DIY Man Cave for Dad

Women often have a space in the home to call their very own – a place where they can relax and find peace in their day. This may be in the form of a makeup room, dressing room, reading room, sewing room, craft room, sitting room or even a chef’s kitchen for the woman who relaxes through cooking.

It seems only fair, then, that the man of the house should have such a place to unwind, too. Through popular media, such escape areas for men have been dubbed “man caves,” which makes them sound utilitarian and unappealing. Regardless of its name, a man cave can be an attractive getaway spot if you’re ready to get creative.

Depending on your budget and the look you’re going for; use ideas from this list to build the man cave he’s always dreamed of:

Cool walls

Whether your man cave will be housed in the basement, an extra room in the home, a garage, a shed or something else, take the time to reinvent the walls. Doing so will give the space an instant facelift and will make it feel ‘new,’ even if it isn’t. Consider painting the walls a fun color that he loves or use a textured technique to make the walls look like stone.

Posters

If your man is into movies, create a movie-themed man cave. Put up several posters from his all-time favorite films. The same can be done no matter what he’s into: sports, music, hunting, fishing, cooking, etc. For a man with more sophisticated tastes, frame some prints from his favorite artist.

Shelving

A great way to personalize a man cave is to add plenty of shelving on as many walls as possible. This will allow you (or your man) to decorate accordingly with trophies, memorabilia, action figures, awards, or other décor that speaks directly to his personality and likes; it will also give him adequate storage space.

Bar

Especially if the man cave will be used to hang out with friends or other male family members, you may want to create a way to be able to offer beverages and snacks to guests. If it’s in your budget, building a small bar is an awesome addition to any man cave. Include a mini fridge, drinking glasses, a small sink, and some storage space for bottle openers and snacks. Stock the bar with yummy snacks, his favorite drinks and mixers, and decorate the bar with cool adornments to give the space a personalized feel.

Unique decorations

To complete the man cave, add little touches around the room that epitomize your man’s personality and interests. Ideas include: unique lighting fixtures, interesting floor coverings, homemade pillows or chair coverings, and sport, video game or other themed furniture or accents.

Try to incorporate as many recycled materials as possible into your project. Wood pallets, cinder blocks, old license plates, empty liquor bottles, discarded pipes, tires, junked car pieces (this project will work if your man cave is in a garage or has access to an outdoor area.) You can find thousands more man cave ideas online so that your project will be sure to impress, and just in time for Father’s Day!