For years men have had a very small portion of the home dedicated to their use. In an ideal world, Man Caves of yesteryear would get a small corner of the basement for their tools and maybe a bar, however the basement bar is quickly being replaced with spaces that are far more sophisticated. In the past year we have seen a surge in customers wanting dedicated "man caves" or "men dens" as some furniture manufacturers are calling it. Whatever you want to call it, here are a few of tips to make your Man Cave the best it can be.
1. Find a Dedicated Space
Home office and Lounge - Chicago, IL
The Man Cave needs to be in a dedicated space. It can be a spare bedroom, a portion of a finished basement or a space over the garage. The key is, it should be a space where you can retreat from the remainder of the household activities.
2. Purpose
Like any room in your home, a clear objective needs to be set for the space, otherwise it will feel like a cobbled together spare room. Will the room be used for entertainment where he can watch TV, play Xbox and Playstation with his pals? Or, will it be a place where he can perform office work. With many professionals spending more time telecommuting or needing a place to work after hours, we are typically seeing a combination of the two. Part for working, part for relaxing. Whatever you choose, make sure that every decision maker in the house is on board with the decision.
3. Pick a Style
Modern Artwork in an Office and Lounge we Designed - Chicago, IL
Man caves from the '90's featured pool tables, beer signs and typically a poster featuring some "beer babe". Spaces today are a lot classier and more refined. They typically feel more like a cigar lounge instead of a corner tavern.
Whatever vibe you are going for, it’s important to keep a consistent vibe. You could go for something more sleek and modern, or, if you have a neon sign or Pez dispenser collection you want to show off, there are always creative ways of incorporate it into your home.
4. Start Designing
Before you reach into your pocket to pull out a credit card, make sure to take the time to design. You can either hire a designer (like us) to help you through the process, or, if you want to tackle it on your own go for it! The key to designing a great space is to draw up a floor plan, pick out some inspiration images and start laying out the space. Much like your high school English teacher would make you write up an outline, documenting furniture selections and laying them out on a floor plan is essentially your outline for your room. Sites like Pinterest are a great place to document your furniture choices and find ideas, but be careful, it can get very overwhelming.
5. Get Shopping!
Once you have the design complete or at least 75% of the way, it's time to start shopping for the pieces of furniture, paint the room and getting contractors lined up for any necessary renovations.
Man caves are becoming an important part of a home these days. With a little planning and by involving the entire family in the interior design process, you can not only make a space that works for the man of the house, but can also create a space that everyone in the house will enjoy.