Brock Franks
As a teenager you probably longed for a room that catered to your every desire, a place you could escape to away from stern or judgmental eyes. Today the man cave is editorial-worthy subject matter, with the most elite of men’s magazines showing off the latest–and often most extravagant–designs.
For the man who grew up wanting to be Batman but found himself settling into a Bruce Wayne existence, or likewise longed to join his sports idols on his own wall of fame; now is the time to make your move and make the man cave of your dreams.
That Irish pub you long to frequent can at once be brought to life with a distressed bar top, a Guinness keg, and battered tin signs.
Maybe you plan to pick up the guitar again but don’t know when or how–now you can transform your cave into a private studio, where you can jam out or even record like the best of your rock gods. If themed decor isn’t your thing and you just want some room to shoot a few hoops or game of pool, go for it.
Masculine grey hues gives this man cave a sleek handsome look. Glass bricks expand the space and contrasts perfectly with the dark hued logoed carpeting.
Geometric shapes, bright daring hues, a steely grey accent wall impressed with wainscoting, and an entire motorcycle hanging from the ceiling.
Leather theater seats complemented by wood accents makes this cinema influenced man cave a comfortable oasis. This beaming gable roofed mantuary proves that not all dugouts have to be dark or in the basement. The actual décor will depend on your personal tastes and we’ll go into that in the next article How Do You Decorate a Man Cave?
Before diving into building your refuge, make certain to include these basic amenities that all man caves SHOULD have. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TV produces fantastic images, are thinner, and much lighter than the old style CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) televisions. In addition, flat screen TVs are available in much larger sizes than their older counterparts.
Simply choose the television that gives you your money’s worth and one that offers the best up-to-date features.
Are you the type of man who prefers his mantuary to be a place of relaxation and peace like a library or home office? What you don’t need is to wake-up with a stiff neck due to falling asleep on a less than ergonomic chair design.
Back in the day, most advertisements for recliner chairs or “Lazy Boys” featured photos of men smoking a pipe relaxing and reading the newspaper. Having a man cave means not having to go to the fridge upstairs to retrieve a cold drink.
Keeping a fridge, not a cooler, in your mantuary gives you the luxury, convenience, and instant access to the beverages you and your guests consume. Determine your needs like size, volume, temperature adjustment, and of course price, before buying your fridge.
Don’t forget additional features like an ice cube maker or sparkling water dispenser. Now you can place your 1994 FIFA World Cup souvenir where its meant to be, out of the family kitchen and in your manly digs!
Why not immerse yourself and your cave man friends in a rugby match, a classic manly movie like Gladiator, or some smooth jazz music by one of the jazz greats like Chuck Loeb with the ultimate in stereophonic sound for a more realistic experience? A mantuary gives a man the permission to go all out and be as creative, quirky, and offbeat as he wants.
A theme is a guide when making decisions about additional stuff like flooring, wall color, and furnishings. All decorative details should complement the overall theme to create a discriminating, yet individualistic, well thought out man cave nexus.
You simply want “your space.” If that’s the case, then you can simply throw in a beer barrel to keep your drinks cold, automobile floor mats – at least they’re waterproof, and an old chair with the itchy material you picked up from the goodwill store. If you’re a sports fanatic, your man cave provides you with the option to show loyalty to your favorite team and a space where you and your cronies can enjoy watching them play.
There are a plethora of choices available to display your passion and enthusiasm from chalkboard game tables to recycled golf club coat racks. A games table like pool or air hockey, is another way to decorate your space and make it interactive as well.
If your refuge is situated in the basement for example, have your favorite team’s logo etched into a concrete floor.
Spending an exorbitant amount of money on your seating arrangements is not necessary, but give yourself a break.
Have an electrician check outlets and wiring to determine if any changes are needed to get your man cave up and functioning the way you want. If you have a decent cigar collection, consider getting a humidor that harmonizes with your man cave décor.
Speaking of temperatures, be sure to install proper air conditioning and heating to keep your mantuary zone comfortable throughout the year. If you want to put a muscle car billiard table, beer bong, or scent the room with masculine musk candles, go right ahead.
Whether it’s furniture, wall color, lighting, or a waterfall, get inspired by browsing their ideas. Don’t believe that concepts like feng shui are too feminine and will interfere with the mannish vibe of your enclave.
Prices vary, but as a benchmark a mantuary can cost anywhere from $400 to $24,000 to build, depending upon how much you want to spend and how deep your pockets are. If you’re just scraping by and struggling with your daily necessities, it’s probably best to leave out the man cave idea until you’re in a better position financially.
However, most blokes don’t have it like that and must adhere to a budget to keep things running smoothly. There will be certain expenses unique to your specific theme or idea and will entail all the particulars required to bring your manspace to fruition.
If you plan on installing something as unique as a man spa, it’s going to cost you as you will need to hire a contractor to build it for you. TV Paint-per gallon Flooring Sound System Furnishings like seating and bar stools Fridge Devices and gadgets Hutch-if you plan to build your man cave outside from square one Special décor relative to your theme like a humidor for a cigar collection Electricity Additional building costs for a bathroom, bar, book shelves, hidden doorway, and more.
