Sports and interior decorating don’t always go hand-in-hand, but when it comes to your man cave, it helps to put a little thought into the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. The first thing that often comes to mind when you think “man cave” is a basement that looks like a divey sports bar or a replica of your bedroom from when you were 15.
Those are always good fallback options, of course, but they might not resonate so well with other members of the household. You’d likely get sick of it yourself pretty quickly. So instead of doing something too experimental, take our advice and choose a mature, but manly, color scheme.
1. Keep It Simple, Sportsfan
Yes, the KISS principle applies here, as it does in all facets of life. Even though you might want to incorporate your favorite team’s colors and show your devotion, it’s probably best to use them as accents or feature them in the artwork, rather than paint the walls Dolphin Teal. Choose a limited set of themed colors that will comprise the majority of wall and floor space.
If you need ideas, you have a number of different themes to look through and decide on. There’s no shortage of neat designs. Concerning the colors you should use…
2. Neutral Hues Are Best for a Man Cave
Grays and earth tones tend to give a space a masculine feel, and gray is a modern decorating trend in general. Not every man cave will be about showing devotion to a sports team, and some colors vibe better with different interests.
For example, you might have a duck room you use for storing hunting equipment and relaxing after a day in the field, a movie room where you screen your favorite flicks every Sunday or a shrine to fly fishing where you tie custom lures. Each of these will fit with an appropriate color selection. Dark gray, deep brown or burgundy, navy blue and olive green are all popular choices.
3. Accent With Wood and Leather
These tried-and-true materials have a long history of belonging to the “boys’ club,” which is why they’re a fixture of hunting lodges and pool halls across the country. For best results, be willing to spend the money to get quality pieces.
Picture a hardwood end table where you can serve up a round of your favorite whiskey for guests, or a heavy leather sofa you would feel right at home falling asleep on while consulting the most recent edition of Esquire, GQ, Bloomberg or whatever else floats your boat.
4. Use Plaid and Wainscoting
Don’t go overboard on the accents, but you can strike an ideal contrast with your earth-toned paint scheme by using these two masculine texture choices. Consider, for example, a tartan plaid cushion for your ottoman, or a richly wainscoted wall with shelves for your favorite leather-bound books.
Make sure you don’t break up the solid hues too much, but the right application of these two can lend a lot of character to the space. While you’re at it, don’t forget to furnish your man cave with a few cool gadgets based on your interests.
5. Have a Theme for the Wall Art
It’s fair to want some nostalgic images on the wall of your man cave, but if you select random items and arrange them haphazardly, the place will look like a little boy’s room. Instead, have a consistent theme and stick to it.
Choose a frame and mat style you like and mount all your vintage sports images in black and white, like this example by Tamara at Provident Home Design. The photos in their thematically arranged frames look classy, not chintzy.
Make Your Man Cave a Sanctuary
Following these straightforward tips can help your man cave be a sanctuary when you crave quiet, as well as a room you’re proud to show off to your friends.
More than that, your spouse will likely be a much bigger fan of the room if it doesn’t represent a massive departure from the way the rest of the house looks.
Have you got a suggestion about how to style a quality man cave? Shoot us a comment and share your wisdom!
Dylan Bartlett is a men’s lifestyle blogger from the City of Brotherly Love. He runs the site Just a Regular Guide, looking at other topics related to health and wellness, relationships, the outdoors and DIY. You can follow him on Twitter @a_regular_guide to get frequent updates on his work.
