The basement, the clubhouse, the man cave, whatever you want to call it the idea of having a dedicated room for the grown ups (or “grown ups”, as the case may be) to relax and unwind, decorated exactly to their liking has been a growing trend in home design over the last few years and it shows no signs of stopping.
But just like any home project, there’s a lot of ups and downs during the process and a lot of things to keep in mind. Sure, you’ve got your favorite movie posters everywhere, and one wall is now at least partially covered with your favorite old beer caps, but as soon as you carry the last couch down there you start to notice something is...off. Where’s all your stuff supposed to go?
Never fear, cave dwellers! We’re here to help with some mostly-painless storage and organization ideas!
Use All The Walls: Sure, most of your walls are probably taken up with your favorite vintage Michelob sign, The Godfather posters, and the like, but there’s probably some unused space - make the most of it! Hang up some decorative shelving to afford space for Blu-rays and DVDs, books and magazines, or even just more decorations - those cheesy old lava lamps and GI Joe figures have to go somewhere, right? Or if you’re feeling super adventurous, you could absolutely cut out some wall space to fit a mini-fridge or a pantry cabinet to hang onto snacks and beverages, adult and otherwise!
Rearrange The Furniture: Kind of an obvious plan, but it’s especially important in smaller spaces like this. If you’ve got a big obvious focal point in your room, like a theater screen or central attraction (pool table, arcade machines, etc) then move the furniture around to either allow easier access or focus your attention correctly. Nobody can see how sweet your projector is if your chairs and couches are all facing the wrong way!
Keep Everything Furnished: If your basement is big enough to allow for different areas, you’ll use the space most effectively if you furnish everything appropriately. Keep bar tables near the bar and out of everyone else’s way, use bookshelves in the common area to hang onto your prize Jason Bourne collection and free up space on tables and shelves, and make sure there’s enough seating for everyone you might need to fit down there for the big game.
Provide Space For People’s Stuff: We don’t mean like the stuff you already have down there, but if you’ve got people over for the big game you’re going to want to leave room for shoes and coats and stuff. Keep some entryway furniture like shoe racks and coat hooks right by the door, or if you want to go for a more athletic theme you could provide home lockers to hang onto everyone’s stuff when they get there!
Whatever one of these tips you go with, the most important thing with a man cave is to remember to make it your own!
The Shelving Store
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