Let’s face it, showing off your garage is big deal. It’s your pride and joy. The space where you spend time making memories, rolling up your sleeves, and putting all of those must-have tools to use. When you step foot into your garage, you’re escaping into your happy place. So why not make that area an extension of your home? I’m going to share some ideas and tips to convert your garage into the man cave that you’ve only dreamed of and make it a reality.

STARTING POINT

Transforming your garage into a man cave can be much easier than you may think. Imagine this space just like any other room in your home. Much like any project, a plan is always the best place to begin. I’ve outlined some simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Jot down everything you already enjoy about your space. Identify what keeps you going back to spend hours there in the first place.
Step 2: List the the nice-to-haves. This can include anything from checkerboard floors to surround sound. Think beyond the basics and get specific.
Step 3: Recognize what makes sense. Review your notes from steps 1 and 2 to determine what you can and want to implement.
Step 4: Refine your list. Although it may seem time consuming, it will help you “paint the picture” of your ideal man cave. It’s important that you go through this exercise, as it will become easier to put all (or some) of those wish list items into action.

THEME IDEAS

Now that you’ve made your list, it’s time to put a rhyme and reason to it. How do you do that? Find your inspiration and run with it. A great place to start is your hobbies. Find the similarities in those you enjoy and start to translate them. Here are some theme ideas to help spark your interest:

  • Automotive
  • Industrial
  • Sports
  • Bar/Beverage
  • Western
  • Hunting/Fishing
  • Money
  • Travel
  • Books/Comics
  • Video Games
  • Tools

Did one or two resonate with you? If so, what are the elements within the theme that you are drawn towards? To help you figure out what that might be, think about the qualities within those themes. Colors, details, design, and décor all have their own unique merit. Pull from these characteristics, make them yours, and use them to focus your design details.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Bend wrenches into hooks. Turn tires into seating options. Spray paint the garbage can and add your favorite logo. Adding your personality in this space is easy. Here are some ways you can easily incorporate design elements:

Flooring

Painted or stamped concrete, carpet, faux turf, rugs, coins, bottle caps, tile, and wood are materials you can incorporate throughout or in just a specific area of your garage floor. If you’re parking vehicles in your garage, some of these options may not be ideal.

Lights

Chandeliers, recessed and pendant lights can be easily placed in you garage, too. Colored Christmas lights or rope lights add a nice flair. Work lights can be hung where they are used most and kept on display 365 days of the year.

Shelves

Pallets, wood, metal, or plastic shelves are all great material options. Make and create them if you’re handy, ask a friend to help, or find them at your favorite hardware store.

Seating

Portable, functional options can be made out of common materials such as buckets, tires, boxes, and plastic crates. If you’re feeling creative, you could even mount a truck tailgate for a flip-down bench. A pair of cinder blocks braced with a few pieces of lumber can also create an easy seating option.

Paint

Choose one accent wall with a pop of color or paint all of the walls with a coordinating color. If you want to make a statement, go for it!

Artwork

Flags, jerseys, banners, collectables, and keepsakes deserve to be displayed. Dust off those memorabilia items, and show them off.

Storage

Instead of hiding plastic totes, use them to add color to your space. If you’re limited on space, place frequently used items in a container on wheels for easy access. Use buckets, jars, coffee cans, or any other items you would find in the recycle bin to keep objects organized.

CONVERTING YOUR SPACE

Here comes the fun part! When you’re ready to convert your garage into a space that begs you to stay, as the famous saying goes, just do it. Your garage door and opener are one of the most important elements to access this space, so treat those with the same, if not more, attention. Our team of experts is here to help you turn your garage man cave ideas into reality.