Come autumn, bears will grab an excess of food and prepare to hide in a dark shelter for months. With football season around the corner, you might notice the sports fans in your life behaving similarly.
The place they retreat is typically called a man cave, although women love them, too, and if you don’t have one yet, you are in luck. Whether you are moving into a new home or renovating your existing one, here are simple ways to make the perfect space to kick back and watch the game.
Incorporate a theme
Whether it’s rock music, cars or travel, find some way to weave a theme into the room and make it your own. Hanging up posters or creating display shelving to feature big signs or logo beer glasses adds a touch of character. You can add photos or paintings of your favorite sports team or musician. Billiard, foosball or ice hockey tables are all welcome and easily fit any cave theme you run with.
Turn it into a real cave
This space is meant to both welcome guests and be private, when you want solitude. The prime location is in the basement or a room separated from the house, but a room off the dining room or the office can also be used. Although caves tend to be darker than other rooms, choose colors you like to decorate, including paint, furniture and any decorations. You may choose colors to go with your theme, or simply go with a basic color that is easy to add to. Add dimmable lights, as the room will often be used to watch television or play video games.
Boost the acoustics
You can’t cheat the acoustics in a room where the TV is the main piece of furniture. Keep in mind that wood and leather don’t absorb sound, so include soft material around the room, instead or in addition to whatever other fabrics you choose. If you have a wood floor, throw a rug down. If you have a leather sectional couch, toss some pillows onto it. You can even add fabric to the ceiling if you want your movies to sound that much better.
Make it easy to organize and clean
Consider what viewing parties you will host — for shows you like, movie nights or big sporting events, like the Super Bowl. They likely will create a lot of mess, with all the people, snacks and drinks. If you have a carpet, get one that's easy to clean. If you have a bar or snack table, use one with a durable, smooth surface. Make sure it's big enough to hold a large pizza or an array of food your guests bring.
As you plan your ideal space, you may want to remodel or even upgrade your house. The local real estate experts at the Trumm Team are available to help you buy and sell your home, so you can create a cave that you and your family will love for many football seasons to come.
