Image: Remodelaholic
Teamwork makes the Dream Work!
Some call it a “home within the home” but for most, a man cave is a sanctuary – a space that gives them the freedom (no rules!) to express all the things they love. These guy retreats welcome entertaining on game day, spending time with friends, or just chilling solo to watch golf on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Settle into your recliners and follow through our step-by-step “plays” below to score a winning room for the guy in your house.
Find the Field
Ingenuity abounds when it comes to finding the right space for a man cave. While basements are the most popular location (but not in Southern Louisiana!), we’ve been inspired by converted garages and barns, bonus rooms, spare bedrooms and fantastic outdoor spaces. No space? No problem! Add-ons also work – how about building a new room just behind the garage? Thinking outside the box will help you GPS your way to that just right location in the home.
Game Plan Strategies For Winning Themes
This is where the fun begins! What’s your guy vibe?! We suggest starting with a masculine/minimalist beat as you layer in a solid theme to match personality, hobbies and interests. We’ve seen cool designs ranging from the very familiar sports and hunting, to mountain rustic, old town/western, and the more trending speakeasies, music, travel, industrial, and sleek/modern. We prefer simplicity – just one theme works best as you plan your custom guy retreat space. (Source: Sebring Design Build)
Image: The Morris Manor
No End Arounds For Colors & Finishes
Got your theme? Now it’s time to Build. The. Room . First up is selecting the wall color. We love darker, moody shades such as Sherwin-Williams Still Waters (SW 6223), a deep rustic teal. Also on our fav list is Behr Lakeside Pine (Behr PPU11-19), a strong neutral green. For those traditionalists, check out Sherwin Williams Urban Jungle (SW 9117) for a versatile medium brown. Don’t forget to match room finishes to the design vibe/room theme. Sturdy materials such as wood for the floors, stone for counter tops and feature walls, and lots of metal finishes speak guy retreat language without saying a word! Finish with a splash of natural lighting. (Source: The Spruce)
Running Interference – Gotta-Have Essentials
You know the basics are super essential, right?! We’re talking a bar & stools, beverage fridge, big-screen TV, lots and lots of leather, good lighting with dimmers, shelves to display collectibles or video games, and large wall art like movie or sports posters. Remember – this is a sanctuary that needs all the right ingredients. No man cave would be complete without checking the box on each of these essentials. (Source: DIG – Design Ideas Guide)
Don’t Move the Goal Post – Successful Finish Styling
Raise your hand if you love styling as much as we do! Styling a man cave?! Yep! That’s even more fun! This is the final step that pulls together your room’s theme & guy personality. The accessories and collectibles you add will speak volumes about your guy’s interests. Get creative displaying personally crafted items, sports memorabilia, unique collections like vinyl records, video games, bourbon bottles or motor car gadgets, a guitar wall, architectural artifacts, or even travel souvenirs. Find inspo from many great sources – including Pinterest to get great visual cues on how to layer in your unique conversation pieces. Remember – when it comes to styling and accessories - stick to your room’s theme!
Any Given Sunday Selling & Man Caves
Here’s a great question - do man caves help or hinder the selling process? Research says that very “well done” man caves with trending themes can actually help with sales and even increase a home’s value. Guy retreats continue to be popular and desirable spaces. Make sure it’s comfortable and inviting, not too busy and avoid sports themed rooms when on the market (no arm wrestling over favorite teams please!). Selling lifestyle is a big part of the buyer’s experience, so offering an inspired guy space will help potential buyers “see” themselves living in and enjoying the home. Instant replays of that amazing room and house, anyone?! (Source: First Premier International Properties)
