Making a man cave

Thinking of creating a man cave in your home? Then read on!

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Thoreau had Walden Pond. Elvis had Graceland. Superman, the Fortress of Solitude. Bottom linemen need their space. A 2010 study at the University of Southern California of couples in their 30s and 40s found that men’s cortisol levels dropped significantly when they had more solo leisure time in their own homes. “It seems that, when it comes to stress recovery, guys benefit from withdrawing a bit more than women do,” says USC’s Dr. Darby Saxbe, who authored the study. “The man cave phenomenon definitely fits in with the results of our research.” (Quote that the next time your significant other gives you a hard time about watching sport all day).

Of course, not all man caves are created equal. You may have limited square meterage to work with, for one thing. Or your budget may not allow for a full-blown entertainment centre with surround sound and a 72-inch plasma. But that shouldn’t stop you from breaking ground.

Here, is some wisdom on constructing the perfect shrine to testosterone – no matter what kind of burrow you dig yourself into.

Draw detailed design specs

Any major home-improvement project like this requires serious planning and a keen eye. Take precise measurements of each wall of the room you want to transform, then sketch a rough layout on graph paper. That way, you can see your ideas come to life and erase mistakes, without putting in wasted physical effort.