Man Caves: 5 Things You Will Need

So, you want to carve out a room in your house and turn it into a "man cave," huh? While every man cave must be built for the unique needs of each man cave dweller, be sure you consider these five man cave necessities. By the way, if you are not sure what a man cave is, think about what we used to call "dens" a few decades ago (the kind with woodgrain paneling, a floor-model TV, and a La-Z-Boy chair), and then add in there a few more toys---and digital equipment. Most importantly, your man cave must include whatever it is you know you need to escape from the everyday strain and stress you face.

1. An HD-TV

No man cave of today would be complete without an HD TV (High-Definition television). While HD TVs range from the hundreds of dollars into the thousands, the best bet is to get one that will suit the size and demands of your man cave. How big will your man cave be? Do you plan on allowing in many visitors?

If your man cave is not much bigger than a typical bedroom (around 10 feet by 12 feet, more or less), then a television screen with a diagonal width of less than 27" is likely more than sufficient for your needs. But if you will be sitting 12, 14, or 16 feet from your man cave TV, or you expect to have many man cave visitors huddling around the TV, you need some serious man cave TV screenage. Consider TV screens with widths of somewhere around 42" to 46," so you won't need to be squinting or poking your head around your buddy's to see if Phil Mickelson dropped the putt or Roger Federer got in that first serve.

2. Games

Does a man cave without opportunities for a game or two ever come to mind? Probably not. Therefore, be sure to deck out that man cave with gaming accessories that meet your needs, space, and budget. If you are converting that back bedroom into your man cave, you may not be able to fit a pool table in there very well (and you can forget about using a cue stick). But if your man cave is big enough (and you have hundreds of dollars for it), a pool table may be just the thing that will make your man cave the best---and most entertaining---on your block.

If a pool table just is not going to work out for you, then think about buying a good video game system for your man cave. The Nintendo Wii offers every player a chance for an engaging, even physical, interaction with the virtual worlds found within the system's many games; Sony's Playstation has for years been a popular platform with many exciting, challenging games. For less than $1,000, you can purchase a system, several accessories, and a nice library of games to keep you and your man cave guests entertained.

3. Refrigerator

How do you fix the problem of going over to the 'fridge to grab a snack and a cold drink when you are trying to watch your favorite sports team score points? You bring the refrigerator to you!

For less than $250, you can purchase a nice, miniature refrigerator perfect for keeping your favorite cold drinks and snacks cold. Of course, be sure you buy the right-size refrigerator--if you have many man cave visitors, you want a big-enough refrigerator to keep all your guests happy. Don't scrimp on your man cave 'fridge.

Be sure you follow all safety precautions and any applicable local codes when locating and connecting your refrigerator. Allow for proper ventilation, and keep your refrigerator (and any fresh food you may store nearby) away from moisture, excessive temperatures, and fumes.

4. Media Storage

When caught up in the excitement of building your man cave, it cannot be hard to forget something like storage. Do you have any books you want to keep nearby? DVDs, LPs, CDs, VHS or cassette tapes? Trophies? Coin collections? Baseball card albums?

Be sure to buy shelving and cabinetry that will safely house all your important media items. Shelving prices vary. The least-expensive bookcases can be bought for under $30. But will it be big enough to house all your man cave media goodies?

Don't forget to include room for expansion! You don't want to buy shelving, cabinetry, or book cases big enough for only the things you currently have. When you go out shopping for your media storage needs, plan ahead. It would be wise to buy enough shelving to accommodate for at least a 10-20% increase in media storage over your current media space needs. If you can fit all your media on 25 linear feet of shelving, go for a product that offers at least 28-30 linear feet of storage space. If you frequently buy new media goods, buy with an eye for even more growth space.

5. Comfortable Seating

Every man cave must have comfortable seating. It doesn't matter if you will be the only one in your man cave or if you plan to throw game-time parties every weekend, you must have a good place to sit down and relax.

Consider the amount of space you have to work with in your man cave and be realistic about your limitations. Don't try and squeeze a large sofa into that tiny man cave that last week was a large walk-in storage closet(!) A cluttered man cave is not going to be a very nice place to be spending your weekends. Don't underestimate the amount of space your seating will take, either. Those reclining easy chairs need enough space for the head to tilt back and the foot rest to pop forward and out. It's true--some people forget about the forward and backward area needed for recliners until they bring the chair home and find it will not fit well when their chair is in its fully reclined position!

Spend your money well here. Buy a chair, sofa, futon, (or whatever you prefer to sit on) that fits well, is comfortable and supportive, and will not leave you cramping or aching after a long day watching television. Consider ergonomics (a design which suits your natural posture and/or encourages healthy posture), and be sure to accommodate your seating needs. If you expect company, don't forget to buy enough comfortable seating for your man cave guests. If money is tight, wait to buy your man cave furnishings and seating until those well-advertised end-of-season sales.

Resources:

Sears Online Catalog General Home Page http://www.sears.com/shc/s/home_10153_12605 Date Accessed: October 12, 2008

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