Did you know that garage man caves are therapeutic? I’m just kidding, but in all seriousness, a man cave garage is sure to be the talk of the town and your home within your home. 

Man caves give us the freedom to express ourselves. It gives us the personal space we sometimes need in the middle of the weekly grind we go through 52 times a year. The benefits are endless, but converting a garage into a man cave is certainly easier said than done. That is why I have researched and gathered all the steps one must take to convert and remodel a garage into a dream man cave.

If you need help along the way, we can connect you with the right garage contractors near you!

Cleaning

To truly design and create the best man cave possible, you need a blank canvas. Many of us use the garage to store bikes, winter clothes, drinks, cleaning supplies, etc. Well, if you’re going to use this garage to the fullest, you need to get organized.

Rummage through all the junk you have in your garage and make sure each item is something you and family needs. If not, sell it on eBay or throw it out. For the items you do need, you better get smart at organizing. Move it to the basement, below the sink or in the laundry room. Do whatever you can to clear out the space before you turn it into the garage man cave everyone will be talking about.

Too much junk? Get some professional cleaning help.

Insulation

If you’re going to be spending every Sunday in this man cave watching football, then you better have it insulated. That means you need the floors, walls, ceiling and garage door insulated.

No one said this was going to be easy or cheap. According to our insulation installation cost estimator, most homeowners pay $1,289 for insulation. However, this price is the average of all insulation projects around the house, including the attic. You can expect garage insulation to be less.

One way to save money is by installing the garage door insulation yourself. I mapped out all the steps in How To Insulate A Garage Door.

Painting

The insides of garages are not built with design flair. Man caves, on the other hand, require some color and design. That is why your new garage man cave needs a new coat paint on all the walls.

I don’t care if it’s red, blue, green or even white, if you’re converting a garage into man cave, it needs paint. If you need help deciding, make sure you read Popular House Paint Colors For 2014.

Beware, painting an entire garage is a lot of work. There are professionals who specialize in garage painting. Click here to connect with up to four professional painters for free.

Lighting

Most garages have one light installed, but when you’re hosting poker night or your next fantasy football draft, you need to illuminate the room.

Try incorporating lights that match your style. If you’re going with an industrial look, look for pendants lights that match the color scheme. If you want a more modern touch, go with recessed lights.

Installing your own lighting can be tricky. If you have an attached garage, the project is a bit easier, but if you have a detached garage, you may want to find a professional electrician.

Flooring

For obvious reasons, the standard garage floor can get cold and unwelcoming, two feelings you would never want for your garage man cave. Concrete floors will not help the situation.

You could add floorboards or even carpet in certain areas (very risky though). Alternatively, you could buy large area rugs, but if you really want your man cave to be the talk of the town, spend the extra cash on a comfortable flooring option.

Protection

We will get into the highlights of your man cave garage momentarily, but we must address the elephant in the room that is security. If you’re going to place your 75” TV or Michael Jordan jersey in the garage, then you better have good security.

These are valuable items and after you show off your unbelievable man cave, all your neighbors will be talking about it. Make sure you purchase special garage door locks. This way, friends and neighbors will need your code to open the garage.

Likewise, make sure you put a deadbolt on the back door (if your garage has one). For more protection, you could also extend your security system.

Furniture

Now that we have the basics out of the way, it’s time to get into the fun stuff. As I noted in 10 Must-Have Items for the Ultimate Man Cave, a recliner is the No. 1 essential item all man caves need.

The age-old picture of a man drinking a beer on his recliner in his man cave has not died. However, the modern man cave has evolved and you need comfortable seating for all your friends. Whether you add a sectional, a huge leather couch, multiple recliners or even bar seats, make sure you have enough seating for you and all your guys.

Bar & Fridge

The man cave is supposed to be convenient and it surely won’t be if you have to run inside every time you want a drink or another sandwich. If you have space, try to build your own bar in the corner of your new man cave garage. Leave space and electrical outlets for a mini fridge or a larger one if you can fit it. 

Believe me when I say that without a fridge, your friends will not enjoy this man cave.

Memorabilia

No man cave can be complete without its fair share of sports memorabilia. If you have always wanted a place to show off that Derek Jeter ball or a wall to hang that LeBron James jersey, your man cave is it.

If you’re not into sports, add movie posters, pictures of the kids or anything that makes you happy. It’s your man cave. Be sure to add all the personal flair you want!

Conclusion

Garages are the perfect location for a man cave. If separates the home and your home within your home. It gives you the freedom you demand after a long week. Now that you know what you need, go out and start building or designing your own garage man cave.