The man cave is a sacred space in a man’s life. With the modern way of life being so hectic and sometimes downright chaotic, a busy man and tired father need to have a space that is just his own, a space of uninterrupted peace and serenity. No matter the size of this room, or how small it might feel, there are numerous ways you can bring a lively interior to life, and create a decor scheme that will radiate positivity throughout.
That said, designing a perfectly balanced man cave around an eco-friendly mindset will require proper planning and meticulous execution, as you want this space to be independent of the rest of the household. With that in mind, be sure to implement these five tips to create your very own eco-friendly man cave that will benefit you, your budget, and the earth.
Start by reducing energy consumption
The first thing any man can do to turn his living environment green is to reduce the energy consumption in every room in the household. And your man cave falls into this category. First up, you want to make sure that any appliances and electronic devices you will be using here are optimized for minimal energy consumption. This means turning off idle energy consumption when you’re not using the cave, as well.
By far one of the most rewarding changes you can make here is to install an LED lighting scheme. LED light bulbs do an excellent job conserving precious energy, as opposed to their incandescent counterparts, and they are more luminous to boot. Just choose your preferred hue and let the warm light bathe the room in peace and positivity.
Repurpose and reuse as much as you can
Recycling, reusing, repurposing, these are the staples of a green mindset, and they should be a staple in your man cave. From the materials you use to build the thing (provided that you’re building it from the ground up), to the flooring, the furniture and all the way to the smallest of details such as the shelves or the coffee table, there is always a way to repurpose salvaged materials for your man cave.
Start by sourcing quality reclaimed wood from the local salvage yard. If you consider yourself to be somewhat of a handyman, then this is your opportunity to satisfy all of your DIY needs, so grab a saw and a tape measure. Don’t forget to consider the color scheme (more on that a bit later), and decide which natural elements to keep in their original hue, and which to transform into aesthetic accents.
Choose natural, sustainable furniture and accents
Speaking of all-natural, there are plenty of ways you can further decorate the interior to suit the eco-friendly lifestyle and aid in the preservation of the environment. First, start by choosing sustainable fabrics and materials for the furniture. You want every piece to be easy to clean and maintain without the use of toxic or abrasive cleaners.
Source these types of materials for your pillows and blankets, and complement the design by putting a weave jute rug beneath the main seating area to create a comfortable landing spot for your feet – which will also double as a second layer of insulation. If you ever get confused as to which material to choose or which furniture piece to go with, just ask yourself which option has the least environmental impact during production, and how many resources it will take to maintain it on a daily basis.
Paint the interior the eco-friendly way
The man cave deserves to have a unique color scheme, one that will have a positive influence on your emotional and psychological well-being. With many options to choose from, you can go with an all-white foundation for the walls with natural hues on the furniture and accents, or you can create an industrial look with exposed brick walls and enough deep wooden hues throughout.
Regardless, you should always choose VOC-free paint in order to uphold the cave’s eco-friendly values. Volatile organic compounds are toxic chemicals many paint manufacturers still use, and they not only have a negative environmental impact, but they can also affect your long-term health. Better to just stay clear of these.
Build with passive conservation in mind
Lastly, keep in mind that passive conservation is the foundation of an eco-friendly interior. Be sure to insulate your man cave from all sides, including the floors and the ceiling, as well as the windows. You can also install double-glazed windows in order to prevent excess heat from penetrating into the room during the sizzling summer months but will prevent heat from escaping when the temperatures drop down during winter.
A man cave is so much more than just another room in your home, or on your property, where you can escape to enjoy a beer in some well-deserved peace and quiet. This is a place where men go to find their inner peace and become true men once more. Let these five tips help you design and decorate a man cave that you, and Mother Earth, can be proud of.
