How many men wish they had a place where they could kick back with their friends? A man cave fits the bill, offering them a chance to play games, watch films, listen to music, and have a drink or three away from the family.
Spaces that can be turned into man caves include basements, attics and spare rooms — even garden sheds! But once you know where it’s going to be, the important task of designing and decorating it begins. Rent a self storage unit to keep all the furniture and other items in while you are renovating the space. We offer these tips to ensure that you — or the man in your life — will end up with the perfect cave.
1. Choose Your Man Cave Theme(s)
Sports memorabilia is a popular theme for a man cave, and even if you can’t afford Babe Ruth’s 1920 Yankees jersey, adorning the walls with equipment relating to your favorite team is considered pretty cool. Or you could display your high school team uniform from when you made those four touchdowns in a single game — you know, like Al Bundy!
A fair number of action films get watched in a man cave, and movie posters of these on the wall can create a great theme. Comic books are also sometimes appreciated. Laminated pages from favorite cartoon strips can also be put up — perhaps in a corner of the room, dedicated just to die-hard comic book fans.
2. Find Your Inner Man Cave Designer
It’s not always the man of the family’s job to make decisions about color schemes and soft furnishings, but this time he needs to step up to the plate. And a coordinated approach to all the design aspects is required. If a lot of items will be put on the walls, paint them in colors that set this off. In addition, wood and natural stone are popular materials.
Alternatively, you can let the ‘cave’ aspect of the enterprise really drive the design, making it the one place in the house where dark hues are indulged — like Sherlock Holmes’s study. Deep browns could be employed to complement any wood being used, ‘racing green’ might please classic car enthusiasts, and then there’s always burgundy!
3. Serving at The Lush Lounge Wasn’t Time Wasted
A man cave will inevitably feature a bar. It could be just a couple of shelves and a refrigerator for the beers and ice. But you will definitely want a row of stools on the other side of a wooden bar where your friends can sit while you mix and serve the drinks — make sure the surface has a high polish so you can try to bar slide a few glasses of bourbon!
As well as having a lot more space for bottles, a better-equipped bar will also need a sink for washing glasses and a place for chopping those lemons and limes. Dark gray engineered quartz can be a great look for these areas, and of course mirrors at the back bring the professional touch. Feel free to add a poster of Tom Cruise in the film Cocktail.
4. Lighting: Bright for Games, Discrete for Movies
Some man caves are brash, with plenty of noise from the players at the pool table and the rock music from the speakers. You might therefore want some bright lights overhead for playing games and also for the bar and any kitchen areas. The shape of the cave — for instance if it includes sloping attic walls — also dictates lighting choices.
For kicking back and watching films, however, you need to cut the main lights but leave some on in the background so you can still fix yourselves drinks and snacks. Recessed lights around the ceiling look smart, separated into groups and operated with dimmer switches. Make sure that ambient light from windows can always be shut out with thick curtains.
5. Seating: Don’t Skimp on the Leather
Guys tend to understand the durable, timeless quality of leather. It may also trigger reminiscences of horseback riding, or perhaps of Uncle Charles’ once-in-a-lifetime invitation to his exclusive New England country club — there’s another couple of themes for the man cave right there! Well upholstered leather armchairs never go out of fashion.
But if you’re planning on inviting friends to watch movies and you don’t want to skimp on comfort, the reclining armchairs best suited for this often come in faux leather material, though the effect is almost as good. They may be equipped with trays and holders for glasses, while some recliners also include massage and heating features. Enjoy!
6. Even With No Dancing the Floor Will See Some Action
Some guys like to practice their disco moves away from the critical gaze of their womenfolk, but don’t expect too many takers for a Saturday Night Fever dance floor. With the amount of drink that may get consumed, there might be some, errr, spillage, making washable tiles or wooden laminates more suitable flooring materials than carpet.
Larger man caves can offer a variety of games, however, and these can take up their own parts of the floorspace. Fans of darts can set up an area for this. Some houses may even be able to contribute a corridor to the mancave area, which can be painted to be used as a shuffleboard court. Ok, and maybe include some nice carpet in a quiet part of the room.
All in all, designing and decorating a man cave could be a very exciting project quite unlike any other. There are few other rooms in a house designed so specifically with enjoyment in mind. Also, not only will a father get a place of his own but, if he has sons, they are going to want to enjoy the space too when the time comes. And no, we haven’t forgotten the women of the house. The female version of a man cave is a ‘she shed,’ but that is another article altogether!