If you or your spouse are super football fans like me and my hubby then you know that Super Bowl XLVI is quickly approaching (February 5th to be exact). Are you ready for the big day, is your Man Cave up to par? It’s not too late to put together the perfect Man Cave for you and your family and friends to enjoy.

If you’ve been thinking about designing and building out your perfect Man Cave, don’t go about it in the dark without a plan. When we began thinking about what our space would look like, we started with a mood board. Thank you Leslie Carothers for recently introducing me to the wonderful 3D Mood Board creator, OLIOBOARD! It’s a perfect way to work out what your space will “feel” and look like on paper before you ever get started. You can check out my first ever 3D mood board here…it was so easy to use, anyone can do it! Be sure to head on over and try it out for yourself.

My Top 10 Man Cave Must Haves

#1 Theme: Start with an overall theme for your man cave, or two or three…what ever you’re in to and whatever makes you happy. Racing, sports, nautical, hunting, football, baseball, golf…skies the limit! We went with an overall sports theme, playing up a common sports shape, “the circle” and featuring the Pantone 2012 color of the year, “Tangerine Tango”!

#2 Equipment: Make sure all of your equipment is up to par…after all, that’s what everyone is most likely there to experience. Televisions, music, surround sound, should all be at the top of the list.

#3 Seating: Whether you have room for a sectional, theater type stadium seating, recliners, or chairs and ottomans, be sure to invest in the very best you can afford. Sporting events can last for hours on end and you want to make sure you and your guests are comfortable all the way to the final buzzer.

#4 Serving: If you have the space a full bar area may be in order. You may also want to include extras like a kegerator or humidor if you find it fitting.

#5 Recreation: Who says Man Caves are only for watching the big game? Give you and your guests a break from watching sports by including some recreational activities like game tables, a dart board, putting green, poker table, gaming systems. You’ll be the envy of all of your friends and you’ll never have to leave home for a good time!

#6 Decorative: This is how you can set your Man Cave above the rest….be sure to include all of those extras like artwork, neon signs, sports memorabilia, hunting and fishing trophies, sports trophies and special photos. If you’re in need of some design inspiration for your room, head on over to Spirit of Sports. They are the world’s largest online gallery of sports related artwork and gift items. I used one of their paintings in my Man Cave…isn’t this football abstract gorgeous!!

#7 Lighting: Be sure to set the right mood in  your new space. Use neon, strobe lights, disco balls, colored bulbs, mood, accent, and decorative lighting to pull off your theme just right. Choose wisely as this is one of the most important elements in any room!

#8 Flooring: Let’s face it, with the big game well underway, the last thing most are concerned about is spillage. With all of the food and beverages that are consumed in the average Man Cave, be sure your flooring can withstand the excitement! Use hard surfaces that can easily be cleaned and area rugs that you can whisk off to the cleaners.

#9 Sound: If adjacent rooms or areas around your space don’t want to be in on the festivities, it might not be a bad idea to look into sound proofing your new Man Cave.

#10 Restroom: Let’s face it ladies, we don’t want to share our bathroom with a bunch of men hopped up on sports and hoagies. We’ll be just as happy as them if they have their very own bathroom….through in a urinal and you’ll have the happiest man alive!

All photos courtesy of The DIY Network

Thinking about ramping up your man space? Ready to help give your special man a place he can call his own? If you’re not sure where to start, I can help!! Give me a call or email me at jennifer@jenniferreynoldsinteriors.com today! There’s still time to create your perfect Man Cave before Super Bowl XLVI…let’s do it!!

xoxo