Have you been thinking about creating your own space to escape to for a while? After the events of the last two years, it’s likely you’ve joined others in rethinking your current setup and you’re now considering trying some DIY of your own.
If you did, you wouldn’t be alone. During the lockdowns, sheds, garden rooms, and even pubs popped up in our outdoor spaces.
Should you have big plans to build a mancave in your garden, read on to get some top tips on how to go about it.
The benefits of building a mancave
So, why build a mancave? If you’ve been debating adding this space to your garden for a while now and you need a nudge to persuade you to go for it, here’s a reminder of the advantages that a room like this can have.
- An extra room
Thinking practically, by creating a mancave you’re adding an extra room in the house without having to pay for an extension. Any additional rooms can increase the value of your property, should you want to sell in the future.
They also create an extra space that you didn’t have before. So, you could pop a bed in there and make it an extra bedroom – perfect for when guests come to stay. Or you might decide to add a table and chairs or beanbags create an additional dining and entertaining area for any parties you host.
- It’s good for your wellbeing
There are real benefits of having a space to call your own. It can give you time away from the everyday tasks and stresses where you can decompress. This, in turn, helps with your mental health and wellbeing.
There are organisations like Men’s Sheds that focus on this very topic. It’s so important that you’re able to relax and switch off, and building a space where you can do that can help.
- A creative outlet
How would you decorate your mancave? Would you stick up posters of your favorite sporting legends or paint the walls in colors that wouldn’t be appropriate in the house? Maybe you’d add shelving because you finally have a home for your Stranger Things/ Star Wars/ other fandom memorabilia.
This is your room where you can make your mark. There are no rules, so you can decorate it however you want.
Get building
Convinced yet? Good! Now it’s time to get building.
We’re going to assume here that there are no restrictions on you building an outdoor structure in our garden but do check beforehand.
First, plan it out. You’ll need to know where the mancave is going and what the dimensions are. If you’re repurposing an existing outbuilding, you’re in a great position, but if you’re starting from scratch, you need to think about things like laying the foundations and wiring up electricity – you might need to call in the professionals for that bit.
Next, think about the tools you’ll need. From hammers and screws to power tools and specialist drill bits, you’ll need to make sure you have everything to hand.
Another part of this planning stage involves working out how you’ll make it waterproof. The materials you use to do this will depend on what you’re using to build it. For instance, if it’s a wooden structure, you’ll need very different waterproofing materials than if you’re going for bricks. Likewise, inside needs to be damp-proof.
From there, you can begin the building process. If this is the first time you’re working on a project like this, you might want to call in reinforcements. See if your friends want to get involved and make sure you get advice before you start each part of this building job.
This can be an enjoyable project if you break each part down into manageable chunks. Take the time to work on each area – after all, this is going to be your mancave. You need to make it your own.
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