Online Shopping Picks: Upgrade Your Living Space with the Best Men’s Home Goods

It’s been some time since we’ve taken the leap into a set of Online Shopping Picks outside the realm of menswear — in the case of today’s post at ye olde Style Guide, that means we’re talking the best men’s home goods to upgrade your space. Call it getting a jump on spring cleaning, call it wanting to stick to your menswear resolution of designing a better home or apartment, or call it a little … retail therapy. Either way, the right picks for your space can say as much about you as your choice of a classic Oxford shirt or a pair of American-made denim. Think of home goods as a bit of an extension of your personality and sense of style; that can make finding new pieces a fun journey. For instance: I frequently outfit my space with vintage-style pennants from Oxford Pennant, which you might have come across if you follow me on Instagram — it’s a cool venture to find a pennant that I like, one that might fit with my space. But that’s just one small component of adding a bit of character and cool style to your space. Hopefully, the below picks are more than enough to get you thinking about how to upgrade your space in style. Like what you see? Let me know on Twitter!

The Wall Art: Huckberry One Full Circle Print — $50

A limited-edition print available for a surprisingly agreeable price — a great first foray into wall art.

Inexpensive, neatly designed and eyecatching, the Huckberry One Full Circle Print is a worthwhile piece of wall art to brighten up a wall that’s, well, plain white or grey. It’s a heck of a steal from a retailer that you likely already shop anyways, and it’s one of only 50 available. Start small with this piece, then add other accents around it — at least, that’s what I’d do if I were you.

The Plant: Norden 5-Inch Planter — $50

Start small with this cool planter, and you might be surprised where your green thumb leads you.

In addition to starting with a crisp, colorful print, a small planter is but one way to liven up your desk, windowsill or den. Now, the plant itself isn’t included when it comes to the Norden 5-Inch Planter, but the cool Black Speckle color is a good enough base for a succulent or something lively and low-maintenance. Plus, a welcome shot of green is enough to liven up enough the most seemingly plain spaces this spring.

The Centerpiece: (del)Hutson Designs Reclaimed Wood Serving Tray — $45

A serving tray that looks stylish as heck and works as a cool coffee table centerpiece.

When is a serving tray more than just a simple serving tray? When it’s handsomely made and well-designed by (del)Hutson, with the sort of aesthetic that stands out nicely on a coffee table or in the kitchen. You can certainly use the Reclaimed Wood Serving Tray to serve, y’know, tasty cocktails or appetizers, but it can also function as a display for magazines, a candle, some reclaimed wood coasters — all of which add just a bit of character to your space.

The Home Accent: Yamazaki Tower Leaning Ladder Hanger — $46

Add a bit of flair and function to your space with this useful leaning ladder.

This next recommended pickup can be just a bit tricky if you’re pressed for space (as I am in my Brooklyn apartment). But on the other hand … it can also provide you with a bit more space and a bit more bang for your buck. Use the Yamazaki Tower Leaning Ladder Hanger to display your favorite shirts, use it as a handy space to hang cool blankets, or toss a pair of pants over it in an artful way — it’s the little things that speak volumes about your space.
 The Valet Tray: Tanner Goods Valet Tray — $75

A small-yet-worthy home goods upgrade, and a terrific way to store your everyday carry.

We’ve covered some handy storage solutions for larger items in your home or apartment — how about picks that make it easier to store your everyday carry essentials? Enter the Tanner Goods Valet Tray, which can readily serve as a home decor upgrade as much as it can work as a storage upgrade. The use of Meridian English bridle leather sets apart this surprisingly rugged valet tray from the rest of the pack.

So, that’s hopefully a good start when it comes to the best men’s home goods. Just like building or updating your wardrobe, the process of upgrading and refreshing your space definitely takes time, a bit of know-how and a proper budget. Starting small — with the Tanner Goods Valet Tray, for instance — is but one move that can make a difference in the way you store your everyday carry. Going slightly bigger, with the Reclaimed Wood Serving Tray from (del)Hutson, can offer versatility and functionality for hosting parties or displaying your favorite reads (see, it’s the small things!). And other handy storage options, including the Yamazaki Tower Leaning Ladder Hanger, add some character and functionality to your space. Not to be forgotten, the Huckberry One Full Circle Print is a reliably stylish and easy wall art upgrade, while the Norden 5-Inch Planter provides the perfect vessel for a small-yet-lively plant. That’s about the best possible home goods “starter kit” you could ask for, right?

How are you planning to upgrade your space as we move into spring? Let me know in the comments!

Online Shopping Picks: The Best Men’s Home Goods to Upgrade Your Space

Seeing as we’re getting into 2017 now, how are your men’s style resolutions coming along?  Hopefully, pretty swimmingly. Whether you’ve resolved to suit up more, buy that new winter jacket or upgrade your winter boots rotation, I wish you the best of luck.  And in the event that your resolutions are less about style and more about your lifestyle, today’s set of online shopping picks will have you more than set when it comes to matters outside of what’s on your feet. Yes, upgrading your living space is a sometimes-overlooked part of the men’s lifestyle equation — as you dress better, that can lead to an interest in new books, new music, art … the whole nine yards. Now, this is coming from a guy with a habit of hanging old concert posters on his walls … but it’s a work in progress. And as it turns out, brands and sites like Huckberry and Apolis, among others,  offer everything from gorgeous books to excellent art and neat, more refined touches for a guy’s home. That’s what we’re getting into today — not all of these pieces are full-on essentials, but many of them can go a long way toward making your home, office, apartment or work space a little more stylish and enjoyable. Weigh in over on The Style Guide Facebook page, and to see some behind-the-scenes menswear action, hit up yours truly on Instagram.  Shop away!
Beckett Simonon

The Candle: Farmhouse Pottery Pine Candle — $29.98

A masculine, but not overpowering, scent for your home or office.

A masculine, but not overpowering, scent for your home or office.

If there’s one thing that can go a long way to upgrading a guy’s study, office, etc. — we don’t say man cave around here — it’s scent. And something with a clean, masculine aroma, like this Farmhouse Pottery Pine Candle, is the way to go. The price is right, the candle container itself is no-fuss and the overall package should blend in handsomely with your bookshelf or desk. Is there anything better than putting on a nice candle and a good book — or the latest issue of Esquire? It really is the little things, folks.

The Wall Art: Meridian Line Comfort Zone Canvas Print — $43.98

A rugged, unique finishing touch to a workspace.

A rugged, unique finishing touch to a workspace.

While a candle might be a smaller detail, what’s hanging on your wall is much more noticeable — and carries with it even more potential to upgrade your space. And while we all love a good neon beer sign (I do wish I had one), a piece of simple, well-made and unique wall art can work wonders for a small space. Enter the justly named Comfort Zone Canvas Print as sold by our pals at Huckberry — from the leather hanging rope to the wooden dowels, it’s as masculine and yet versatile a piece of wall art as you can get. And it looks classier than that PBR poster — right?

The Planter: Friday and River Leather-Wrapped Planter — $50

An eye-catching addition to any small space -- when filled with an air plant, that is.

An eye-catching addition to any small space — when filled with an air plant, that is.

If you perused our last Style Guide Q&A, you know the home goods and lifestyle visionaries behind Friday & River. They focus on essential, well-made pieces for your everyday carry and your home — from slim wallets to smartly made candles and coasters — and they do it by blending a design ethos that’s part minimalist, part rugged and very essential. Even if you’re not a guy who goes crazy for gardening or plants, a leather-wrapped planter with a small air plant adds some color and a bit of a personal, brighter touch to any space.

The Fan: Stadler Form Otto Fan — $199.99

Do you need a stylish fan? Yes, yes I'd say you do.

Do you need a stylish fan? Yes, yes I’d say you do.

OK, so here’s the argument for upgrading your fan — if you’re going to need to have one anyway (say, if your office or apartment gets toasty in the summer), why not grab a fan that’s uniquely … stylish? Made from African saeple wood and designed with the sort of sharp minimalism one would expect from the Swiss (seriously), the Form Otto Fan could just be the last fan you need to buy — and that’s saying something.

The Unique Touch: PILLBOX Bat Co. Pinstripes Bat — $159.98
A visually interesting way to add some sports flair to your wall or bookshelf.

A visually interesting way to add some sports flair to your wall or bookshelf.

If you’re shopping for style on a budget — and who isn’t after the holidays — then dropping some dough on this cool-looking, yet not truly essential Pinstripes Bat  probably shouldn’t be your first priority. But if in fact you or someone you know is a big sports fan and wouldn’t mind seeing an upgraded take on the baseball bat hanging in their office or resting on their shelf, then by all means — swing for the fences (Bingo!).

Huckberry

The Magazine: Gear Patrol — $39 per Subscription

A supremely well-edited magazine done up for the modern man.

A supremely well-edited magazine done up for the modern man.

Among the essential tomes that should line a guy’s bookshelf, I’d humbly submit the beautifully designed, expertly crafted and just plain neat-to-read Gear Patrol. Everyone’s favorite purveyors of rugged-refined gear and sweet gadgets do a truly remarkable job producing biannual print issues that span the globe and feature relatable, well-executed content on everything from spirits and adventure to gourmet dining. It’s the type of magazine you really can pick up repeatedly and find something different each time — get out there, read and explore.

Are you ready to upgrade your living room or office as of yet? Or have you already started? Getting things going with a few small touches — a nice coffee-table magazine or a smart, masculine candle —  can lead to bigger changes, like hanging some rugged wall art or buying a better fan or even … *gasp* picking up a plant for your office or study. Like building great style, it’s all a process — and it can be fun to explore, add on and see how your tastes change over time.  But with that being said, you’ve got to start somewhere — and I hope the picks above help you out.

Start shopping, keep shopping and stay stylish!

-Beau

Editor’s note: Portions of this post use affiliate links, from which a small commission on purchases might be earned.

 

Reader Giveaway Opportunity: Friday and River

Editor’s note: Read to the end of this post to learn how to win a new set of home goods from Friday and River!

giveaway-photo-edited

A new Friday and River candle could be a handsome addition to your home. Matches via Modern Anthology.

The concept of upgrading your entire lifestyle as you upgrade — and add — to your #menswear wardrobe is one that we take to heart here at The Style Guide. By we, I mean me — but you knew that already. And if you want to complement a stylish wardrobe with stellar home goods, there are certain brands worth knowing — particularly as a new year kicks off. Throughout the past few months, I’ve had the chance to discover and get to know Friday and River, whom you might recognize from a past Style Guide Q+A entry. I also covered the brand’s line of essential home goods for The Manual, and if you haven’t yet acquainted yourself with the ways in which the brand can upgrade your home, office or apartment … you best listen up. Named for the last names of co-founder Joe Freitag (Freitag is German for “Friday) and his wife, Yumi Kawamura (Kawamura means “river” in Japanese), it’s a brand that takes a nuanced approach to home goods for the discerning consumer. This practiced, minimal and versatile approach comes from the design experience of the duo with major brands like Levi’s, plus their time in Tokyo — which is quite the menswear mecca in and of itself. Starting with their natural leather-wrapped candles (as seen at the top of the page) and carrying through to a unique selection of well-crafted leather tote bags and minimal and smart leather card holders, the line encompasses all the small details and nice finishing touches you didn’t know you needed in your life.

For instance — thinking of adding a small plant to your office or apartment? Grab a handsome, minimal leather-wrapped planter; it’s a combination that’s masculine yet smart, perfect for complementing a study or a wooden desk. Are you with me on that? The more you look for style upgrades throughout your life, the easier they are to make — and that pursuit is getting even easier today. Yes, with the latest Style Guide giveaway, we’re giving one lucky winner the chance to win one leather-wrapped planter, one candle and one leather coaster set  of your choice — a pretty darn good value, and a heck of a deal if you ask me! How to win, you ask? Now through midnight Friday night (that’s January 13th), comment below and tell me how you’d use those home goods to upgrade your office, apartment … you name it! Seriously, that’s it. Sound good? Good.

Best of luck out there — thanks for reading!

-Beau

Frank & Oak