The National Association of Home Builders says that fifty percent of all home buyers want the basement already finished. And when you want to sell your home, the extra square footage in your home adds value, too. An increasingly popular renovation option is to transform your basement into your very own “man cave.” Man caves are a great way to increase the enjoyment of your free time, as well as increase the value of your homes.
Here are ten ways to transform your basement into an awesome “man cave”!
1. Get dressed! Nobody likes looking at bare cinder blocks or concrete walls. Try doing some paneling or drywall or possibly even paint what you already have. Consider the colors you would like to have in your area. You don’t necessarily have to darken them, but you may want to pass the pastels on. Is there an ideal type of flooring that you want? Do you want carpet or tile? Or maybe you’re the Pergo© type.
2. Lose the wires. You might want a computer in your man cave, so leave room for your command center. But cut the wires. Make sure you get a good signal from the wireless router you are using to the rest of the house.
3. Add new cables. Obviously, you’ll probably want your music and big screen TV on your domain. If you’re considering adding drywall, don’t forget to make room for the wires you’ll need before you put up the drywall; You’ll be happy you did.
4. Your stomach has something to say. You can’t have a man cave without snacks. Even though you most likely don’t need/want a kitchen, you should still think about having a place where you can store some of your favorite foods.
5. The First Throne. You need a comfortable seating configuration if you are going to spend several hours at a time in your man cave! Also consider this for when you have your friends over to watch the game!
6. The Second Throne. There’s no way to avoid it; sometimes nature calls at the worst times. If your basement is already installed, adding a bathroom is an easy decision. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but no one wants to have to run up the stairs in the middle of the game.
7. Personalize it! Give your man cave some of your personality. Add something to the walls besides paint splatters and nacho cheese. It should reflect you. Maybe you want sports memorabilia. Maybe you want music posters. Just make sure you make it yours.
8. From the bottom up! A wet bar may be something you want to consider if you have the space and budget for it. If not, you should at least think about adding a small refrigerator so you don’t have to make constant trips to the kitchen when the guys are done.
9. Fix the top. If you like to fix or build things, consider adding a well-appointed (and well-lit) workbench.
10. Solve it! You may also want to add a treadmill or bike to your man cave. They usually don’t use too much space, and even if you don’t, your friends might at least think you do!