Whether you’re a busy father, a retiree, or even if you just want to have a space of your own, nothing beats having a good old man cave. Man cave, private study, hideout, call it what you will, sometimes you just need a space that you know is just yours. A room that you know will never be stuffed with things you don’t want in your space, no matter how packed the house becomes.
In this article, we are going to list some of the things we think no proper man cave is complete without. Don’t worry; we will be sure to mention some alternatives for those who don’t all share the same interests. So just keep reading to find out what you need to create your very own man cave!
Furniture Items
Now this one is, of course, subject to not only how big the room is but how much free space you will have after adding the rest of your things. Furthermore, the number of pieces you add is also subject to whether or not you want other people to join you in your cave. That said, rooms always feel so empty without one or two good pieces of furniture.
Chair
The first thing you will need is a good chair. The type you get should depend on your interests. If you are an avid gamer or spend a lot of time at your desk editing photos or making designs, then we suggest getting a nice ergonomic chair that is just the right height for your desk. The chair should offer a lot of back support and should have some good cushioning for your arms.
You don’t need to waste your money buying one of those fancy “gaming” chairs as there are plenty of non-gaming marketed chairs that will do the job much better at a lower price. But say you don’t spend a lot of time at the computer and instead want to use the room for reading or watching shows. In this scenario, we recommend getting a nice spacious reclining chair with lots of cushioning and that allows you to lay back and melt in.
Desk
The second thing you will need is a good desk. Desks come in all shapes and sizes. Some are made from natural heavy wood, others with beams of metal and hollow spaces. Personal taste and preference aside, we highly recommend getting an adjustable desk that will allow you to raise or lower your desk as much as you want. If you don’t like the look, then at least make sure you get a desk that is the right height for your chair.
Couch
Lastly, think about getting a nice couch. You need one that is long and big enough to seat a few guests and for you to lay down on for a nap or to watch a good movie.
Television
A good TV is a must, especially if you really enjoy your movies, documentaries, or even gaming. Depending on your budget, a good HD (or 4k if you have the bucks) flatscreen should be more than enough to accommodate most of your needs. You can put it on your desk to use for work (gaming or editing as well), or you could get it installed and bracketed onto an open wall.
Sound System
This should be a top priority for any audiophiles. You want to make sure that your new cave can deliver the best and cleanest sound quality when listening to your music. Again, depending on your preferences, there are a few ways you can approach this. You could go for a standard approach and just hook up your TV/computer/media station to a pair of good speakers on the side. Or you could opt for the surround sound approach and install some speakers around the room.
You could also think about buying a good old turntable, which is popular again, for some real quality sound if you only want to listen/play music in there. Depending on your choice, you will need to think about whether you want to go the Bluetooth or cabled route.
Bluetooth speakers are so easy to use and move around, making them more versatile. That said, they do lose out on some sound quality. No matter how good, fancy, or expensive a Bluetooth speaker is, it will never be able to truly match the kind of sound quality you get from cabled speakers.
A Good Stock of Books and a Bookcase
This one is for all the readers: buy, funnily enough, books! All of us secretly, or very openly, want to have one of those bookcases that we see in movies or at friends’ houses. One that not only houses your precious tomes but one that can also make them a decorative feature of the room.
You can either go for a simple wooden case with plenty of shelves or, if you have the cash, you could get one of those bookcases that come with glass doors. Not only does it look fancy, but it will also keep your books dust and bug-free!
A Drink Stand or Rack
For those who enjoy unwinding with a good drink, you will want to consider this. All you really need is a simple but elegant wooden table that you can artfully display your spirits and aged bottles. Or if you are more of a wine person, then why not buy a small wine rack to hold your aged treasures properly. Just make sure it is wood!
Final Words
And there you have it – the answer to the question of what makes a good man cave. These are just some of the ideas we think no good man cave is truly complete without. A couple of these suggestions are, of course, dependent on your own subjective tastes and style. Meaning what you put in your room should always reflect your interests and preferences. We hope you found this interesting and thoroughly entertaining!