In
honor of Father’s Day, today we’ll tip our hats to that elusive area of a home
that you may or may not make room for: the man cave. When a guy gets that satisfying space to
himself in a home to watch sports, display memorabilia, and not use coasters,
that’s called a man cave. To ensure any
designated man cave in your home still has swagger, don’t pass on the style.
A
man cave typically centers around a television and the entertainment it provides. Now, the backdrop of this scene in my mind is
not light and airy and bright; it’s darker, bolder, more masculine. Painting this room or alcove a dark shade of
gray or espresso can set the stage for proper sporting event viewing. The seating should match that vibe of relaxed
comfort. A leather sofa and side chair
in chocolate brown or ebony is a winning combo and does not need any fluffy
extras. A metal or lacquered coffee
table that allows you to put your feet up can anchor the seating area. Window treatments can stop at dark wood or
faux wood blinds and skip the fabric panels and still keep the glare off the big
screen.
Blocky
side tables can be great anchors for masculine metal lamps with clean white or
dark drum shades. Memorabilia – trophies,
medals, souvenirs – can be displayed on thick floating shelves in solid wood
finishes. Picking favorites and cutting
down on displaying too many pieces can keep a shelving area looking sleek and
can highlight special pieces. Work small
stacks of books into your display, some standing up and some stacked up on top
of each other. To show off your
showcase, can lights in the ceiling or track lighting can do the trick. For memorabilia like sports’ jerseys, hanging
them in frames gives them more purpose and gives your lighted walls a gallery
feel.
A
man cave can avoid descriptors like “slopping, messy, and dirty”
altogether. Keep DVDs and CDs organized
in bins or specialized storage pieces, and then store them in entertainment
cabinets or shelves. Hide chords to
sound systems or other entertainment or gaming equipment for a streamlined
look. Store magazines in magazine bins
or baskets alongside your seating area instead of scattering them about.
The
ultimate point is to give a man a space of his own, minus the floral prints,
paisley pillows, and feminine touches.
Bold and solid can be pulled off in a smaller space that still has that
comfortable feel, perfect for your go-to weekend retreat. After all, Dad deserves an opportunity to
kick back and relax.
Happy
Father’s Day!
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star June 17th.
