Hunter Douglas Duette® honeycomb shades
Quite a few of today’s homes have a designated place for a man to enjoy downtime. This space is often called the man cave, but when 21st century men hang out at home, their surroundings don’t have to look like Fred Flintstone was the designer.
When designing the man cave, remember that this is a retreat where a man can recharge and just have fun. If it’s exclusively man cave territory (meaning it won’t be shared with other family members) the theme and decor should reflect the interests of the man who will enjoy the space — whether he’s a motor-head, musician, or sports enthusiast.
That said, the man cave should adhere to the same principles of good design as any other room in your home. In addition to function, mood, and personality, you should also try to achieve balance with décor regardless of the theme. A masculine room with tasteful representations of a specific sports team is much different from a space that is decorated using only logo items and colors from a favorite sports franchise.
Where to Put the Man Cave
You may have a specific room in mind for the manly retreat, but if there are a few options available in your home be sure to consider use of space.
For example, some men like to hang out in their space alone. A dedicated room allows them to pursue more passive pursuits, such as listening to music, reading, or watching sporting events. For these men, a home office with plenty of personal touches might do the trick.
Other men prefer camaraderie—bonding with friends and family over drinks, good eats, and entertainment. A larger space, such as a converted garage or finished basement, might be a suitable location for this type of entertaining.
Upgrade the Cave
Many modern man caves feature giant screens to watch movies and sports, card tables for poker games, plush recliners, and at least a keg-erator to keep the beer chilled and at the ready, if not a fully stocked bar.
In addition to the man cave staples, the latest technology can take the room and it’s entertainment possibilities to the next level. With the right apps and programmable products, you can control the home theater and music with a Sonos wireless system. From an iPad or Android tablet you can order takeout, adjust the lighting, the room temperature, and even lower the window shades when it’s time for the game to start, all with the appropriate apps.
The Hunter Douglas PowerView® Motorization app can even allow you to set the time of day for the window coverings to open or close. With this app, the window treatments will automatically lower when the game is about to start. It allows mastery not only over the man cave domain but also over all of the Hunter Douglas window treatments in the home.
Whether the man cave will be enjoyed solo or be a place to kick back with friends, integrate interests and decor preferences to create a masculine space that will be a true refuge.
