Every man needs a man cave.
If you have a space in your home that you've wanted to turn into your own man cave for a while but don't know how or where to start, this post should help you get started.
Here you'll learn everything you need to know to turn a space into a little corner of paradise.
Best of all, you'll learn tips for making it all happen on a budget.
You're long overdue for a man cave. It's time to make it happen. Read on.
1. Find a Location
Maybe you already have a location for your man cave in mind, and if so, that's great.
On the other hand, the lack of a perfect place in your home for your man cave may be the main thing that's holding you back from diving in.
A man cave does not have to be a huge space. Plenty of guys have created man caves in unconventional places on their property.
Although the phase man cave tends to evoke images of a finished basement, you can use any available space in your house. An attic will also work, and so will a garage, a den, or a rarely used spare bedroom. Any room can be a man cave once you add the right decor.
Don't limit yourself to indoor options either. If you have an outdoor shed or patio, you could also install your man cave there. It might not be exactly what you imagined, but it could end up being even better.
2. Evaluate Your Space
Once you've settled on a space for your man cave, you'll need to take some time to evaluate the space in general. Addressing basic issues before you've begun loading in the furniture and amusements will save you a lot of time, headaches, and money further on down the line.
Utilities
You want to make sure your man cave is ready for anything. Think about the space's electrical and plumbing capacities before your ideas get too grandiose.
You'll likely end up with a bunch of different things you'll want to plug in, so are there enough outlets? Is the electrical system be powerful enough for your needs?
Is there a bathroom nearby? If you're going to have guests in your man cave, you might not want them using the house's primary bathroom all the time. A closet bathroom could be a great addition to your man cave now before you begin or sometime down the road.
If you plan to install a wet bar, you'll need to make sure that's feasible with your home's plumbing layout as well.
Lighting
How's the lighting? Your lighting needs will vary depending on the intended use of the space. If you plan to mainly watch movies and play video games, soft lighting may be enough. You may want brighter lights if you will be using the space to work out, to have jam sessions with others, or to host darts tournaments.
There are so many different ways to get creative with lighting. You can find tons of great lighting solutions in secondhand stores for next to nothing. LED string lights are another affordable and fun option as well.
Air
How is the ventilation in your space? If you will be smoking in your man cave, you want to make sure that there's a way to let the smoke out, or else it will become uncomfortable and gross in there rapidly.
Also, is the space heated and cooled properly? It won't be as fun spending time in your special space if you're freezing or sweating for much of the year. Fans and space heaters can help, but they can only do so much.
Sound
One last factor to consider when evaluating your space is sound. If you have young children, you'll want your man cave to be far enough away from their spaces so they won't be bothered by the noise of you and your rambunctious friends. Professional soundproofing can break the bank, but there are lots of affordable, DIY methods to help you lower the volume for your family.
3. Think About Themes
Once you have the blank space figured out and ready to go, you can start thinking about possible themes for your man cave.
When it comes to themes, there are so many different directions that you can go.
Since it will be your space, you will probably choose a theme that aligns with your own personal interests. If you're into movies, turn your man cave into the ultimate movie theater. If sports are your thing, then you can design the theme of your space around the celebration of your favorite teams. Hunters might give their space a cozy hunting cabin type of vibe.
Some man caves are functional spaces. You might create the perfect home gym, a music-focused space to practice with your band, or a rumpus room to play pool, poker, darts, and foosball. Some guys want a man cave that's also a workshop, so that's an option to consider, too.
If you're someone who appreciates the finer things in life, you can turn your man cave into a wine cellar, cigar lounge, or both.
Of course, you shouldn't feel like your man cave has to have a theme. Your man cave can be anything you want it to be, of course, but centering your needs around a idea may make it easier to plan and organize your space without going wildly over your planned budget.
4. Organizing Your Cave
Next, you can plan out the layout of your man cave space. If you plan on entertaining there, you'll want to include lots of open arrangement seating for your guests. Most man cave hosts choose a big, comfy recliner chair for themselves.
Almost every man cave features a television or other big screen for watching movies and sports, so most of the furniture will likely point in that direction. If you want to include an additional focal point in the room, a central game table - like pool or table tennis - is a nice touch if you have the space.
Remember to balance the room and be careful not to make it overcrowded. You don't want to have to jump over things to get from one side of the room to the other.
5. Cool Features
You man cave will be your sanctuary. You'll want to include as many fun things and toys as possible. However, it's easy to go overboard when choosing these things. Make a list of what you want and prioritize it. If there are some things you can't afford at present, you can always add them later.
There are so many different types of cool features to consider including. Some might feel like necessities to your theme; others might just be fun add-ons.
If you plan to watch sports and movies in your man cave, you'll want to invest in a good television or projector. You can add a sound system from the very beginning or add it later on.
People who enjoy games will likely want to include things like a poker table, arcade games, a dart board, a pool table, or foosball.
A bar with stools is a nice touch if you have the space for it, and it's even cooler if you build it yourself. At the very least, you'll probably want to install a small fridge in your man cave, along with a cabinet for non-perishable snacks.
If you love cigars, a humidor is a classy touch. A jukebox is a very large investment, but is something to consider as well if you love music, and they're beautiful, too.
6. How to Save Money on Your Man Cave
It's easy to go way overboard when planning a man cave. You want it to have everything.
However, unless you want your man cave to cost more than the rest of your whole house is worth, you'll have to reign yourself in a bit.
Before you even begin, set a budget for your man cave and stick to it. This is easier said than done. However, don't forget that once built, you can continue to upgrade your man cave a little each year.
Of course, the best way to save money on your man cave is to do the work on your own instead of hiring someone to do it for you. You can recruit your friends to help you; after all, when it's complete, they'll be enjoying the space too. Be careful not to overestimate your constriction, electrical, or plumbing skills for safety's sake, but you can probably do quite a bit of the room's transformation independently.
If you'll be renovating the space, make a list of the building materials you'll need and their prices. Once this list is complete, add ten to fifteen percent to the final number to see a realistic estimate of your actual costs.
When it comes to decor and furnishings, buy as much of it as you can secondhand.
Many of the items you'll find in a typical man cave are the same items that frequently end up at secondhand stores. You'll simply have to take the time and make the effort to look. In just a few visits, you can find things like game tables, dart boards, couches, recliners, lights, speakers, and more at a fraction of their retail prices.
You can also find many of these things on local online marketplace sites. People are often upgrading their own man caves and would love to pass to you on items that they no longer need.
Happy Planning
After reading this post, you're surely excited to get started on the planning of your own man cave. Now that you are full of enthusiasm and ideas, take some time to brainstorm your own ideas and begin to list the things and skills your need to accomplish the cave of your dreams. Soon, you'll be sitting back in your recliner with your feet up watching the big game with your closest friends in a space tailor-made for you. Good luck!
If you're looking for some cool metal art to decorate the walls of your future man cave, check out our vast collection of indoor decor. We have something to offer for every theme and taste.