Looking to set up your man cave, but don’t know where to start? Fear not, man cavers, help is on the way.
The base for your man cave planning needs to be on your philosophy. What interests will you feature? What will you use the space for? What types of furniture, decor, and accessories support those answers? There can be a lot of questions to ask yourself.
There is one thing that you can count on, however, and that is this list of man cave do’s and don’ts. If you can follow this list, then you are well on your way to having an awesome man cave experience.
Let’s get started!
1. Choosing Your Man Cave Space
DO Choose a private well defined area that is otherwise unused or underutilized.
DON’T Try to force your man cave into a regularly shared space like the living room, primary bedroom, or dining area.
2. Painting the Man Cave
DO Keep paint light, bright, simple
DON’T Paint dark or high contrasting colors. Yes it is a man cave, no it should not look like an actual cave.
3. Lighting in the Man Cave
DO Install plenty of light options in your man cave. Install options for dimmers for a screening atmosphere.
DON’T Keep your man cave dark, all the time. Again, it is not actually a cave.
4. Furniture For Your Man Cave
DO Choose a few high quality furniture pieces that are neutral and stylish.
DON’T Pack too much furniture into too small of a space. Stay away from neon or bright colored furniture, you can add that color some other way.
5. Televisions For Your Man Cave
DO Choose the right size TV for your space, factoring in viewing distance and space, and wall mount that thing.
DON’T Pick the biggest most expensive TV. It might be nice, but it will be wasted if it doesn’t fit right in your man cave.
6. Beverages for The Man Cave.
DO As the host, provide the basics: beer, booze, and selected mixers.
DON’T Limit your guests to what they can drink. If they bring a Zima, tease them endlessly, but if they want to drink it let it slide.
7. For Storing Beverages
DO Store chilled beers or bottles in an ice bucket or refrigerator if available.
DON’T Keep drinks in an igloo cooler. Coolers are for the beach, camping, or on your deck. They do not belong in your man cave.
8. Spending Time in Your Man Cave
DO Spend some quality alone time relaxing in your cave, everyone needs some of that.
DON’T Hide in your man cave ALL the time. Invite in friends or even your spouse. Man Caves are for sharing your passion, not barricading yourself behind it!
9. Man Cave Food
DO Stock your Man Cave with tasty food and snacks.
DON’T Forget that everything is better in moderation, even chicken wings.
10. Inviting over friends for the big game.
DO Invite often. Show off that man cave you have worked so hard on!
DON’T Over invite. Know your space. Too many people crammed into a small space is not the makings of a great man cave party.
11. Asking for Help with Your Man Cave
DO Ask your handy pals to come over and give you a hand with your man cave construction projects.
DON’T Trick them into coming over to hang out and put them to work. Be straight – work, pizza, beer are all on the agenda.
12. Man Cave Rules
DO Have rules for your man cave. Rules are a pillar of the man cave experience.
DON’T Be uptight about your rules. Rules are meant to be fun not an excuse to be a jerk.
13. Visiting Another Guy’s Man Cave
DO Bring something. Beer, snacks, food, or something cool for the cave – even if you are told not to.
DON’T Be that guy. You know what that means.
14. Competition in the Man Cave
DO Provide and participate in competition. Poker, Darts, Sports Betting, etc.
DON’T Be a poor sport or bad loser. Everyone loses sometimes, take it like a champ and move on.
15. Man Cave Gifts
DO Get cool gifts for your close man caver pals (or your spouses, ladies).
DON’T Mess up or not know your man caver’s favorite sport, team, player, or his man cave theme. If you don’t know these things, stick to a gift card.
16. Man Cave Themes
DO Have a consistant look or theme to your man cave.
DON’T Overdo it, wall to wall Pakers Jerseys is a little much. Highlight the space with what you like, don’t jam it into every inch of your cave.
17. Man Cave Construction and Rennovation
DO Get creative with how to create your cave, including construction and DIY projects
DON’T Get in over your head. If you aren’t trained in certain areas, like electricity or plumbing, hire someone who is.
18. Deciding to Create a Man Cave
DO Think about and plan out your man cave and what you will use it for.
DON’T Make excuses about why you haven’t turned that space bedroom into a man cave yet. If you want it – get after it. The best time to start is now!
19. Budgeting for Your Man Cave
DO Set up a budget for your man cave, and stick to it. Get creative and work with what you have to make it work.
DON’T Get down if you can’t afford the lavish man caves you see pictures of online – most people can’t! Set up a man cave that works for your budget!
20. The Ultimate Man Cave Do and Don’t
DO HAVE FUN with your cave, however you decide to do it. Take pride in it.
DON’T Forget you need support along the way, your friends and family to set it up, and the same group to come and enjoy it with you when it’s done.
It doesn’t matter if you are a man cave novice or a seasoned cave dweller, these 20 Man Cave Do’s and Don’t’s will set you right on track for a great man cave experience.
What advice would you give someone about having a man cave? Leave a message in the comments!
