Skip to main content

Scott Sanders on How to Create a Stylish Bachelor Pad

Interior designer Scott Sanders knows all about how to keep interiors stylish, yet functional.He helped Ralph Lauren launch his interior design business, conceptualized the decor for several well-known hotels, including the newly renovated Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore, and DC’s Capitol Skyline Hotel which are both owned by Mera and Don Rubell. His signature “New American” style of decor takes inspiration from his travels around the world, fusing them with classic American touches. We tapped Sanders for a two-part series. This week, he gives you five tips on how to create a sleek bachelor pad.

  • Bachelor pads are notoriously cluttered, and clutter is a success killer. Keep it clean – less is more! Get rid of the college furniture, trophies and last night’s cocktail party. However, there may still be hope for your baseball card collection. Displayed as one massive installation, it become a distinctive and unique art piece that sparks conversation, proclaims individuality and personalizes the space.  Building an art collection doesn’t have to be about acquiring new pieces, inspiration can come from displaying items from one’s childhood or family history; it can sometimes be humorous, but always celebratory. A collection of artist’s smaller sculptures gathered over time, or even a wall of black and white family photographs from past summers, mixed with classic movie scenes, can become “Cool Collections.”
  •  Bedrooms Beyond. The bedroom should be a total sanctuary from the everyday, featuring different colors, themes and a feel that is separate from the rest of the home.  If the home is designed in warm and bright tones, the dusky muted tones in the bedroom signal a toning-down of the energy.  Investing in high quality bedding and layering pillows in a mix of fabrics, creates a luxurious and calming retreat.  And make your bed every morning! You never know who will be seeing it later!!!
  •  A bachelor pad is not a 24-hour gym. Don’t park your bike in the living room!  Sports equipment should be kept in a closet or spare bedroom. Use this new-found space to include a must have for any bachelor pad: The New Mini-bar!
  • You should be ready at any time to host a cocktail party!  Unique takes on mini-bars in key spots of a living room or den, signal and encourages social mixing. A fully stocked bar allows you to be ready at a moment’s notice.  In addition to liquor, mixers, and wine, be sure to include a collection of vintage and modern glassware, cocktail napkins, and one piece rich with personality, such as an antique decanter or vintage martini shaker.  Mini-bars can run the gamut from classic to modern, or can be a mix of both. For example, a large antique mirror can be placed over a mid-century low cabinet and outfitted with a pop-art colored large tray of curated bar glassware.
  • A bachelor’s kitchen shows the way to his foodie heart. The best coffee/espresso machine you can afford is a must.  After that, any other upgrades are just ‘icing on the cake’. Mixing luxe finishes with unusual surfaces for leads to high function and style: granite countertops over high gloss lacquered cabinets (think automotive paint!) accented with stainless steel tile backsplashes, elevate the look of the whole kitchen.  You may never want to eat out again!
Ann Binlot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…
8 shows like You that are just as addictive and twisted
You may be over, but there are plenty of other murder dramas right around the corner
Penn Badgley looking ominous as Joe Goldberg

After five seasons of twists, murders, and weird obsessions, Joe Goldberg's story on Netflix's You has come to a close. The crime drama has been a staple on the streamer with its mix of great characters and binge-worthy mystery that makes it feel like the best parts of a true crime documentary you'd watch on Oxygen on a rainy Saturday afternoon while you're sick. While it might not have been the best show on Netflix, You was a great way to get sucked into a different world with interesting storylines for several hours each season.

If you're already missing the soapy, addictive drama of You, we have plenty of similar shows for you to watch next. They range from Emmy-worthy Golden Age dramas to junk-food style crime mysteries that follow parallel themes and arcs to the Netflix hit. These are the shows like You to watch next.

Read more
10 cigar myths the internet won’t let die
The cigar 'facts' shared in every lounge that are actually complete BS
two men enjoying cigars

The internet has been such an asset to the cigar world. It allows us to look up obscure brands, communicate with fellow fans across the globe, and access a greater amount of information than ever before. There's a downside, though: rumors catch on like wildfire, and once they're out there, they're nearly impossible to get rid of.Visit any cigar lounge or read online forums, and you'll find the same tired myths that have been making the rounds for decades. While a few are harmless pieces of folklore, others are robbing you of your hard-earned cash, ruining your smoking experience, or just flat-out lying to you about health hazards.Let's burn down those stubborn misconceptions once and for all.

Myth #1: Darker (Maduro) cigars are always more powerful

Read more
Cigar etiquette 101: Dos, don’ts, and modern manners
Please don't be that guy. Here are the cigar etiquette mistakes that scream 'amateur'
well-dressed guy smoking on a couch in the dark

Walking into a cigar lounge for the first time feels like crashing somebody's secret club. They've got this unspoken language, weird rituals, and enough unwritten rules to make your head spin! But here’s the thing—cigar etiquette is not some gatekeeping nonsense to try to make you look dumb. It's about respecting the process, the experience, and not being the person who ruins everyone else's vibe.Whether you're new to this or have been faking for years, this guide will sort you out because there's nothing more likely to ruin a good smoke than someone who clearly has no idea what they're doing.

The basics: Respecting the ritual

Read more