How to Design the Ideal Basement “Man Cave”
What is a man cave? Well, it can mean a lot of things, including a gaming room, a basement bar, a gym, or even a workshop. It’s basically a place a little away from the rest of the house where the husband or dad can focus on their hobbies now and then. The main difference is that it’s often decorated differently from other rooms in the house and may have a specific purpose.
The same principles can be applied to any game room, party room, chill-out space, or hobby room. So how can you make sure that it’s a great place to spend your time?
Basement Renovations
One of the most common places for rooms like this is the basement. This is because the basement kind of ticks all of the boxes. It’s a place that usually isn’t used for much other than storage, and it’s out of the way. But can you just move straight into the basement?
Much like loft renovations, basement renovations are necessary if you plan on spending a lot of time down there. If you plan on selling your property at any time, it’s especially important to make sure that your basement follows local habitability guidelines.
This might include addressing any structural issues, making sure the basement has electricity, and, if necessary, plumbing. You might also need to install proper stairs and a door, because the basement ladder simply won’t be enough if there’s an emergency in the house.
Making it Livable
Once the basement is legal and habitable, you can make it actually pleasant. There’s a reason why people tend not to spend a lot of time in the basement unless they can help it. Basements are usually cold, dark, and damp.
The next step is to make it fit for purpose. This might include adding more lights, as well as a dehumidifier and a heating system. Basements are cold and damp because they’re underground, but while this can be an issue, it’s not something you can’t solve. Admittedly, you can’t always add natural light, but you can still make it nice and bright.
After that, you should think about what to do with the space and move any furniture or other items down.
Decorating and Finishing Touches
When you have everything set up, it might still feel a bit like you’re in the basement, just with stuff you enjoy. This is when you need to think about adding those finishing touches to really make it feel like a room.
Paint the walls where possible, although keeping an industrial look can work well with basement walls, especially if you have visible stone or brickwork. You should also add rugs to make the room feel warmer and make the floors more comfortable to walk on, even if you have carpet.
Make sure to add little finishing touches as well, such as ornaments, figurines, and posters. Something like a Rolex Wall Clock can be a great stylistic choice, as well as practical.
