Man cave ideas

You might think that hanging out in your "man cave" is a dated idea. And to some extent, it is. We often associate the idea of a man cave with guys sitting around a poker table, or people drinking around a private sports bar. It's where men went to escape from the pressures of being the family bread-winner. But those days are over and under the banner of the "modern man cave", the idea is making a comeback. Man caves are now family spaces, where men and women can socialise together.
In addition to rethinking the idea of a man cave, these spaces are now replacing traditional rumpus rooms, pool rooms, and poolside cabanas. Garage man caves are a popular place to watch a game of NRL or AFL, play a retro arcade game, display sports memorabilia, and create an enjoyable space.

So what's the best way to buck tradition and create an inviting social space? What should you include in your ultimate man cave?

Bring the action...

The best place to start is with activities that visitors can enjoy together. You're unlikely to be able to fit something like a bowling alley, but if you have plenty of space you could consider things like a ping pong table, pool table, air hockey tables or card tables. If you have only limited space, consider things like a dart board, foosball table, or a table for board games.

Many commercially-available activity tables (like pool tables) do double-duty these days, and have in-built ways to use them for other activities. Some specially-built tables include a number of fun games in one, with quick conversion from one activity to another.
Feel free to include a gaming console like a PlayStation, Xbox or Switch but try to pick video games that people can play together.

Shared spaces

Creating the perfect space doesn't mean you need a dedicated man cave space, or that your man cave needs to take up an entire space. Combining your man cave with other functional rooms is fine, and you should still have ample space. Perhaps you don't have a whole room to turn into a modern man cave? That's fine! You can get great value from shared spaces that combine your man cave activities with other things.

Maybe your man cave doubles as an office space so that you can work during the week and relax on weekends? Maybe your beer fridge doubles as a practical second fridge and you store bulk-bought items in the same space like drinks or wine bottles. Maybe you're a musician and so your modern man cave doubles as a practice space or music studio with real musical instruments.

Shared spaces are also the perfect opportunity to combine your man cave decor ideas with other themes and decorative elements. A comfy couch or sectional sofa can be used for everything from social gatherings to movie nights. And the ability to get a cold beer from the fridge will be just as handy for BBQs as it will for poker night with the boys. If you start from the basis that you're creating a great hangout space, you'll see you don't need to be locked in to particular ideas.

Style and substance

Traditional man caves were often practical, masculine spaces with little focus on creating an elegant space to suit everyone. But there's no need for your modern man cave to look like the inside of an actual cave. A rustic style is fine, but there's no need for empty liquor bottles or crumbling leather armchairs if that's not your style. Your perfect man cave might not even be inside, and plenty of people now aim to create a great outdoor space to enjoy the Australian weather.

Start by picking a colour that suits you and creates an inviting atmosphere. A couple of neon beer signs or bar signs can be fun, but don't overdo it. Most amazing man cave designs ensure that it is easily identifiable as a man cave, without packing the space full of stereotypical "blokey" or kitsch items.

Think about your ambient and accent lighting and choose lights and lamps that work well with your activities. That movie-studio-style light might be great in the corner of your home cinema, but it won't do much to provide even light for your pool table.
Ensure there is ample seating space. Standing up with a drink in your hand is fine for a while, but if you want to let your guests relax, give them somewhere to sit.

Whether you want to create a cool man cave, a chic man cave, or hobby space where you can get your hands dirty, don't be afraid to go the extra mile, as it were, and really make it a space you can enjoy.

Inclusions

So what should you include in your man cave? There are a number of "stereotypical" inclusions but that might not be your style. Try to find personal touches that really make a space your own. So what else is there? Here are a few cool man cave ideas:

• Sports memorabilia - if you're a big sports fan you can include part of your sports memorabilia collection. Or, if you don't have one, it might be time to start and establishing a man cave is a great excuse. Try to stick to a theme - if you're a baseball fan, include a number of baseball bats, jerseys from your favourite team, or actual baseballs. Avoid turning your man cave into a Rebel Sport with generic items that don't have a story. 
• Music memorabilia - if you're a music fan, you might already have a collection of cool things you've been wanting to display for a while. Actual instruments might be a strange display piece for a living room or a bedroom but could fit perfectly into your man cave aesthetic. Don't go overboard - a particular theme can be a good idea but avoid turning your man cave into a shrine for a particular band.
• Other collectables - maybe you have some action figures from your childhood, or a record collection, or some other collection like historical bottle caps. A man cave can be a great place to display things that you wouldn't usually display in a normal living space. If you have a large collection, it can help to select a few key pieces for display, and you can even rotate them occasionally so that regular guests have something new to ask you about each time they visit.
• Food and drink - perhaps cooking is your hobby or you fancy yourself an amateur cocktail barman? A man cave can be a great place to prepare and serve food on special occasions, or display that item you use to make your specialty. If you have an outdoor man cave, or a man cave adjoining an outdoor area, things like a fancy BBQ or wood smoker can create a centrepoint for cooking and socialising. Or choose an alcohol theme, build a man cave bar, and display your spirits in style.
• Home theatre equipment - perhaps films and television are your thing? Many modern homes include a home theatre room but combining a home theatre with a man cave can be a great idea. Movie collectibles can often be integrated into man cave decor and a home theatre aligns well with the idea of a man cave as a relaxing space. If you don't have room for both, combining them can work really well (see "shared spaces" above).

Conclusion

Whether you want a space where you can relax, a space where you can socialise, or a space where you can enjoy the big game on a big screen, a man cave can be a great option. And you don't have to stick to traditional stereotypes. You can give your man cave a modern aesthetic and include a range of additional design elements to suit your own design aesthetic.

The great news is that you can find a range of BorisDoes Taskers and Businesses right here on this platform to help you create the perfect man cave. From plasterers and painters to convert your garage, to audio-visual installers for that big-screen TV and surround-sound system. Maybe you need a removalist to get that pool table delivered, or even a cleaner after your latest big event? You can find a wide range of services on BorisDoes and it's super easy! Simply start a task or request a quote to get estimates from professionals near you.