Building the Ultimate Man Cave – 6 Essential ‘Blokey’ Considerations
The ‘man cave’ has progressed considerably over the years. Originally it was a place only for the man – no women, no family and no friends. It was a space for the man to simply be that – a man. These days however, it’s boomed into something a little more flexible. A room where they have the freedom to create it their way build it their way and decorate it their way. Whilst it’s still the room they can ‘escape to’ for some quiet time, it’s become a place now where generally, friends and women are welcome – just more on the man’s terms!
When it comes to decorating the home, men and women rarely see eye to eye and this is why the man is usually happy for the women to take charge with the home’s trappings. This is where the man cave comes in. Not only does it provide the man with his own space to relax in, but it means he can design it the way he sees fit – whether that means a sweet shot-glass collection or a display of action figurines. We check out the ultimate way to build your man cave, and all the blokey considerations you’ll need.
1. Define its Purpose
The first step in designing the ultimate man cave is to define its purpose – and I’m talking about more than just a room to escape in. Think outside the box and stick to one main theme that reflects your interests and hobbies. A man cave should be all about expressing your individuality in a visual and fun way. If you’re a sports fanatic, you’ve probably already got a great collection of memorabilia you can start to use to define the room and plan your man cave around. Use this as a starting point to source inspiration for the rest of the space.
Make a list of cave materials, the items you need to outsource. It could be a new poker table, a dart board or a pool table. When you’re finding your bloke essentials, keep the cave layout in mind to ensure everything fits into the space accordingly.
2. Design it like You’re On Vacation
The idea behind a man cave is to walk into a room that’s relaxing, warm and inviting. It should be designed as a space where you can escape the daily hustle and outside stress. Not everyone can afford a vacation or able to take time of work regularly, so having a room that’s dedicated to a little recoup time is ideal for anyone.
Incorporate flexible design and open living into the cave to get that vacation feeling where possible. If you own the home, this will make it easier if you need to sell down the track too. Think about the things you love when you’re on a holiday and integrate them into the cave.
On that note, designing a space to recoup in needs to be just that; a space to recoup in. So you probably don’t want diapers, drama-like discussions and emotions in your cave – unless of course it’s from the anger and frustration of your team losing.
3. Technology (and a Giant Couch) is a Must
A man cave without a decent level of technology isn’t really a man cave at all. You don’t have to splurge out and not everyone thrives on a huge flat screen for luxury, but it’s definitely a realistic feature to have. Having a second TV in the man cave in addition to the family living room offers a lot more freedom too, for both parties.
If you don’t have the budget to spend on a high-end tech TV, something simple can still do the trick – as long as it supports your x-box. Add a few LED lights behind the TV that rotate in different colours to give that ‘movie theatre’ vibe to the space. They’re a great feature to have, easy to install and can fit almost anyone’s budget.
Comfort is essential for any successful man cave so invest in a good couch for the room. Especially if you plan on having the blokes over for a sport match session, ample seating is a must. Depending on the size of the space and its overall purpose, you’ll want at least one large couch and few single armchairs, actually no – a recliner – you need a recliner.
4. Beer and Beats
No man cave is complete without a good sound system and a bar fridge. A key purpose of the room is so you don’t have to leave the couch to grab a beer, right? So make sure you have a suitable beer fridge within arm’s reach to avoid the daunting task of needing to walk anywhere too far. If you have the room for it, upgrade to a full bar that’s stocked with everything you need complete with a few bar stools to set that pub vibe right at your fingertips.
Good music will help set the atmosphere – whether it’s for some background beats or connected to the TV to blast out some music videos (perfect for the bloke that isn’t into the sports scene). For the music enthusiast, it may pay to set up a small ‘garage band’ in your man cave too complete with a loud drum kit and guitars to shred on.
5. Not Just Your Average Basement
Ideally, the space to create your shiny new man cave is usually in the basement or garage – but don’t let your imagination stop there. As the man cave evolves, the room is becoming more family oriented to a space that can be a little more public.
A spare room can be easily turned into a man cave. It’s all about finding that space where you’re allowed to put in a larger TV or all that sports memorabilia your wife doesn’t want up in other public rooms. For homes that are lacking space, it is possible to turn a walk in robe or large closet into a man cave. If the man cave space is small, make use of mirrors to open up the room and make it feel larger than what it really is.
6. Added Investment
When buying a new property, potential homeowners are always on the lookout for that extra space – a room that can potentially be turned into a man cave. These days, high-end buyers expect the home to have that room, whether it is a media room or a finished basement they can design to their needs.
Having this extra space not only gives you a great excuse to create your own man cave, but it has a significantly positive impact on the value of your home come resale time. This is why it’s essential you opt for a design that’s flexible.
