Everyone needs some time off to do the things they are passionate about. Others just really need to let off some steam, relax and take care of their mental health. This goes for both gents and ladies, especially those who slave it out all day doing work, taking care of family, chores and other everyday tasks. For guys, that special place could be a man cave. If you don’t have one, you could convert your garage into a man cave.
Basic Garage Improvements
Start off by doing some basic tasks to prepare your garage for its makeover. The first step is to clean the place up. Take everything out and get rid of those you don’t really need. You can hold a garage sale for the items that still have value. Put the money you earn on your man cave budget or set it aside for other needs.
Emptying your garage will give you a better feel for the space. It’ll be easier to picture the layout of your man cave with a blank canvas, so to speak.
Insulation
You can’t relax and have peace of mind if your body feels too hot or too cold. To convert your garage into a man cave, you should definitely have it insulated. Proper insulation will help regulate the temperature inside the room making it more comfortable to stay in.
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You also don’t want the neighbors knocking and telling you to keep the noise down. Install soundproofing so you can play music, watch films in full volume, or relive your garage band days without worries.
Floor
You probably need to do something with the floor. Most garages have concrete floors that may not be too appealing for a man cave. RaceDeck is a popular name when it comes to garage floors. Their Diamond Plate Garage Flooring Tiles are easy to install. In fact, you can do it yourself. The interlocking tiles are also easy to clean and slip resistant. Plus, these floor tiles look awesome. Your man cave will definitely look a whole lot better with a new floor.
In areas where you want to go barefoot, you can place rugs or carpets. You can also divide the floor. Use garage floor tiles for the area where you’ll park your vehicle (if you’re still using it as a garage).For the rest of your man cave, you can use floorboards.
Paint
A new coat of paint will give your garage a fresh new look. Depending on your chosen color scheme, you can feel more alive or more relaxed once you enter you man cave. This year’s pantone colors are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (a kind of yellow). You can go with that combination or choose from this list of best paint colors for a man cave.
You can do the old-fashioned way and paint using brushes. If you can’t wait to convert your garage into a man cave, you could use a paint spray gun to hasten things a bit. There’s also the option of hiring a professional painter if you don’t have the skills.
Lighting and Wirings
That single light bulb in the middle of the garage won’t cut it. You need proper lighting to inspire your mood while spending your free time in your man cave. You also want your man cave to be properly illuminated in the right places. If you’re putting up a poker table, for example, you need to have the right light over it.
It would be great if you know how to install lighting. If you have no idea about the wirings and such, it’s best to leave this to the professionals. Remember, this concerns electricity and one wrong move could be fatal.
Security
You’ll definitely go bonkers if intruders ransack your new man cave. Avoid such concerns by making sure your garage is secured. Of course, you should not forget about the rest of your property.
First, reinforce your garage door. It’s considered one of the weakest points of a home. In fact, it’s usually the culprit why a house is destroyed or damaged during a hurricane. A weak garage door can easily be blown away by strong winds. When that happens the house becomes more vulnerable.
Intruders can also get in your home through the garage door. Aside from reinforcing it, make sure you use a sturdy lock. It should also move up and down without any hitches. If it gets stuck, intruders can squeeze through the open space.
If there are windows, reinforce them as well. You should also install proper lighting and security cameras along the driveway. Don’t forget to keep a fire extinguisher in your man cave, too.
Man Cave Ideas
Figure out what you really want to do during those precious moments you get to spend alone. Do you want to watch a movie, play video games or read a book? Maybe you want to go back to an old hobby such as painting, woodworking or doing arts and crafts? Perhaps you just want a place where you can enjoy a nice drink to end your day and also entertain your buddies when they drop by? The choices are endless.
Game Room
Most men (and ladies, too) would love to relive a part of their childhood. The fun parts, at least. That includes playing games with friends as often as possible. The games may be a lot different now that you’re all grown up but what’s important is you squeeze in some playtime in your hectic lives.
Tabletop Games
A lot of men convert their garage into a man cave with poker in mind. It seems to be the most popular of such tabletop games. A simple table covered with green felt would do if you just want to play poker with your best buds. But if you want to make your man cave extra special, why not build a poker table. Once you’re done with the table, all you need now are a poker set and friends to play against.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy7C4p2KnDs&ab_channel=zebufuff
Some popular board games include chess, Scrabble, Snake and Ladders. You probably played Dungeons and Dragons when you were a kid. That’s one of the most popular adventure or role-playing board games ever.
Aside from Poker, other card games you can enjoy in your man cave are Solitaire, Go Fish, UNO, Magic: The Gathering and even tarot card games. Dominoes and Mahjong are examples of tile-based. Of course, you can play drinking card games. Probably not on your own, though.
Another popular tabletop game is foosball. You need someone to play with, though. Invite your spouse or the kids to your man cave every once in a while for a game of foosball. Other games you can enjoy with your family include Monopoly, Pictionary, Battleship, and UNO Stacko.
On days you prefer to be alone, you can while away the time doing crosswords, Sudoku or similar games. If you’re looking for a little more excitement, try any of these one-player games.
Video Games
You probably dreamt of spending all day and night just playing video games. Well, some people are living the dream playing video games for a living. If you’re one of these lucky gamers, you can turn your garage into your gaming station.
For those who are not skilled enough to play in the eSports World Convention or other competitive gaming tournaments, a simple setup in your man cave should be fine. You just need a gaming desk, gaming chair, and your computer, of course.
Dart Board
Dart boards are a common sight in sports bars. If this is your cup of tea, you should find a spot in your man cave where the darts won’t endanger anyone. You should also protect your wall, especially if you’re no Phil Taylor.
You need something that will stand between the dart and the wall. Wooden pallet, cork board, Styrofoam, and cardboard are just some of the materials you can use. If you have an old door, you can use it too.
Pool Table
Man caves and pool tables seem synonymous. Whenever you see a well-off person’s man cave in a film, there’s almost always a pool table. Makes sense since lots of guys would love to have a pool table in their man cave. It just reeks of manliness. If you can afford one then there’s no stopping you. Except the wife, perhaps.
Storage for Collectibles
If you’re a collector aka a child at heart, you’ll eventually need a room to store your treasures. Your man cave is a good place to keep your collection.
If you still like to collect toys and action figures, you will need to store them properly. Glass display cases are best for expensive toy figures. If you don’t have them, place the boxes on shelves.
Whether you’re a serious collector or not, you must keep your collection clean. Aside from dusting your toys every now and then, you should also think about moisture. It can ruin your prized possessions. Ensuring proper airflow in your man cave would help big time. A heater, air conditioner and dehumidifier are also necessary not only for your collection but also for your comfort.
Bar
When you convert your garage into a man cave, it’s imperative that you include a small bar in the layout. Even if you only drink on occasions, you should have a chiller or personal refrigerator for your booze and spirits.
Build a bar counter so you can pretend to be at your favorite watering hole while waiting for this pandemic to bid adieu. Once you can invite your buddies over, you can entertain them from your own mini bar. Go ahead and learn how to mix drinks so you know the difference between shaken and stirred.
TV Room
It’s nice to have some free time to catch up on their favorite television series or go out to watch a movie. The latter would be quite problematic nowadays, though. The coronavirus pandemic certainly ruined the movie going experience.
For now, people have to settle with watching at home. It’s not that bad really since there are tons of awesome TV shows and movies you can watch on Netflix, Disney+, or other streaming services. Another good thing about watching at home is you get to be as comfortable as possible. This is especially true if you have some kind of theater room for a man cave.
This kind of man cave will be a tad costly since you’ll want a huge screen and sound surround system to give you that cinema feels. A nice and comfy couch is also necessary. Don’t forget the popcorn.
Work Area
You’re turning your garage into a man cave because you want some respite from work and other stressors. So why make a work area, you ask. Some people like to spend their free time making something.
Car or motor enthusiasts, for example, will always be cleaning or doing repairs on their vehicles. Creative people yearn for some time to make art or build stuff. You can also convert your garage into a man cave meant more for your DIY projects. It can also double as a workplace if you earn from your creations. If you’re into woodworking, for example, you can install shelves for your tools.
Prepper Room
For serious preppers, a room filled with supplies and survival gear is not only their safe haven but their man cave, as well. There’s certainly something relaxing whenever you enter your prepper room and see all those food, water, guns, ammo, and other supplies.
There are plenty of ideas you can use when you convert your garage into a man cave. This will definitely be up to you. Since it will be your personal haven, you need it to suit your taste and needs. If you have other garage conversion ideas in mind, please do share in the comment section. Check out Gentleman Pirate Club as well for more home improvement tips.
