anything, you need to walk in your guest’s shoes. No, not literally, for obvious hygienic reasons, but open your front door, stand outside and take inventory on what you see. This “door-framed” view is the most important part of the foyer to start with.

eclectic revisited (via)

There are three components to a properly designed entryway:

A console, table or place to quickly throw keys or mail on.

Elaine Hill via Design Shuffle (via)

It is important to be able to walk in your front door and quickly put small items down when you are in a rush. If you live in an apartment, this special area might be a ledge or small shelf. However, if you have the space for a piece of furniture, this is the place to “wow” your guests. Remember, accessibility is key.

A place for you and your guests to hang hats, coats or “carry-ables.”

This Old House (via)

Often this place might be a mudroom or a coat closet, but what if you don’t have this option? You might consider mounting antique coat hooks on the wall or using a coat rack in the corner.

Decorative items or home accessories that condense your home’s style in a nutshell.

cococozy (via)

For decor, you might consider using a mirror in your entryway. It is important that you try not to place the mirror facing the open door. As the door opens, the sunlight will bounce off the mirror and blind your guest! Not a great first impression!

Lori Dennis via Design Shuffle (via)

Wall art is another consideration. Whether it be made of metal or canvas, or whether you use framed photos, this is a wonderful way to greet!

InterDesign Studio via Design Shuffle (via)

You want to keep the area uncluttered, but if you have the space you might also consider a little seating area such as a bench or chair. This is a great place to put shoes on (or take shoes off) and seating can also double-duty as a temporary drop-off zone for grocery bags, keys, and coats.

The living room is where everyone from family and friends gather to have a good time and share a laugh. Apart from being comfortable, a pleasant living room should also be nice. Thanks to accent furnitures, this can become a reality. Consider the following pieces to spice up your living room.

Uttermost Sturgis Traditional Accent Table (via)

Side tables have long been considered an important design element in any living room. They make a great complement to any couch and chair you may have. More often than not, these humble accent furnitures can make or break your motif.

This accent furniture in particular would look great with an antique motif. It is made exotic materials such as mango wood grown from a plantation. Quality is assured with its charcoal gray paint done by hand and rubbed down to its natural wood grain.

Uttermost Wattley Traditional Storage Ottoman (via)

Apart from being decorative, some accent furniture pieces may also be designed with practicality in mind. For instance, this chair is made with a storage compartment inside which add to its functionality. It features a double-stitched gridwork and faux leather making it an exquisite piece. Its wooden legs are done in weathered hickory with nail head accents.

The design is simple yet chic and goes together with just about any motif you can think of. This chair is definitely a looker with more people staring at it than sitting on it.

Adesso Marbles Contemporary Coat Rack (via)

Guests do not usually take a second look at a coat rack and usually just head into the living room. With this piece though, this will soon  change. A total of six coat hooks and enough room for everyone’s umbrella make this one of the most useful accent furnitures.

This item is finished with accents of chrome and acrylic which comes in multiple colors. The hooks are adorned with acrylic balls which adds a modern touch to it. It is an intriguing design element and gives this piece its decorative flavor. With such embellishments, this coat rack will definitely be a conversation starter.

Adesso Zurich Contemporary Magazine Rack (via)

Aside from big blocks of furniture, their smaller counterparts also add to the overall picture. Home accessories such as magazine racks add a bit of flair and can be exquisite decorative pieces by themselves. Their main draw perhaps comes from their ability to be placed anywhere in the room with ease.

This magazine rack may be placed near accent furnitures and side tables. This rack in particular is made of bentwood with a walnut finish to boot and is perfect for most contemporary motifs.

Varaluz Fascination NV Modern / Contemporary Fireplace Screen (via)

Nowadays, even a simple fireplace screen has a decorative purpose. This piece in particular is inspired by an old Nevada mine yet maintains a more contemporary touch. It is made of recycled metal and glass which is a clever and truly modern feat. It comes with side panels as well and makes a great addition to your living room full of accent furnitures.

It is usually thought that interior design is a thing for the ladies. But with the growing number of single bachelors living on their own especially in big cities, there is a rising need for improving the style and look of their quarters. So how exactly should a bachelor’s quarters look like?

Well of course, it will not be the same as a family home or a lady’s living quarters. Men, especially the bachelors, have a distinct lifestyle which requires a distinct home design to match. So if you are a bachelor and you are looking for ways to refine your quarters, here are some tips for you:

Adopt A Modern Contemporary Look
Purpose-wise, this is mostly all about the fascination. A contemporary and modern design is very flattering for a bachelor. Not only does it make him look more organized and professional, it makes him more desirable as well. So do you want to amaze a girl? Show her your contemporary styled home.

To pull it off, you will need to use strongly contrasting colors such as black and white and red and blue. Also, your tables, lamp stands, chairs, and all furniture should feature a slim design. When it comes to art, try simple abstract art or simple patterns of squares, lines, and circles.

Uttermost Ondray Traditional Game Table

Uttermost Papyrus Transitional Armchair

Designate A Place For Studies Or Office Work
Designate a place for studies or office work in your quarters. Keep your place functional. As a bachelor, you are either busy with studies or work. Keeping a working table with all the things you need is a must.

Put Quick Solution/Quick Fix Items
It is always said that men want instant things. And yes, there seems to be some truth to this, whether you want to admit it or not. So for a bachelor’s quarters, have quick solutions and quick fix items. What are these?

Cyan Design Bird Branch Coat Hook Wall Art

For example, place a table with all your bags in it. Make sure that there are bags that already have cash, and other necessary things. In emergency cases, you can just grab that bag and go. Other things you need include coat holder, shoe rack, and the like. If possible, place these near the door.

Keep The Usual Things Handy All The Time
Lastly, always have things that are suited to your lifestyle. Maybe you should have wine racks especially if your friends always drop by for a drink. There should also be quick fix meals for instant visits. The list could be endless and it depends on your lifestyle.

IMAX Wine Rack

So that wraps it up for the bachelors out there looking for great home design ideas. But the design of course is just one thing. To keep things fascinating and stunning, make sure to regularly clean up, or have someone do it for you.