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What man in modern history has never dreamed of owning his very own ‘play room’? A fortress of manlitude, where men can be men and play video games, listen to horrendously loud music, drink expensive, imported beer and watch the big game on a TV the size of a garage door. Of course, when the term ‘man cave’ is bandied around many might initially harbour false connotation of the room as nothing more than an extravagant home gym, but it is far from it. No, the idea of a male sanctuary (or ‘mantuary’ if you will) is the complete antithesis of a gym, it’s a space where sloth, gluttony and fun are not words to be callously looked down upon, but to be celebrated.
There has been something of a stigma attached to the very idea of ‘manhood’ since the women’s movement in the latter half of the 20th Century, but ‘being a bloke’ doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a misogynistic meathead. The male population has lost their identity of late, with the prevalence of metrosexuality and the prevalent 21st century guilt attached to spoiling ones-self taking their respective tolls. But life is for living and across the world, there are thousands of men in desperate need of a temporary ‘escape hatch’ from the dreary grind of the day-to-day. Here we’ll examine a few of your options.
Loft
The loft is a space that many of us take for granted, but if it’s easily accessible then it could be a perfect spot for your den. Most modern loft spaces will already have ample insulation and a source of power, and will be often unused as a living space. Of course the floor or the loft will need to be reinforced (especially if you’re going to be lifting heavy equipment up there) and there is very rarely much space to work with.
Garage
Most modern homes come fitted with a garage, but it’s a fact that less than 50% of home owners in the UK use their garages for car storage. So (assuming you have somewhere else to store all the junk you’ve accumulated over the years) the garage is the perfect spot for your man cave. Of course it might get a little cold in the winter months, so decent insulation is key. You’ll also have to hire specialists to help with this, but it will still however be far cheaper than building a new extension.
Home Extensions
A home extension, such as a new conservatory would be the most costly option here, but it’s also by far the most flexible as it will allow you to customise your ‘chill space’ in whatever manner you see fit. If you do go down this route, remember that for certain extensions, planning permission will be required. A conservatory would be the best fit obviously, though installing new windows, doors & conservatories can prove incredibly costly, so if you don’t have one installed already, you might be better off sticking with an existing room. It’s worth noting that conservatories also get incredibly cold in the Winter and incredibly hot in the Summer, so some form of heating and/or cooling system will need to be considered if you wish to be comfortable in your cave. The idea of having a decent space apart from the main house in which to indulge your most decadent whims is surely more than a little tempting though?
The Gear
Now the centre-piece of any self-respecting man cave should of course be the television. In the past 5 years all manner of HD and even 3D TV’s have become shockingly affordable and obviously if you’re going for true ‘mentertainment’ you’re going to want as large a set as possible. Games consoles are also an absolute must (you’re going to want as many as possible) as well as a stereo system capable of making the earth move and a fridge for beers, snacks and (on special occasions) champagne.
Inspiration
A good place to look for some ideas would be sports bars across the world; bars basically built to be the ultimate man caverns, only inside a bar instead of your house. Home extensions and loft spaces can only go so far of course so don’t get carried away, but there’s no reason you can’t take ideas from these places and adapt them to your own circumstances. However, whether you decide to adapt the ideas of others, or just go with your own muse, make sure you’re comfortable, because hopefully you’re going to be spending A LOT of time in there, relaxing, playing and just enjoying life.
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