Man caves aren’t just a place for you to chill out and escape from the real world, they’re blank canvases for you to flex your handyman muscles over. Some guys can spend hours down there working on their latest project and making sure everything is perfect for the next time the guys are over.
Maybe your man cave is starting to look a bit dated though, a few scraggly grey hairs on what used to be a perfectly trimmed beard. Whether it needs some sprucing up or you’ve got the urge to get your hands dirty, take some inspiration from these, slightly more out-there, project ideas.
Create a Poker Paradise
Every man cave has hosted a poker game or two in its time. They’re perfect for getting a couple of friends over for the night and fleecing them out of all their money. Maybe you’re winning every time and want to try your luck against a higher quality of opponent. Your man cave could become the space to hone those skills.
Throw out that old dining table you used to play on and invest in or build your own premier poker table. Recreate that Vegas feeling and start using your weekly poker night as a chance to try out new tactics and see how good your bluff game really is.
Create the perfect conditions to turn yourself from poker chump into poker champ. If you’re really up for a challenge, you can channel Dustin Hoffman and try counting cards like Rain Man. This tutorial on how to count cards in poker is a great starting point to set you down the road of a fun and potentially very lucrative hobby. A quick warning though, your buddies won’t want to play if you get too good.
Handmade Sports Decoration
Any self-respecting man cave has its fair share of sports decor. Whether you’re going for the sports bar vibe or just want to commemorate your icons it’s a classic style to run with. Whatever your sport of choice is from football to baseball to NASCAR, a great project for real sports fans to sink their teeth into is to go all out with the athletics theme.
This inspiration for your NFL-themed mancave will get you started.
Those little league baseball bats you’ve had lying around for years? They could make great banisters or bar stool legs in the man cave. That old foosball table everyone got bored of ages ago? Use the handles to create fun little coat racks featuring little soccer players. These little projects are a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon and show off just how big of a sports guy you are.
Greenhouse Man Cave
Most guys aren’t gonna out themselves as big plant lovers, but turning your man cave into your own little greenhouse can be a fun, and rewarding, project. Your average man cave isn’t going to have the best access to sunlight, so don’t think you can start getting all your veg from there rather than the supermarket, but there’s room to try your hand at growing a couple of things. Instead, we mean bringing a little green into your personal spot. It can make for a great change of pace from the usual dim and moody man caves.
There are a ton of masculine plants out there you can incorporate into your man cave, from the Coffea Arabica to Agave. Working on a plant or veg project is a great way to keep yourself busy and reconnect with nature from the comfort of your own home. Plus, showing that you care for your new green friends is a great way of showing off your sensitive side to someone special.
Massive Memorabilia Collections
Nerd culture is cool now, we all agree on that right? Try telling Batman he’s not cool. Most man caves have some film, TV or comic book memorabilia decoration, like an old Star Wars poster or a genuine prop from an 80s classic. Even if you don’t like nerdy things, you might be a big music guy obsessed with old vinyl. Collecting is a big thing right now, and a great project that can also give your man cave a bit of a wow factor.
What’s gonna turn heads faster in the man cave than a seriously cool collection in some homemade cases? Whatever your passion is, there’s loads of collectible stuff out there you can spend hours scouring eBay for. You could work towards having a full set of your favorite action figures as a kid or bring together your favorite team in baseball card form.
Dedicating your man cave to your favorite pop-culture passion isn’t just a satisfying way to decorate it, it’s an excuse to get crafty with your spare time while you work on ways to present it.
Man caves are your private spaces. They’re somewhere you can relax, be creative and reflect your personality. Some of these ideas are a bit unusual, but hopefully, they help you find your niche.
