Curate, curate, curate. Read Marie Kondo's book, "The Life Changing a Magic of Tidying Up." The audio book was an easy listen.

Look into getting expert opinion on indoor plants. A little green goes a long way.

WiFi based home audio like Sonos would be nice. I would skip a big audio system in favor of something that is more livable on a daily basis.

The easy answer to your question. Buy classy furniture and decore. No girly pics, or gun/hunting pics on the walls. Keep it clean and your socks not laying on the living room floor.

long answer: Look at everything you do now as an investment in the future.

First: Figure out what you want to use it for.

- Bachelor flophouse?
- Entertaining, friends/co-workers?
- Finding a GF/Wife?

Second: How long do you plan on living there? 6 months, 12 months, many years?

Based on those few criteria, then figure out how to best address what you want to do with the place. Make a plan to meet your objectives.

Ideas for doing so:

- Check out the magazine section at a local store. Look through all the various home and design magazines, see if there is something that catches your eye. It may open your eye to what is possible both now and long term.

Act and buy with purpose:
- The nice pictures your hung, why did you choose them? what do they mean to you? what story do they tell about themselves and you?

- Any furniture you chose, buy mid-level or better quality stuff. Buy it once and have it for 10 or more years maybe. Buy it with an eye for the present but also the future.

- Dishes, silverware, etc... Again buy Mid-level, you'll have them a long time. They should be good for everyday good enough to host a dinner.

- Drapes, Curtains etc... get nice ones that are functional and don't clash with your furniture/floor etc...

- Bedroom, get a nice bedroom set, that will see you through this and the next home. Years out maybe it is passed down to your future kid(s).

- Cigar room: on an 800 Sqft home, I don't see that as adding a lot of resale value. Also, non-smokers aren't going to like eating dinner in one.

----------
Central Vacuum, for <800 Sq Ft. Why??? It is already easy to clean, there is no economic return on putting one in.

A garage is a nice addition.

For anything you do in terms of capital investments in the place, Talk to your realtor about the expected value add. At 785 sq ft, there is only so much you can get out of this place in the long term.

Again going back to those early questions. In a year will you be looking to upgrade? Will you use this as a place close to your office to crash at on occasion and Air B&B it the rest of the time? So many questions to answer.

About me:
I split a place out of college with a co-worker. We had a collection of mismatched furniture. No real art. Hardwood floors, so no carpets. The kitchen was probably original to a 1920's home just with a 1970 countertop. A couple of coats of paint went a long way. We did have a keg in the basement refrigerator with a hose running up to the tap next to the kitchen sink. So yes beer on tap 24/7 and the choice of beer or water. Bachelor pad, yes. Working a lot, party on the weekends occasionally. I lived in 4 places over for 5 years after college. Then bought my current home 15 years ago. Does any of this matter to you? not really.

Will you stay in your new home long term? I would guess not, you'll change jobs, cities or find a GF and you'll want something better.

Well that is my best 5 minute response to your question. Offered just to help.

Heck, rent the stuff, whats that rental furniture company, tv, fridge, etc....

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Heck, rent the stuff, whats that rental furniture company, tv, fridge, etc....

Well... cheaper to rent a lady friend, too.

It’s a second home for me. Mainly just for weekends.

I do not think I’m cut out to be a bachelor, but I do find women very difficult to tolerate, in my personal life, these days.)

quote:

I do not think I’m cut out to be a bachelor, but I do find women very difficult to tolerate, in my personal life, these days.

I would be the same way... if I was single at this point in my life. I have my way of doing things and so does my wife, and we each know and accept the other. But if I were dating... I think it would not be easy in mid-life. Go slow.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

Don't forget the classic '70s Farrah Fawcett poster!

That is downright funny.

If you have the Farrah poster, you've got to have the electrical-cable-spool coffee-table.

quote:

I do not think I’m cut out to be a bachelor, but I do find women very difficult to tolerate, in my personal life, these days.)

I found myself a bachelor in my mid 40s. And then I found the perfect person to be with, and have been with her for 10 years. She works as hard at outdoor tasks as I do. She's a farm girl, tough as nails, independent, and her own person. We don't need each other, but we are better together and love each other.

Take your time, but it's not worth writing off the possibility of a good relationship.

In the interim, kill the batch pad!

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Not that into TVs... But I have been looking at sailboats too...

<——— I Want That.

quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:
Do whatever the hell you want with the place.

If a female sinks her nails into you for any kind of relationship, she's going to remove, replace, throw away, give away, replace or put in the garage pretty much anything you have.

They'll all programmed at birth to play house and your new place will be the blank canvas for her.

Make it your own in any way you want.

^^ THIS ^^

I'll take it a step further - hit up all of your married buddies and decorate your bachelor pad with all of their favorite things their spouse put in storage (kegorators, huge speakers, beer signs, recliners, etc). It'll save money and your married buddies will want to come visit/escape.

Furnish it nicely and something that you will grow with and furniture that you'll take with you to your next place.

Jeff Foxworthy talked about the cable spool tables and I think the cinder block and 2x10 shelving

...and a $10,000 stereo system. Because even if you're a broke bachelor you gotta have tunes.


If you're not into TV's that's cool. I don't watch much TV except news and movies. I remember mentioning at work I bought a 65" Sony A1E OLED (their first OLED from 2017) and liked it so much I bough the 55" one for the master bedroom at the next Black Friday.

"You have two OLED's ?!"

"Yeah, because there's no one to tell me I can't!"

My house is tasteful, but basically the same stuff as when my ex still lived here. Luckily we furnished it with the simpler more traditional Ethan Allen stuff from about 15-25 years ago. Classic look, solid wood (mostly maple), lasts forever. And an outstanding leather couch. Perhaps it was already somewhat masculine in look - no frilly crap, no floral prints except textural leaf patterns on some curtains. Newer decorations are all free stuff I've been given during my work travels in Asia. Adds a little flair I guess.

The living room has the bigger TV with surround sound and a powerful sub (all Paradigm reference speakers), my upstairs bonus room has guitars and amps and a small TV with compact surround sound system (intended for my son's video games), and front bedroom "office" has the guns and computers.

If I did it again probably go for an upscale cigar lounge look with the couch and maybe some other stuff. A woman would probably think my stuff is hopelessly un-modern and want to change it all. And if she wanted to paint the stained solid wood trim and doors white, that's just not happening.

Is there a way to install the toilet in the same room as the widescreen tv and the fridge? If no... I got nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
Is there a way to install the toilet in the same room as the widescreen tv and the fridge? If no... I got nothing.

That's why you keep a stash of empty Gatorade bottles next to the couch.

I will politely disagree with most of the above (anew thing for me). Buy quality but set it up exactly like you enjoy. Setting it up to entice or impress women is all kinds of dumb. You are a man be a man. Besides which, if you do get married she’s just going to redo it anyways.

Enjoy your shit, just the way you like, let’s the cards play out however they land. Life’s too short to try to please some mythical person.