The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Garage Man Cave (or She Shed)

Sometimes, a garage just doesn’t make sense as a carport anymore. You might no longer have much need for your car or have moved into a property with the space, despite not being a big driver. But there’s no point letting the space go to waste – why not use that extra area and create a stunning garage man cave (or she shed)?

Everyone needs a place in their home to hang out and relax. Your kids might have laid claim to the living room and your spouse has control of the bedroom. If this is the case, the words garage and man cave might feel like perfect partners. All it takes is a few creature comforts and some touches to make things more welcoming – think side-hinged garage doors – and you’ll be able to create the sanctuary you’ve been yearning for.

This article will offer guidance on how to properly create the space with a garage remodel.

Garage remodeling takes planning

If you want your man cave garage to live up to expectations, you need to plan things properly. Sure, you could gut the place and throw in a few sofa chairs and a mini fridge, but where’s the ambition? Take the time consider a few things:

What you’re really going to do in the room – socialise or solitude?
Whether you want to commit to a theme
Must-have items that align with purpose and theme
Understanding and accounting for planning permission (in case of extensions/major structural change)
Checking for structural issues like damp, lacking insulation or shoddy garage doors
A timeframe for completion

Once you’ve determined what you’re going to do with the space you should get in touch with professional contractors. These people will be able to guide you through and enact the major changes that will make your garage remodel ideas a reality.

The technical aspects of a good garage man/she cave

Before you can start installing the hockey tables or the cocktail corner, you need to consider the utilities that will allow your man cave/she shed to shine. Some of the important elements include:

Setting up plenty of sockets and lighting fixtures
Optionally adding some outdoor lighting
Bringing in the right heating appliances/connection to a central system
Allowing for ventilation (damp is a killer!)
Setting up new floors if necessary
Making aesthetic changes to walls
Soundproofing if you’re planning on being loud in there

Again, unless you’re qualified, these tasks are best enacted by professionals to ensure safety and

The fun parts of garage conversions

Now that you’ve got the boring stuff out of the way, you can start adding the touches that are going to make it yours. This is where you can let loose and begin to make your design dreams come true with furniture, entertainment options and personality fixtures.

Seating

First of all, you need plenty of seating, whether it takes the form of sports-ready recliners, laid-back bean bags or social-focused bar stools.

Screens

Then comes the TV, which, as we know, needs to be as big as possible and ideally wall-mounted to maximise floor space. If you want to take things to the next level, consider getting a projector and home cinema screen – perfect for the big game or a ladies’ movie night. Of course, the screens need to be supplemented with entertainment systems, whether they take the form of FireTV or video game consoles.

Nightlife features

Are you gonna be the neighbourhood bar? Or do you want to set up a poker league? How about practising your pool skills? Why not all at once? Some evening entertainment options will be ideal for the more social nights.

These are just some of the steps to creating your garage man cave or she shed, but remember, inspiration is everything! Follow your heart, work with professionals and enjoy your new space.