Building the Ultimate Man Cave

by Rebecca Hadfield
A man cozily reading a book with his sleeping dog on top of an area rug.

This year has given us all a new appreciation for “me time” and, with restrictions and safety measures keeping families home, all of that me time has been happening under one roof. We're just going to throw this out there—there has never been a more important time for the man cave than right now.

The man cave is a multi-functional space where guys can go to, well, whatever it is that guys do. This could include watching movies or sports, pursuing hobbies, playing games, listening to music, entertaining friends, or, let’s be real, stealing away for an hour or so to nap. What happens in the man cave, stays in the man cave.

Virtually any room in the house can be made into a man cave, so long as it has power and, perhaps most importantly, a door. Basements and heated garages also make excellent man caves, especially for those whose hobbies (or friends) tend to be on the louder and messier side. But, ask any man who's lucky enough to have one, it's not about which room they occupy—it's about what it represents: comfort and solitude.

Comfort is King
The man cave is not the place for furniture that’s on its last legs, or the chintz sofa that your mother-in-law was getting rid of when she downsized. No, you want something that’s masculine, comfortable, and big enough to stretch out on, preferably in an easy-care fabric or leather; think chonky, overstuffed pieces with deep seats and well-padded backs. If you are all about the extras, look for pieces that recline and include handy features like built-in USB chargers or cup holders. (Yes, cup holders!)

If your space has room for a bar, be sure to add a few barstools or a bar-height dining set to provide flexible seating and a comfy place to enjoy a beer or play a game with friends, just as soon as we can have friends over again!

Bar or no bar, don’t forget a beverage cooler to keep soft drinks and beer at the perfect serving temperature and within reach. Trust us—there’s nothing worse than leaving the man cave to get a drink and getting sidetracked by a lengthy to-do list.

Watch This
Second only to a comfortable place to stretch out, a good TV is a crucial piece of man cave equipment and, generally speaking, bigger is usually better—we recommend a screen size of 50 inches or larger. If you’re up for some math, the general rule is to divide the viewing distance by two to find the perfect screen size. So, if you are 10 feet from the screen, 60 inches is the sweet spot.

If you’re building the man cave of your dreams, you’re going to want to outfit it with a TV that delivers a sharp, vivid picture and, because we’re all about that convenience, a bundle of smart features that make operation a breeze. Here are two that fit the bill, both offering the ultimate sports, cinematic, and game experience: Samsung 65" 4K UHD SMART (UN65TU7000FXZC) and, for those “go big or go home” types, Samsung 85” Premium 4K UHD (UN85TU8000FXZC)—both on sale now!

Whether you are a sports fan, movie nut, or series-binger, Samsung 4K UHD Smart TVs deliver optimized, vivid colours and a crystal-clear picture to make you feel like you like you are part of the action. Gamers will also experience smoother gaming, thanks to Samsung’s Game Enhancer which optimizes the screen to improve control and reduce lag.  

For maximum enjoyment with minimal effort (VERY important for a man cave), built-in Tizen operating systems and AirPlay2 compatibility make it easy to access all your favourite content, and these sets are fully compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, allowing hands-free operation, or you can use the included OneRemote to easily control your compatible devices.

To fill the room with immersive sound that’s as good as the picture on your new smart TV, add an audio system!

This 5.1-channel sound bar with wireless subwoofer and Bluetooth connectivity will round out your viewing experience by delivering rich, nuanced sound with crisp dialog and, if you like that sort of thing, room-shaking sound effects.

This pair is also fully compatible with Samsung's OneRemote and connects easily to the HDMI input on your TV, cable box, or satellite receiver for quick set up. Plus, you can use your system to provide background music when you’re just hanging out or playing a game of cards, by streaming it through your TV or from your tablet or smartphone.

Create a Unique Space
Man caves offer a comfortable guys-only space to kick-back, relax, and get some much-needed alone time, but don't just take our word for it. Experts say that having a man cave—or at the very least a place to go and decompress for a bit—is not just fun, it can have big mental health benefits. In fact, just one hour of chilling in a man cave can make a big difference on both mood and stress-levels.

This brings us to an important rule of the man cave: the décor must reflect its owner’s taste, personality, and interests. If that means filling it with sports memorabilia or recreating the interior of a favourite pub, right down to the paneled walls and beer signs, then so be it. The idea is to create a comfortable retreat to unwind, recharge, and just be a dude—not everyone has to love it, but it sure helps if the man who gets to use it does!

Have you created a man cave (or she shed)? We’d love to see it! Tag @DufresneStyle in your Instagram post.