In our busy, congested and invasive modern world full of gadgets, it is hard to find personal space. Yes, a trip to a beach house or a cabin in woods offers this pleasure. But who can actually afford one every week or two? For many men (and women!), their garage has become an extension of themselves; a place where they can go when they need to relax and regroup. The garage may not be as luxurious as that pricey vacation rental but it gets the job done.
Man caves are a very popular home improvement project. Your biggest challenge is deciding how you will use your space. This article should help you make some important decision.
Table of contents
Decide What Kind of Man Cave You Want to Create
The garage is a great place to use for many purposes. It can be as simple or complex as the space will allow and funds permit. That’s why it’s important to start by figuring out what kind of environment you want to create in your garage.
A Place to Work on Projects:
If you work on different projects in your garage, then create a personalized space just for this. This might mean installing shelving and cabinets or organizing tools that are easy to access so they’re close by when you need them. It’s also important not to clutter the area because it will be hard to make the best use of the space if it’s cluttered.
A Place to Relax:
A man cave should be a place where you can relax and enjoy some down time with friends or family, so have fun decorating this area in ways that are comforting or inspiring. It might not even require any major work at all because your home garage may have many characteristics that look like a man cave already!
The Game Room:
If you want to take it to the next level, there are plenty of ideas and tips on how to make your garage into a game room. A pool table is always great for parties or just hanging out with friends after work. Just don’t forget about some comfy seating in the man cave so your visitors can relax while they wait for their turn.
The Office Space:
The garage can also be a great place to work at home. Its anticipated that more people will do that in the coming years so setting up a home office may be important for you.
Once you’ve figured out how you will use your space, it’s time to consider the interior design. Some finishing touches might include adding a TV, sound system to create the room of your dreams.
Flooring and Walls for the Man Cave
The flooring and the walls in your garage can have a big impact on the look and feel of your garage. If you’re looking to add some flair, there are plenty of options at your disposal. For example, if you want a rugged feel with the look and texture, then make use of the concrete garage floor and consider having it polished and finished. Garages can be cold places so you may want to consider carpet or rugs. Metal cladding can also be a great, industrial looking finish to your walls.
If you are looking to go with a more contemporary feel, then consider installing epoxy paint on the floor and walls which is durable, moisture-resistant and easy to clean. It will also come in many different colours so you can match it seamlessly with any décor or mood that suits your fancy.
Consider the Insulation of your Man Cave
The original purpose of your garage was to keep your car nice protected from the elements. Now that you are using it for a man cave, think about what kind of insulation will be best to ensure warmth in colder months or summer heat is kept at bay as well. If you are installing air conditioning or heating then the insulation is still important if you want to keep your bills in check. It will also help make sure that the temperature is easily controlled in your man cave.
Plan Where you Need Electricity
If you are going to install a TV, computer or something else that will require plugging in, plan where the outlets will go. You don’t want extension cords and cables running all over the place and being disconnected when someone bumps into them.
You’ll also need to consider the lighting to suit your space. Different light types will change the mood of your man cave.
Select Your Style for Furniture and Accessories
The seating you choose is really important to how your man cave looks and functions. It’s nice to have a couple of chairs for watching TV or reading, and you might need space for a desk and computer work too!
If it is just going to be a work space then there are all sorts of things that can be done with desks from adding shelving underneath or installing bookcases on the side. There are plenty of items that you can add, such as paint and shelving to keep your space organized.
Choose the Layout of Your Man Cave
You will need somewhere comfortable to sit and if it’s just you then this can be any old armchair but when entertaining, get a couple of sofas that offer enough seating space for everyone!
You might want a couple of areas in your man cave where different activities can happen simultaneously or you may prefer to go with one large open space. Decide what is going to work best for you and anything else you need! For many tradesmen, who tend to get very dirty due to the nature of their work, it might be helpful to have a small laundry designed to fit perfectly in one corner of the man cave.
Be Creative
A Man Cave is a great place to hang out with some friends or have your buddies over for the big game. It can also be a great place to get some peace and quiet while you do some work, either on the tools or on the computer. If you have a small home and need some more living space, transform your garage into your Man Cave.
The key is to think about what activities need space and how many people are going to be using the man cave at any given time. It’s your space to enjoy so have some fun with it!