I just got a new condo, and hired an interior decorator. Some tips from a paid pro:
- light fixtures and lighting...
Get updated light fixtures, too. I was amazed at what a difference this made.
- mirrors in a small place make it look bigger and more open
I had mirrored closet doors put in. As well as the upper portions of an entire wall in the kitchen are mirrored. Totally changed the place around, big time.
- fake support beams on the ceiling, give the illusion of more space up top.
They just had to cut, fit and suspend them; they look great.
- Paint the walls and get a good finish.
I had the lady paint the walls in my condo a really pale peach, with an adobe finish. At first I couldn't stand the color, but it has grown on me. Women love them, too.
- Don't get a bunch of black Ikea Furniture!
Yeah it's cool looking to guys. But most women it gives off a player vibe. I went and got an ikea futon (couldn't help myself) and a wing chair my decorator picked out for me to go with the walls.
You should keep your place wwaayy clean, too. I'm a Network Engineer and have the same geek thing with gear as you. Some advice:
- switch out all your CRT monitors for LCD. They look a LOT better.
- get a couple slick desks to put your gear on. THese are the two I got:
http://www.z-lineracing.com/product/35-Legacy-L-Desk
http://www.z-lineracing.com/product/36- ... k-Bookcase
- I got a couple huge plastic bins to store cables and crap in to minimize the clutter
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-58- ... 8/10401038
- if you can afford it, get a nice iMac for your office as the prominent computer.... They look pretty slick.
Look for an old cedar chest that looks good you can put blankets and stuff in. I bought a nice comforter for my bed, and just throw a flannel sheet over it when I sleep. Then stuff the flannel sheet and my crappy sleeping blankets/pillows in one when I wake up. BAM! Bed is made, just need to get the wrinkles out of the comforter.
Get a good LCD TV. I found one for $399. It's 1080p, bad-ass picture... I just had to shop around.
EVERYTHING when a woman enters should look like she just walked into a motel room.... Meaning, clean, clean, clean.... Fridge should be organized and spotless, ans the bathroom and fixtures should.
You wanna give off the feeling, it's clean because you are a cleanly person, and not around much anyway.
EDIT: another thing I'm doing is buying old orginal LP's off ebay. I'm gonna frame them and hang them in the living room.
Some albums I've got, so far:
- Thriller
- The White Album (1967 Beetles)
- The Wall
- Very First Beach Boys
- Dark Side of the Moon
- Van Halen (first van halen album)
- a few original 70's Led Zeppelin albums
- First solo albums by the beetle's popular members.... Harrison, Ringo, McCartney, Lennon....