How to Design a Man Cave In a Small Room

Written By
Jaimie Zinski
Jaimie Zinski
Published: Nov 21, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

However, not every home or apartment has a large basement space or expansive spare room to make a massive man cave. Use paint, furnishings and other tricks to turn a small room into an enviable man cave.

Things You Will Need

  • Paint
  • Furniture
  • Wall-mounted television bracket
  • Shelves
  • Lamps
  • Mirror
  1. Paint the walls in a light shade of blue, green or brown. Avoid darker hues, as these make the space seem cavernous and smaller than it really is. Save the darker colors for accents -- including wooden trim, borders or decorative elements.

  2. Decorate the room with one large piece of furniture, such as a sofa, that anchors the space and provides a focal point. Bring in two to three small pieces, including a bookcase, end table or other small tables for drinks and snacks. Avoid cluttering the room with several larger pieces of furniture, as these make the space feel smaller than it is. Choose multi-purpose furniture to cut down unnecessary items, including a coffee table with storage compartments.

  3. Ditch the credenza or other television stand and hang the flat screen on a wall-mounted bracket. Hang a shelf under the television to house any components, including the cable box or console video game. Store all the extraneous video game and electronic accessories, such as controllers and headsets, in a small cabinet to cut down on clutter.

  4. House any sports memorabilia, action figures or other collectibles on hanging shelves, instead of displaying the items in large cabinets. This allows you to free up floor space while showing off your collections. Avoid overloading the shelving with too much memorabilia to prevent making the space feel cluttered and over-stuffed.

  5. Add lighting to supply the room with plenty of light. This includes placing a floor lamp in the corner or allowing the sun to shine through windows. The extra light makes the room seem airier, lighter and larger.

  6. Incorporate a mirror into the room. Hang a decorative bar mirror or choose a mirrored coffee table to reflect more light, making the space feel larger. Place the mirror opposite a light source or window to maximize its ability to reflect light back into the room.

The Drip Cap

  • Man caves are modern-day refuges that allow boys and men of all ages to escape the rigors of everyday life.
  • Avoid darker hues, as these make the space seem cavernous and smaller than it really is.
  • Store all the extraneous video game and electronic accessories, such as controllers and headsets, in a small cabinet to cut down on clutter.
  • This includes placing a floor lamp in the corner or allowing the sun to shine through windows.
  • Incorporate a mirror into the room.
Jaimie Zinski

Residing in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Jaimie Zinski has been writing since 2009. Specializing in pop culture, film and television, her work appears on Star Reviews and various other websites. Zinski is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in history at…

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