Man Cave Ideas That You Can Easily Afford

By Jonathan

Man Cave Ideas That You Can Easily Afford earlyexperts.net

Sometimes planning the perfect escape doesn’t require pulling a job that only Steve McQueen could be proud of. When the daily hassles of life pile up, you need an escape. Giving yourself a little time to relax doesn’t have to take place outside of the home though. You can have your own space where spending a few minutes–or if you’re lucky, a few hours–chilling in a room that is for men only. This blessed space where you can have peace and quiet is known as the “man cave”. A true sanctuary where watching the game on TV can be done without any unwelcome visitors popping in to say “hello”. It’s a place where you can practice playing your favorite song on the guitar in your underwear (no judgment here).

Your man cave is meant just for you.

So whether it’s a basement or an extra room in the house, making this place reflect your personality can sometimes be difficult. Dealing with a blank room can be overwhelming and you may not know where to start. Especially, when it comes to filling it with things that represent your interests and tastes. Yes, there are many cool toys and electronics that you could put into your personal cave. However, if budget is an issue, this might not be the right time to buy an expensive big screen TV or leather sofa. We’re sharing a few of our favorite budget-friendly ideas that you can easily do yourself to fill your man cave with customized furniture, lighting, and decor. If you are especially handy, many of these ideas are perfect for those who enjoy working with their hands.

Start Off Small With Your Walls

Whether you are a rabid sports fan or movie geek, chances are high that you have a favorite team, film, musician or some other character that you want to display. Luckily, this is one of the easiest places where you can pay homage to these prized figures. Cheap vintage signage is a good starting point. Flea markets and yard sales can be a treasure trove for those looking for inexpensive wall art. If you want something a little different, here are a few more ideas.

Wall Mounted Bottle Openers – These can normally be purchased for a small price. They often range from a little under $2 to $20 depending on the store. If you want a more customized mount, then you can expect to pay close to a $100 or more.

DIY Cork Dart Board – Now this is a cool way to reuse old wine corks to make your own dartboard. Keep in mind that you’ll need upwards of 200 hundred corks and some strong glue in addition to a 24″x36″ picture frame and some strong foam board backing to create this cool game. Minus the cost of the wine, the supplies will run you less than $30.

Custom Signs from Old Wood – Maybe you have a certain saying that gets you pumped before a big event or helps you to mellow down. You can repurpose old wooden board to create your own signs. While using stencils to create the letters, this sign can be given a more aged look by using a dark stain and sandpaper to help give it a rough texture.

DIY Wrench Hooks – Do you have an old set of wrenches laying around? Bending them over a hard surface and using a little heat on them will give them a new life as hanger hooks. Afterwards, you can use it to screws to drill them securely into the wall. Now you’ve got a place for coats, jackets or anything else that needs to be hung.

DIY Furniture to Help Bring the Room Together

While it might not be feasible to put a custom made sofa or table into your man cave at the moment, there are plenty of things that you can make all on your own. From tables to chairs, you can use things around the house–or even your backyard–to give a room some life. You could easily spend a weekend cranking out some amazing furniture that you can be proud of.

Cinder Block Tables – The title says it all. You can add industrial style to your man cave using cinder blocks. There are a number of ways that you can build your own table to help add character to your cave. By using two sets of cinder block, you can stack them and add a large piece of 1.5”-2” thick wood to serve as a tabletop. Make sure that the blocks are even so that you don’t have any issues with the stability of the table.

Wooden Pallet Table – Wooden pallets are one of the easiest materials to get if you want to create your own customized furniture. It helps to hit up stores where they normally have to move larger items on a regular basis. You can often get their old pallets for free or at a very low cost. Once you have your pallets, they can be stacked up to create a base for your table. Make sure that you bolt the pallets together before adding the top which can be made from wood or glass.

Tree Stump Tables – Sometimes the best things are found in your own backyard. Dried out tree stumps can be used as a side table to bring a more rugged look into your room. Finding the right piece of wood can be tricky though since it needs to be thick enough to support things being placed on it without tipping over.

Create Your Own Bar from Pallets – Did you know that pallets can be used for more than just tables? These bad boys are also pretty good to help you build your own bar. You heard that right. This is a low cost way to create an area to store your favorite adult beverages.

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New and Improved Overhead Lighting

Switching out light fixtures in a room can take it from “meh” to “amazing” in a short period of time. It’s even better when you can reuse things around the house that haven’t seen the light of day in years. We’ve got a few ideas to help you find a new use for some of those old gems.

Skateboard Lighting Conversion – Skateboards can be used for more than doing tricks. You can use four bulbs where the wheels are normally or mount a light fixture to the front of the skateboard for a cool way to repurpose it. You’ll need about 1.25″ of PVC, some weatherproof sockets to serve as the “wheels”, and a 1.75″ hole saw. Don’t forget that you’ll need a whole lot epoxy too so that the fixture stays in place once it is hung.

Drum Pendant Lamps – Remember that old drum set from college? The one that’s been locked away for years. Now you have a new use for it. You can easily turn a retired drum or drumset into pendant lighting that will give a nice glow to your man cave. This is a relatively simple project that can be completed in a couple of hours.

Spice Up Your Room with Some Decor

Don’t let the word “decor” fool you into thinking that this is only something the ladies are concerned with. Whether you decide to put your favorite comic book action figures or classic movie monsters on the shelf, they still fall under the umbrella of decor. So no need to be afraid of the word. As a matter of fact, we have a few other ways that you can create a masculine space with these accessories.

Man Candles – Over the past few years, there has been a growing trend of “manly” candles appearing in stores. These candles often have more rugged and masculine scents such as Tabacco and Sandalwood, Kentucky Bourbon, and a number of others. Yes, that includes bacon and barbecue scented candles. Whatever your fancy is, there is a candle out there waiting to give your man cave the perfect aroma.

Beer Bottle Glasses – Now you can find a new use for used beer bottles. They can be turned into drinking glasses with labels from your favorite breweries. While the method to create the glass is a little unconventional, this can easily be done at home using a long piece of yarn wound around the bottle, an ice bath, and some nail polish remover. Once you’ve popped off the top of the bottle, you can smooth down the edge using fine sandpaper. The best part is that these glasses can be treated like normal ones purchased from a store.

Crate Toilet Paper Holder with License Plate – Maybe your man cave extends into the bathroom. Using an old crate and license plate, you can build storage for toilet paper rolls or anything else that needs a home in the bathroom. Depending on your sense of style, you can add a stain or a coat of paint to give this accessory some color.

Jack Daniels Soap Dispenser – This is possibly one of the easiest things that you can make. It only requires three components: a whiskey bottle, a dispenser pump and of course, the liquid soap. The dispenser attaches to the bottle and easily comes off so that you can refill the bottle with soap.

Conclusion

Now that you have a few ideas under your belt, converting that blank canvas into a swinging pad should be a breeze. Forget spending big bucks on expensive furniture and lighting. With just a few hours of time and some elbow grease, you can have your man cave looking like a million bucks without actually spending it. By using items that are around the house or–if you must–make a trip to the hardware store you can pick up everything you need to build your own room that expresses your personality.