There’s only one rule for a man cave, guy room, den, mantuary or whatever you call the men-only space in your house: There are no rules.
So I won’t give you any rules for setting up your space. I’ll just offer a few suggestions:
- Write down everything you want to do in the room. What is your vision for the room? Is it the ultimate game room? A home gym? A place to play poker? A gathering spot for watching football? The better you plan, the happier you’ll be with the result.
- Don’t just plan for activities; plan the space before you invest a dime in furniture. The biggest mistake we guys make when we finally get a room of our own is to cram so much stuff into it that it won’t all fit. My advice: Measure everything, especially electronic equipment like your big-screen TV, before you buy tables or cabinets to store it all on. Spring for a consultation with an interior designer. You might want to choose a male designer, but any design pro who has designed men-only rooms before will be able to give you some great ideas.
- Err on the side of too big. Even if you plan to add to your room in stages, plan the whole project from the start. It’s easier to add on than to undo.
- Pick a theme. If you root for the Cardinals (or maybe the LSU Tigers), your man cave is the place to show your pride. Or maybe you’re into fishing or NASCAR or hunting; here’s one room in the house where your trophies and souvenirs are welcome. Stick with a single theme and choose colors that complement it. Or, stay neutral with muted, masculine shades of beige, gray or blue. If you like the look of wood, take a look at oak wall panels, a popular choice for guys-only rooms.
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