Basement Remodeling Tips: Man Caves

Have you recently waterproofed your basement? Now that it's dry and healthy, it's time to think about how you want to use it. Man caves are a fun, trendy option. You can remodel your basement into the perfect man cave by following this advice.

Make it unique. You don't want your man cave to look like other rooms in your home, so make it distinctive. Choose a theme that reflects your interests, like sports, hunting, movies, games, music, cars or vintage collectibles. Then incorporate design elements that highlight your theme. Try sports memorabilia, a popcorn maker, a candy dispenser, mounted deer heads, arcade games, a pool table, unusual license plates, framed vinyl album covers or musical instruments to create a look that reflects your personality.

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Tailor it to your needs. You need your man cave to work for you, so think about how you want to use it. You could design a space for friends and family to gather for the big game, with an HD Smart TV and powerful speaker system. You might want a media room with stadium seating, a popcorn machine, a counter for serving drinks and snacks, a giant screen and surround sound. You might prefer to set it up as a game room, with gaming consoles, pinball machines, billiards, darts and even board games. Maybe you want a bar that can be used for entertaining, with bar stools, a wine chiller, beer taps, shelving for liquor, a mini fridge and a sink to keep everything clean. Figure out how you want to use your man cave so you know what to include.

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Consider comfort. You want your man cave to be inviting, so make sure it's comfortable. While a chair shaped like a baseball glove may look perfect for your sports-themed man cave, you might not want to sit in it for hours while you watch the Super Bowl. Choose furniture you can relax in and be sure to offer seating for guests. Sectionals upholstered in forgiving leather or soft, easy-to-clean microfiber are good choices. Include storage, like cabinets, shelves and coffee tables or benches with lift-up tops. You can stash throw blankets, serving bowls and glasses so everything you need is at your fingertips. Add overhead lights, floor lamps and table lamps with dimmers for task and mood lighting. If you don't want wall-to-wall carpet, position area rugs to soften hard surfaces like wood or tile floors. Carpet tiles and indoor-outdoor rugs are smart options, because they can be replaced or cleaned.

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Now that your basement is dry and healthy, it's time to remodel the newly usable space into the man cave of your dreams. Just make sure your design is unique, tailored to your needs and comfortable.

Of course, when your family and friends see your man cave, they're going to want a space of their own. From “she sheds” to playrooms, from wine cellars to indoor sport courts, from media rooms to in-law suites, we'll be sharing tips on basement remodeling. For more information on how NV Waterproofing can provide total waterproofing solutions for your home – and help you love your basement – visit www.nvwaterproofing.com or call 1-703-690-3889.