So you have decided you want a Man Cave, now what? You probably have searched the internet high and low looking at pictures of man caves to get an idea of what your perfect man cave would look like. You will probably take a little something from each of your favorite designs or themes. At the end of the day, each man cave is unique and represents the owner’s personality and interests. Now that you have a concept of what you want your man cave to be, it’s time to determine location, floor plan, and theme.
You may want to consider a few things when you determine where your Man Cave will be. Different locations will offer certain advantages and disadvantages. The typical locations to consider is the basement, garage, shed, attic, or spare room. You will find most man caves are in the basement or garage. If you are in a flood zone or have a leaky basement, you probably don’t want you man cave there. Privacy is a factors to consider when determining the location of your man cave. Since a shed is detached from the rest of the home, it will probably offer the most privacy. If you already spend a lot of time in your garage or workshop, it probably makes sense to convert it into a multi-purpose man cave. If you don’t have a basement, garage, or shed, then you may have to settle for a spare room. An attic is also a lesser known location for a man cave that is ideal if space is limited.
Now that you have determined the location of your man cave, it’s time to sketch out what your dream man cave will look like. A floor plan of your man cave will help you visualize your space and determine how much of your stuff you can fit in it. Once the size of your location is determined, it’s a good idea to map out how everything will appear and fit in that location before you begin to make any purchases. I use Google Sketchup to visualize and size up my dream space, it free and fairly simple to use. Here is a design I created using the tool.
3D Man Cave Idea using Google Sketchup
Now that you have a mock of your man cave and know where it will be, it’s time to put your personal stamp on your creation – Your Theme. Most themes related to sports, hobbies, or other interests. Some are more conservative and just covers the essentials, such as, flat screens, recliner, and bar. Other common items include, a pool table, dart board, and man cave sign. Other items that will personalize your theme are your trophies, memorabilia, and collectables. Your theme will tell anyone who steps into your cave what your all about.
