The Gentleman Room: Types & Tips

At Gentleman Zone, we know that the definition of a gentleman’s room has changed throughout the years. Originally a clipped form of a waiting room, in later use, it started to describe any room intended for use by men, particularly a room in a railway station or other public building, which included a separate lavatory.  In the same way that one’s clothing choices are highly personal, interior design choices are equally personal. While clothing is temporary, interior design is permanent.

What makes the gentleman room special?

What does a gentleman room mean to a true gent?  That’s the playground for the true nobleman to unwind and spend time and care for loved ones. The gentleman’s rooms is the place to:
  • relax in style;
  • smoke;
  • have a drink;
  • retire away from others;
  • meet fellow lads;
  • a place to read;
  • a place to eat/dine;
  • and the list goes on!

Gentleman Room Design Aspects

A man’s room should be restful, cozy, quiet, and a place where a gentleman can feel at home. Being a special corner of the house, this area doesn’t favor the feminine touches, such as brittle furniture, cachepots abounding in exotic plants, and swirly valences over the windows. 
Gentleman room example When it comes to the place where a gentleman wants to read, entertain, or relax at the end of a long day, paying attention to certain design elements can help create a space that better reflects the sense of style and manhood. 

Wall Paneling

One of the best investments and quickest solutions would be to introduce wall paneling. If you prefer, you can cover the lower half of the wall below a dado rail or extend it as high as the ceiling for maximum impact. 

Lighting & Lamps

A study den should have a minimum of bright lighting, as this is a place where you want to relax without being overstimulated. Cornice uplighting creates a calming glow around the ceiling. You can select from a variety of profiles that produce varied shadows, light and floating effects. 

Floor covering

Choose a rug that’s geometric rather than replete with swirls and other configurations.  Like ceilings, rugs are background and shouldn’t exercise too much claim for attention. Beginners will do well to start with old ones, but there are good-looking new carpets, too.  Later, if there’s money in the bank, aspire to a serape. 

Seating

The seating has to be big and deep enough for a man’s size, and it ought to be covered in fabric that avoids any hint of colors that seem too feminine.  Yellow and blue are out, and polished chintz should be barred.  If you don’t want to look like every other house on the street, go for herringbone patterns in a color that avoids beige through brown; tartan and hounds tooth seem too predictable for a man’s room. 

Pillows & Seating

Pillows can be your wild card, but be sure not to let them get so big that they interfere with comfort. And lay off the fringe; a knife edge is more manly and better looking.

Color Palette

The gent interior should tastefully showcase unique personality. No other room can hold the same power when styled in a highly individualized manner and comfort.  Do you prefer the warm and vibrant style of a classic gentleman’s study, or does a minimalist, streamlined, and monochrome aesthetic better reflect your taste?  Either way, incorporating timelessly masculine design can be as simple as using jewel tones like burgundy, navy, ocher, and emerald green in your interior decor. Such hues convey serenity, value, and mystery, whether through accessories or intricate wallpaper

Classic & Modern Styles

The “modern” style of interior design was a hallmark of the mid-20th century, and it still remains quite popular today. With its emphasis on clean lines, functional materials, and practicality, it can represent the apex of both comfort and beauty–perfect for gentlemanly spaces! Modern gentleman room interior Classic male interior design typically incorporates traditional elements and materials, such as leather, wood, metal, stone, or concrete, and rather dark colors. Classic vintage touch gentleman room interior It may also include references to historical or cultural themes. A classic male study, for example, may feature a leather armchair, a wooden desk, and shelves lined with books.  A formal and sophisticated atmosphere foregoes bold colors and patterns in favor of natural and neutral tones, thus taking advantage of naturally occurring textures to create sensory interest. Contemporary gentleman room interior Contrary to what you might think at first, though, decorating your space in the modern style doesn’t mean appointing it like the headquarters of a James Bond villain, or like the Brady Bunch home!  Still, we recognize that the modern style can be polarizing. Modern gentleman room interior design The modern style encompasses different sub-genres of design, but through all of them, there are fundamental principles that apply. It emphasizes open and integrated spaces where all the elements are functioning together, including the use of natural light.  Next, it’s practical and comfortable, utilizing simple shapes and forms, emphasizes clean, horizontal, and vertical lines, but keep in mind that clean doesn’t always have to mean straight. So, simple, rounded curves can also fit the theme. Stylish contemporary gentleman room interior design

A Gentleman’s Living Room 

Being a gentleman is about sophistication.  A red-brick members club in the heart of the city, with its decadent reading rooms, wooden interiors, and the lingering scent of cigar. Brick wall gentleman interior design Old-school sophistication with a new-school edge is what makes you feel like a gent as soon as you walk through the door.

The British Gentleman Room

Classic gentleman room interiorThe piano is still a staple of classic interior design. A grand piano is as much a design piece as it is an instrument. It was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the keeper of instruments for the Medici family. If there is an empty space in your home that you don’t know how to use, the piano can be a great solution.  Even though the popular perception of a grand piano is that’s an incredibly expensive purchase, this isn’t always the case. If the brand isn’t of great performance, you can find an affordable unit.

Curated Bookshelves

Bookshelf gentleman room Bookshelves are an intrinsic part of a room, built into spaces like walls, corners, and alcoves. You may not have a bookshelf, but buying a shelving unit that looks like a piece of furniture can help to replicate this built-in look.  Traditional bookshelves were often constructed either from wood that directly matched that of the house, or painted. Therefore, painting your shelves the same color as the walls and trim will help them to look as though they “belong” in your space in a more traditional way. Books gentleman room The most traditional look would, of course, involve tightly fitted leather-bound books that fill the entire capacity of the shelf. The more modern approach, meanwhile, is to avoid filling the entirety with the shelf or even half of its space, to avoid looking crowded or overstuffed.  You can fill the space partially with books, either vertically or horizontally stacked, and then add various artworks, objet d’art, knick-knacks, framed photos, statuary sculptures, floral arrangements, and so on, depending on your own personal feel. 

Paintings & Prints

Although there are countless ways to fill your wall space these days, at the height of the English Country Home, paintings were nearly the only choice. So today, portraits and landscape paintings that are heavily framed will instantly make your space look more polished and formal. Modern paintings gentleman room It isn’t necessary to have traditional content only and thus make a painting seem more traditional. A traditional frame (such as one made of gilt) can enhance the overall look of the piece.  A piece of modern art in one of these types of frames still looks somewhat traditional. It is in this category that new, gallery-purchased art can be impossible to afford, while original and reproduction pieces can be found for a fraction of that price at estate sales and online.  One thing to worry about is tight mounts and sturdy shelves or furnishing fitting, notes a handyman from Fantastic Services.

Mirrors & Glass

Mirror and glass gentleman room styles Mirrors help to open up space because they reflect light back into the room, and the frame can provide another traditional design element. 

Pool Table 

Billiards have been a leisurely pastime for gentlemen for centuries. King Louis XI of France had the first known indoor billiards table, and, since then, the game has been evolving. A pool table is a traditional centerpiece for a spare room; it can be quite expensive, but given that it’s large and cumbersome to move, you can often find it for a fraction of the price if you’re looking second-hand.  Some people are so happy to get rid of them that they can even be found for free! It might be a challenge to move, but you gain from their loss. 

Taxidermy

Taxidermy This item is slightly controversial. It’s definitely not for everyone; either you like it, or you don’t. Most of the taxidermy comes from legally hunted animals like deer and pheasant. State fishery and hunting boards often have conversations at the core of what they do. Once it’s preserved, a taxidermied animal can last almost as a piece of decor.  This kind of decoration is wall-, a shelf-, or surface-mounted. It provides a more masculine look, but in small doses enhances the traditional theme. 

Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs gentleman room At retail prices, oriental rugs can be incredibly expensive due to the painstaking creation by hand over a period of months, or even years. Second-hand oriental rugs can also be an affordable option, as they last for decades and are resilient to wear and tear. 

Drapery & Curtains

Rich drapery upholstery gentleman room Window coverings make a statement about your personal style. In the past, they used to block cold air and light, but today they’re almost always used for decoration. An excellent way to introduce color and pattern into the design of a room while being relatively cheap. 

Palm Trees & Greenery

Greenery gentleman room In the 1840s, the Kew Gardens built the world’s largest greenhouse and started to collect palm trees, which at that time only grew in the tropics. The wealthy elite was inspired; American financier Jay Gould, for example, collected more than 300 palms.  Palms came to symbolize luxury, and they became a coveted interior design element. The palm tree, whether living or faux, is still an elegant addition to any home. The green leaves add freshness to a room and fill awkward spaces like corners.

Country Gentleman Room

Wood, leather, glass, heavy drapery, and a classy drink. Country gentleman living room

Gentleman Bedroom

Country gentleman master bed

Gentleman Office

Gentleman office Small gentleman office

Gentleman Billiard Room

Gentleman billiard room

Gentleman Smoking Room

Gentleman smoking room Accessories such as a humidor for cigar storage and a bar cart for mixing drinks can add just the right touch of refinement to the space.

Gentleman Dining Room

A solid table, sophisticated lights, comfortable chairs, the touch of wood finish and the right bar corner, to both highlight a collection of drinks and underline gentleman presence. The gentleman dining roon must look masculine, but stay away from being a man cave. The theme of the modern gentleman is all about entertaining guests, but also feel at home. 

Tea Room Gentleman

Tea room for gentlemen

Gentleman Rooms, Remarks

The gentleman’s room is a private space where gents relax, smoke, and socialize, feel at peace and be one’s self. When designing a room with gentility in mind, it is crucial to plan elements such as wall paneling, lighting, and furniture. The right wall paneling can add your desired dash of sophistication, while ambient lighting and lamps set the atmosphere. Furniture should be comfortable and sturdy, with a focus on classic, and timeless pieces. A gentleman’s room should also have a color palette that reflects the sense of style and manhood of the occupant. In addition, a gentleman’s room should have a touch of old-world charm, perhaps through the inclusion of antique furnishings or a vintage billiards table. Overall, the gentleman’s room is a space for a man to indulge in the pleasures of life and embrace the gentlemanly side.
The Gentleman Guide

The official account for Gentleman Zone giving you the latest news and articles about the gentleman's lifestyle and transforming you into one article by article.

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