Picture the ultimate bachelor pad—on steroids. That’s the idea behind the man cave. It’s a refuge full of the latest and greatest gadgets and tools—some practical, others pure indulgence, but all totally, utterly cool.
Studies have actually suggested that having a private place to retreat can be beneficial to a marriage, so why not give it a go? Whether your man cave is a converted corner of the garage or a bona fide private lounge in a sprawling mansion, here are some ideas to implement in your manland, your manturary, or whatever you want to call it.
Masculine Décor
While the rest of the house might be sensibly decorated to make the home appear larger, brighter, and cleaner, anything goes in the man cave.
Why not a try to emulate a sophisticated cigar lounge? Think dark walls (burgundy or navy are both strong options), accented by rich woodwork and lots of it. Decorate walls with your pictures and portraits from your grandparents’ collections. The more leather, the merrier.
Too stuffy for you? If casual is more your thing, embrace the fraternity house vibe. Tacky beer-shaped lamps, posters from your favorite movies, and mismatched furniture that prioritizes comfort over aesthetic—all are perfectly acceptable.
The Perfect Chair
Every man cave is built around a single paramount feature: the perfect recliner. Don’t scrimp on your recliner. If you’re doing the whole man cave thing right, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your recliner: reading, chatting with buddies, watching sports, and playing video games. It’s worth spending a little extra to get a good quality chair that will only get comfier as you break it it.
The only way to find the perfect chair is to test it out firsthand. Sit down in the chair: does the headrest support your neck? Do your feet reach the ground when its in an upright position? Is the reclining device easy to use, or does it get caught easily? Focus on quality: quality fabrics, quality frame, and quality hardware holding it all together.
Root Root Root for the Home Team
Make your man cave the ultimate place to watch the game. First, kit it out with team paraphernalia you’ve acquired over the years. A framed autographed jersey is always a nice touch—if you don’t have one, make it your season goal. Don’t stop at the décor. A popcorn machine looks, in short, awesome, and will produce endless snacks until the last whistle is blown. Keep your refreshments cool with a mini beer fridge, or better yet, a “kegerator”, a personal draft beer dispensing device.
Secret Nooks and Crannies
What kid hasn’t dreamed of a secret passageway or secret hiding space tucked behind a bookcase? Time to make those dreams a reality. The pivot bookcase is a classic, and with a little carpentry effort, you can build one yourself. Stairs are another good hiding spot—you can actually build a small room or storage area directly underneath the staircase, accessible by lifting the top of stair up, like the lid on a chest.
Hollow books are classic option for a secret stash, or you can build a false bottom in a set of drawers: secure a piece of plywood a few inches above the actual bottom of the drawer. Anyone opening and closing the drawers won’t know that there’s an empty space underneath.
Pick a Theme
The craziest man caves straight out of a fantasy are completely immersed in a central theme. For instance, a Seattle couple designed a Death Star-inspired Star Wars themed man cave, complete with life-size R2D2 and C3PO statues, three tiers of seating levels, and a fiber-optic starfield.
The dive-bar theme is another popular one. Neon signs, full bar complete with stools, arcade games and vintage jukeboxes are just a few of the touches you can implement to complete the look.
Be Our Guest
Aside from your perfect recliner, you’ll want to have a few other seating options for any buddies lucky enough to score an invite. You could go for a practical couch—but the man cave is not the place to be sensible. Hang up a hammock, complete with outrageously comfortable pillows and blanket. Bean bag chairs are probably terrible for your back, but there is nothing more comfortable than diving onto an oversized bean bag chair. Nothing will make you more nostalgic for your high school days.
Women—think this all looks pretty good? Don’t let the name stop you. A woman cave is just as fun.
