Ah, a man cave… It used to be that men would have a garden shed to retreat to and call their own. Nowadays it’s all about the cave instead – a man cave into which no woman is allowed to step foot, and which provides everything that man could want from life. Well, at least everything he could want when spending some time on his own.

Creating your own man cave is a great idea, but it can be pretty daunting too. Where on earth do you begin? We’ve put together some ideas to help you in the right direction. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own man cave to enjoy at the bottom of your garden.

Be inspired by other people’s ideas

What do you want to do in your cave? Some like to kit it out as a working bar. We’ve seen some with a Fifties theme, and others edging towards the Wild West. For others, the idea of having a proper home cinema is the winner (even if it means occasionally inviting the whole family in to enjoy it).

On the other hand, you may want nothing more than the perfect space in which to play video games. Think of a large screen, comfy chairs, all the equipment, and plenty of low tables for all those snacks you’ll be enjoying. You could also go for a particular theme if there’s something you like – how about a Star Wars-themed cave, or one that is kitted out to look like the interior of a boat?

There is nothing wrong with looking online for ideas already used by other people. In fact, this is one of the best ways to see just what you could achieve with your own man cave. If you’re short on ideas at the moment, looking around to explore other people’s achievements can help you find your own ideal solution.

Kitting out the interior

This will depend on the theme or idea you choose. Once you know what you want to achieve, you’ll have a better idea of how to do it. For example, you could build your own bar area if you want a home bar, or you could design the whole room around the gaming area if video games are your thing.

Think about the colours for the décor, and the wall art, too. Both of these will have a big effect on the finished result. For example, if you’re going for a Fifties diner look, think about using red and white to theme the room. Then you can look for old bar stools and a classic Formica bar to complete the look. On the other hand, you may want to go ultra-modern and create everything yourself, if you’re particularly good at DIY.

Planning the interior before you start is always a good idea. A home bar would look great with old beer bottles and crates dotted around. You could even use upturned crates as stools. With a games room, think of adding appropriate big wall art to keep with the general theme. Once the ideas start flowing, you’ll be listing all the things you want to get for your man cave.

Choosing the right building to start with

rowlinson 8' x 7' early summer house

Of course, a great man cave starts with a great building. This could be a summer house or log cabin, if you’re looking for a serious amount of space to work with. If you want lots of light, the Rowlinson 8’ x 7’ Arley summer house would be ideal, and generous on space too.

Rowlinson 4.2m x 3.3m Garden Office Log Cabin

On the other hand, if you have space for something bigger, go large with the Rowlinson 4.2m x 3.3m Garden Office Log Cabin. This has the advantage of a small veranda at the front, providing the perfect welcome into your man cave. With an interior this big, you could also split it into separate areas.

avon 3m x 4m insulated garden room

One point to bear in mind is how often you’re going to use your cave. If you want all-year-round use, you’ll need to invest in an insulated garden building to help retain the heat. A good example is the Adley 3m x 4m insulated garden room. This comes with double-glazed windows and 16mm shiplap cladding. The insulation means whatever heaters you choose to install won’t simply see the heat lost from the building.

Show us your cave!

@sheds.co.uk

Think you can do better? Show us! If you’ve already created your own man cave, we’d love to see your pictures! Alternatively, if this article has inspired you and you’re going to buy one of our garden buildings to get you started on your own project, make sure you take photos as it develops. Once you’re done, send us some pics along with your Twitter name and we’ll post some of our favourites throughout the year. Send your pics to [email protected]