When I was a kid, my dad built a man cave in his basement. It had everything you’d expect: a pool table, a big-screen TV, and tons of sports memorabilia. He’d get together with his friends for poker games and watch their favorite teams on Sundays. While it’s not quite the same now that he lives alone—and has no kids to impress with his cool hangout spot—he still enjoys going down there to relax after work or play some pool before bedtime. If you’re looking to make a man cave at home but aren’t sure where to start, here are some tips from my dad himself!
Design the layout
First thing’s first: design the layout. The golden rule of man caves is that they should be a place where men can do whatever they want, so you need to be sure that the space has enough room for your man-child to stretch out and play games or watch TV without having to worry about knocking into someone else.
To determine how much space you have, measure the basement and note how many rooms are available in it (if any). You’ll also want to think about where plumbing fixtures like sinks and toilets should go if there’s not enough natural light coming through windows above ground level. Make sure there are outlets close enough for lamps and other electronics—and don’t forget about Wi-Fi! It’s crucial when planning a good man cave because nothing is worse than being stuck watching sports highlights on an iPad that isn’t connected to Wi-Fi.
Of course, if your basement is in a bad condition, consider hiring professional basement renovations services in the GTA to do all the hard work for you before you start designing.
Consider function over aesthetics
A man cave is a place where you can relax with your friends, watch the game and have a beer or two. It also needs to be functional and serve its purpose. Thus, when planning your space, consider function over aesthetics.
Your basement is likely not as wide open as an apartment living room or family room upstairs. A lot of times you’ll find yourself bumping into walls trying to get around in your basement because it’s so narrow and cramped already.
If possible, make sure that you have enough space for everything that you want to put into the man cave – whether it be a bar or a big-screen TV!
Keep it comfortable
If you can’t watch your favorite team with a cold beer and snacks, then what’s the point? Make sure you have a place to store all of your food and drinks. And if you’re the type of man who likes his cocktails neat (and I’m sure we all know what that means), then make sure there is plenty of ice in the freezer.
Keep your games close by—you will want them within easy reach when the urge strikes you while watching football or playing video games with friends. You’ll also want access to some good old-fashioned board games from time to time, so keep those around as well!
And last but not least: don’t forget about sleeping arrangements! After all, it’s important that when you make a man cave, there is somewhere comfortable where one can rest their head after a long day of work and play.
Add some nostalgia
A vintage TV will instantly transport your man cave to the ‘50s when dad used to watch sports on it with his friends. You can find old-school games at garage sales, or buy them online for cheap! And don’t forget about those toys that made you happy as a kid—they make for great conversation starters too.
Get nostalgic with posters and magazines from past decades, as well as books and photos from the same time period.
Conclusion
If you decide to make a man cave, you must remember – it is not just a place to watch sports, but also a place to get away from it all.
It is not just a living room with some TV sets and chairs in front of them. It’s an oasis where you can escape the stresses of life and enjoy some quality time with yourself or friends. A man cave should make you feel at home no matter how long you have been away from it.
Remember, you don’t have to be a contractor or even do any of the work yourself. Just let us take care of it! We’ll make sure that your man cave is ready for anything.
