Every year there seems to be a new home improvement trend on the rise. Sometimes they’re helpful and other times they send us running for the hills. Regardless of what trends you decide to utilize in your own home, one thing can be said: you’ll probably going to need more space. Adding new bedrooms, living spaces, or extra functional rooms can be expensive and time consuming, but oftentimes, you can achieve the same result simply by cutting down the amount of things you keep lying around your home. This is especially true for the time-honored man cave. Men, and women, need a place to call their own and with shared bedrooms this can be harder than it seems. This is one of the best explanations of how the man cave was born. In this article, we’re going to discuss everything you need to do to build your perfect man cave.
Now, we don’t want to leave anyone out, but man caves are a bit different than the newly popular she sheds. See, a man cave tends to be a room already in your home that’s transformed into a sacred space. A she shed however, can be added to any yard and thus, doesn’t take as much rearranging inside of the home. For some great recommendations on achieving the perfect she shed, check out this article. In this article, however, we’re going to focus solely on man caves. With that being said, let’s dive a little deeper and see how you can use self storage to help you build the perfect man cave at home.
Determining the Size of Your Man Cave
The first step in building the perfect man cave is figuring out how big you want, or need, it to be. If you’re like most men, you want something spacious, a room where you can host all of your friends and have an epic poker night without feeling like you’re crammed into a closet. The problem is the fact that you need to use your home’s current potential. We’re going to tackle this article with the assumption that you won’t be making any home additions, so you need to be realistic.
Take a look at your current options. Do you have a spare room on the first or second floor? Is your basement finished and fully functional? Do you have an attached garage or is it separate? More importantly, do you regularly park your car in your garage or is it filled with junk?
If you have open rooms on the first or second floor, take a look at their size and location to the bedrooms. You don’t want a room that will carry noise, especially if you plan on hosting rowdy men while your partner is trying to sleep. If you’re just looking for a room to put your own couch or Lazy Boy and TV in, these types of rooms might suffice.
On the other hand, the benefits of using a basement or a garage are tenfold. The large, open spaces that tend to accompany these rooms give you plenty of space for creative opportunity and lots of great accessories. You can add comfortable seating, a bar, pool tables, and anything else you fancy in your man cave.
Think about what you’re going to be using this room for and why you want to build it in the
first place. If your dream is an all-out man cave where you and your friends can blow off steam, you’re going to need a larger space. If you just want a place to escape and watch something other than HGTV, a small room will do. The point is that everyone is different and it’s up to you to determine what size your man cave will be. It’s also important to keep in mind that you share this home with your partner and if the basement or garage is already being used for other purposes, these rooms will likely be off limits. If they’re not, have a conversation prior to beginning your blueprints.
Preparing for Your Man Cave
After you’ve determined what size your new man cave will be, it’s time to start preparing your home. Chances are that whatever room you’ve chosen to transform is filled with miscellaneous things lying around. Whether it’s clutter or a full-blown previously functioning, yet unused, room, you’re going to need to find them a new home.
Unfortunately, if you’re like most people, your home is already full and all of the storage space is being used. This means making room for your new space can be more difficult than you imagined. If you find yourself running out of additional storage space, it’s time to rent a self storage unit like the ones at The Lock Up Self Storage. There are tons of different sizes to choose from so you don’t have to rent out more than you need. All of the units are climate controlled and are equipped with top of the line safety features like video monitoring, perimeter alarms, and gated entry codes.
As you’re moving things to make space for your new man cave, check around the house for any other unused or bulky items to store. Keeping a clutter-free home is much more calming than having unnecessary items around every corner.
Designing Your Man Cave
Now that you’ve gotten your room situated, cleared everything into a self storage unit, and construed the plans in your head, the fun can begin. Designing the best man cave possible all depends on what you want to use it for. While you may have a few ideas up your sleeve, we decided to help you out with some of our favorite possibilities. Check them out below.
- Personal Gym
If you’re sick of wasting time commuting to and from an expensive gym, you can create a small personal gym in your new space. You don’t need much, but a little goes a long way. Grab a wall-length mirror to ensure perfect form, a set of adjustable dumbbells, bench, squat rack, and a cardio machine. These essentials are everything you need to get in a great workout without leaving your home.
- Game Room
The opportunities are endless. If you have the space, put a full-sized pool table at the center of your game-inspired man cave and line the walls with a fully stocked bar, darts, or old arcade games. Maybe foosball is more of your sport or a small putting green or a giant poker table smack-dab in the center of the room. The best part about this is that you get to decide exactly what goes inside.
- Wine Cellar
Another option you have is creating a wine cellar. Whether you’re a connoisseur or simply someone who enjoys a great glass of wine, creating your very own wine cellar could be the perfect opportunity to host a personalized wine group. If you end up needing more space for extra wine, The Lock Up Self Storage offers professional wine storage in a variety of sizes.
- Music Studio
If you’re in a band or simply love music, consider creating a man cave inspired by a music studio. You can look into soundproofing the walls, decorating with instruments, growing your vinyl collection, and creating the perfect place for you and your band (or friends) to play some music. If you’re in the music industry, this space can even double as a workspace.
- Workshop
For all of the handymen without a place to create, a workshop centered man cave will give you the space you’ve always wanted. Set up your tools and materials in designated areas and start working with your hands in no time. If you have children around, designating your own room, with a lock, is a great way to ensure that everyone stays safe.
- Entertainment Room
To achieve a more classic man cave feel, stick with a simple entertainment room. Find some top of the line couches or Lazy Boys, a big screen TV, a powerful sound system, and you’re good to go. If you enjoy a good book, add some bookshelves around the room to put the finishing touches on your space. Throw in a mini-bar and some storage for snacks and you’ll never have a reason to leave.
Achieving your perfect man cave takes a lot of work, but creating an open space doesn’t have to. Store seasonal clothing, decorations, unused furniture, and anything else you don’t use on a daily basis in a self storage unit. Check out all of the safe, affordable, and secure available options at The Lock Up Self Storage today to find the perfect storage unit for all of your needs. Each one of our units is climate controlled and comes with 24/7 video monitoring so you can rest easy knowing your things are in good hands. We have a variety of different sizes at each location to accommodate any of your storage needs and budgets. Call us or visit our website today at www.thelockup.com to browse all of our current selections.
