When we talk of masculine spaces, most of our readers tend to think about either shabby bachelor pads that seem to exude a sense of chaos, or sterile spaces that borrow from an uber-minimal and almost futuristic theme. Yet masculine living rooms can be a lot more than these mere stereotypes, and they also can convey a sense of warmth, elegance and diverse styles and themes. A carefully curated masculine living room is far easier to create than ones with feminine touches, and the overall ambiance often seems more apt for public spaces.

From the eclectic to the contemporary and from midcentury modern to industrial, today we have an amazing array of 55 living spaces that will dazzle you with their diverse charm. Practical and sensible, they are not mere untenable and at times bland renditions, relegated to catalogs. Here is a look at the best masculine living rooms from across the globe –

Invite the Outdoors Inside

We start our journey through these spellbinding masculine living spaces by taking a look at one of the hottest trends currently doing the rounds. Homeowners and architects across the world are eagerly turning towards the view outside to complete their living rooms, and bachelor pads and stylish homes with a masculine vibe are no different. It is one of the easiest ways to stay away from any sense of blandness or monotony, and the bright lights of the city skyline outside promise to add all the colorful flair that might be missing from the stoic, masculine space.

If you happen to be fortunate enough to enjoy the view of the distant tropical hills or the dancing waves and the beach, even better! Nature instantly adds a balanced sense of softness to the room that complements the dark hues and simple straight lines ideally. Even if your living room offers simple framed views of the buildings down the street, flaunt them with panache.

Decor that Makes a Difference!

Remember that the masculine or feminine appeal of a room largely depends on two simple factors. One is the decor that you choose and the other is color. It is not too hard to understand why. Colors and shapes are the two things that we instantly identify, categorize and associate with each of these styles of decorating. A masculine living room must largely contain simple, straight lines, while a feminine space is filled with sensuous curves and wavy patterns. Yet do not take this too far by only sticking to plain squares and rectangles in the room! Throw in a gorgeous Noguchi coffee table or a fabulous Moooi Random light just to usher in some much needed contrast.

Another interesting decor tip that many miss out on is the use of heavier objects! That’s right, by simply using heavier and sturdier looking decor items, you can bring in the masculine vibe more easily. An old metal coffee table or heavy wooden desks instantly give the space a more masculine appeal. It is amazing how such a simple addition can bring about such a huge change in the aura of the room.

Contemporary and Classy

We move on to taking a look at a style that is almost the ‘go to’ option for many homeowners who wish to create a masculine living room. Contemporary style with a hint of semi-minimalism is indeed cut out perfectly for a room with a masculine vibe. Yet it can quickly turn into a boring and monotonous affair with just grey, black and unimpressive decor! In fact, sacrificing comfort for style is never a good idea. Instead, create contemporary living rooms that are inviting, yet equally masculine with a touch of creativity. A hint of polished wood, frosted glass, natural greenery and chic rugs is a great way to get this done.

Bring in an accent chair or sofa in a vivacious, exciting shade to add color to the room while keeping in line with the sleek style. Modern wall graffiti, framed posters and carefully arranged books also add plenty of character to the living room without taking away from the masculine vibe that you are shooting for.

The Usual Suspects!

If decor is one big defining factor in determining the overall appeal of the room, color obviously makes up the other substantial chunk. One of the biggest boons in the last few years for those who love masculine living room ideas is the incredible popularity of grey and its continued reign as the king of neutrals! From the beige in the 90s, the many shades of grey have taken over as the ‘hip color’, and hence you can safely turn to grey for masculine living spaces. Black, white and red make up the most popular colors after grey, with brown managing to remain as popular as ever.

You can’t go wrong with dark, saturated colors and neutral hues when it comes to shaping interiors with a masculine aura. But add in some white, blue or even dark green to give the space a sense of airiness and cheerful ambiance. Make sure that in your quest for a trendy, masculine living room you do not end up with a dreary, heavy and almost depressing dark hub.

Small Space Ideas

While small living rooms with feminine overtones seem perfectly at ease, those trying to achieve a masculine vibe can quickly turn into cluttered affairs. It is precisely why we talked about using white and other lighter shades for visual balance, and this approach is a must for small living rooms. Yet, more than color, it is lighting that makes or breaks the ambiance of the room here. A blend of focused, ambient and natural lighting is a must for small living rooms that intend to embrace the masculine look. A sense of visual symmetry and the use of just two or three colors in the room also helps in reducing visual fragmentation of space.

Ravishing Rugged Charm

When we speak of rugged style, we do not mean a poorly kept room with stuff flung all over the place, worn out leather chairs and paint starting to peel off of the wall at some corner. That is not rugged; it is just shabby and untidy. Instead, think along the lines of an exposed brick wall, a classic fireplace at the heart of the room or an industrial furnishing that becomes the focal point of the room. If you are more comfortable with a living room that blends a few subtle feminine elements with a predominantly masculine style to soften the look, then go for it! Do not let preconceived notions cut out your creative impulse.

The idea of a space being masculine or feminine should not take away from the practicality and comfort of the living room. But, by keeping the details simple, the colors basic and the decor sturdy in appearance, you can easily shape a trendy masculine living room that reflects your personality…