How to Make a Garage Into a Man Cave

Clear out the garage to make cave space. While you undoubtedly will need to keep items in the garage, if the entire space is full, there is little room for more important male pursuits. Keeping the car in the garage when you aren't cave dwelling is optional.

Install shelves, cabinets and tool chests. These create additional floor space in your man cave, which should impress your wife when she sees how organized the garage is. The benefit to you is they provide places to hide the magazines she doesn't like and toys you don't want her to know you spent money on. It's not really lying, after all, if she doesn't ask.

Tear down the pretty curtains and replace them with more masculine coverings. There isn't any one style of curtain or covering that spells "manly," but ruffles and lace in purple and pink or little ducks and teddy bears definitely aren't it. Black is a perfect color for curtains, but shades or cardboard works just as well. Give yourself bonus points if you find beer signs or target practice boards to frame the windows instead.

Bring a television out to keep in the garage. And yes, bigger is better. Run the satellite or cable into the garage and add a stereo and game system along with other electronic accessories. Games on TV take on a brand new feel when you are in your own man cave.

Place a beat-up old couch, recliner and other furniture in front of your entertainment center. The older and shabbier the seating is, the less likely that the wife and family will want to invade your space. Older male children, as they learn the man cave ways, will find your seating irrelevant.

Put a microwave in easy reach of the couch. Include a coffee pot in your cooking supplies along with a few basic essentials. A couple of plates and a few mugs are likely all you need; napkins and silverware are typically unimportant to man food served in a man cave.

Add a refrigerator to your man cave. Fill it with beer, soda and snacks such as pretzels, chips and special treats you wish to keep either cold or away from rats, bugs and children. Ideally, set the couch, television, microwave and refrigerator all in arm's reach of each other. This makes for a more relaxing experience.

Adjust the cave lighting to suit your taste. Dark corners with hanging bulbs over a pool table or poker table are ideal for man caves, while bright and cold lighting is reminiscent of the ladies' powder room.

Set up a foosball table, pool table, dartboard or a card table with chairs for poker. While these require a little more space, they are ideal for male bonding in the cave. An old arcade game or a retired casino slot machine adds a special touch.

Spread sawdust, straw or peanut shells across the floor if you can clean your shoes before entering the house. Not only will this cover old stains on the concrete, but it will make cleanup easy; spilled food will be unnoticeable, and the dirt will not show.

Furnish your man cave with heaters for the winter and install air conditioning for the summer. Fans are also perfect for increasing air movement while drowning out sounds inside the home.

Build a sauna or add a hot tub if you can. While these require more space and additional expense, they are wonderful additions to a man cave. Also, they win brownie points with your lady when you feel like sharing your cave.

Store a pillow, blanket and possibly a sheet in your man cave. You might need it when the weather is cold or the woman kicks you out of the house for spending too much money. If she likes the hot tub or sauna, however, you might need it for other things.