Many people are eager to start building their perfect sports-themed man cave, but lack the ability to efficiently design their ideal space. This often leads to delays, headaches, and unnecessary costs. Fortunately, here are several tips that will help guide you through the designing process.
First, decide on the purpose of your sports-man cave. Ask yourself what you want to get out of the space. Designing a retreat without a clear purpose can lead to indecision during the build, which can waste time, energy, and money.
Your design considerations will vary depending how you desire to use your cave, whether it be for displaying sports memorabilia, entertaining your sports buddies, or as a quiet place to watch a baseball game. For instance, if you are building a multimedia area you will need to consider how much space you need for a large TV or projector, as well as the available power sources. Understanding these considerations before designing will save you time when changing plans down the road. Creating your own personalized cave is hard enough without any unnecessary delays.
Next, decide on an overall theme for your man cave. Some sports enthusiasts select a theme based on their team’s overall colors, while others decorate their cave with assorted memorabilia, sports-themed furniture, and team artwork. Consulting friends, family, or professional interior designers can help you refine your desired theme.
Do a thorough walk-through of the intended space. Visualize the final product, making sure to keep track of any potential problems or risks. Issues to watch out for include: wiring issues, fire hazards, and other safety concerns. Creating a detailed mental image of the finished space will help focus and streamline the overall design.
Take detailed measurements of your intended space. Without accurate measurements of height, width, and length it will be much more difficult to create a detailed design for your man cave.
Next, finalize your design. If you have any questions, consult friends and family or knowledgeable professionals. When drafting your design, consider using graphing paper or home design software. These can save you a lot of time over doing it by hand.
Before starting your build, consult electricians, plumbers, and other professionals in case problems arise that you can’t handle on your own. One of the best ways to get their advice is to do a walk-through. Give them full access to the intended space and ask for any current or potential problems. If any issues are found, tackle them before starting your build, as it will likely be much easier to access critical systems before building begins.
Make a list of potential costs. Include materials costs, potential contractor fees, and other related expenses. Since most major building projects don’t run smoothly, consider adding at least 10% of the total cost to your budget.
Order materials. Ordering materials and other necessary items, either yourself or through a contractor, can take a large amount of time depending on the specifics of your project. In order to make the process run more smoothly, consider ordering materials as soon as your design is completed. Buying slightly more material than you need will help give you flexibility in case of unforeseen problems. Paying a little more upfront may be worth it in avoiding delays later in the project.
Creating a timetable for each project will make it easier to keep track of the overall progress of your build. Start by estimating the time constraints of each project in order of priority. If you hire a contractor, always have them sign an estimate of both the estimated time commitment as well as quoted price. This will help hold them accountable, and also give you more favorable legal ground should disputes arise.
A well-defined vision is essential for any major home project, but the best laid plans can and do go astray. By developing a comprehensive plan of attack, you can ensure your perfect sports-themed man cave is created to your own high standards.
