Garage Man Cave Makeover Ideas
Do you want to set up a garage man cave but just can’t seem to make the space? There really isn't much to it other than organizing, setting up a garage sale, and reclaiming your space.
When you’re ready to get started on your garage man cave makeover, follow these 12 steps:
- Start in your house and end in the garage
- Start with three main piles: keep, donate/trash, and sell
- Clear out the space and visualize
- Embrace organizational hacks
- Get creative
- Lean into accessories
- Don’t forget about your wall space
- Storage bins are your friend
- Set up a garage sale with your ‘sell’ pile
- Advertise and organize
- Get the whole neighborhood involved
- Don't forget furniture
- Get ready to entertain
- Stick to regular upkeep
Have you been meaning to turn that cluttered garage into a man cave so you can have your buddies over again? Are you unsure where to start? More than a little stressed at the thought of a complete garage makeover? Not to worry, all of those questions and more will be addressed below!
Start in Your House and End in The Garage
This might seem counter-intuitive since you’re trying to clear out your garage, but it’s best to tackle the house as a whole, starting inside and working toward the garage. This way, you won’t have to double back later. On top of that, you can look for opportunities to bring things out of your garage and into your house if and when they make the cut, which leads to the next step.
Start with Three Main Piles: Keep, Donate/Trash, and Sell
Setting up clear and distinct piles will help make the task a little less daunting. It also takes some of the responsibility away from you. If you’re going through your things without having these piles in mind, it can be super difficult to convince yourself to let go of anything. Anything that hasn’t been used in the last year and isn’t important goes in either the ‘trash’ pile or the ‘sell’ pile, depending on whether you think you can make something off of it!
Clear Out The Space and Visualize
Once you’ve separated everything into three piles, it’s time to clear out your garage and start visualizing the space that’ll be your eventual man cave. Beyond just planning out your space, this will be beneficial for your family’s health and safety as well. Garages can be a haven for bugs and rodents. You can create the man cave you’ve always dreamed of while nipping any pest problems in the bud.
Embrace Organizational Hacks
There are so many creative hacks out there for garage organization, two of which come from Better Homes & Gardens: clear containers and ceiling-mounted brackets. Gone are the days of rifling through drawers looking for a specific tool or type of screw and coming up empty. And with how bulky ladders are, it just makes sense to take advantage of your ceiling space and free up room elsewhere.
Get Creative
One of the best and most versatile ways of organizing a garage is with Slatwall racks, as suggested by the pros at Built-In Closet and Garage Designs. If you’re looking for a simple way to organize and display your tools, these wall racks are it! On top of that, there’s huge potential for customization. Far from being a cookie-cutter replica of every other garage, Slatwall racks will help you make your man cave unique. For more great ideas to enhance your garage walls, check out, How to Maximize Wall Space in Your Garage.
Lean Into Accessories
Along with Slatwall racks, don’t be afraid to try out different cabinets or even a workbench centerpiece. You’ll be able to store your tools and clear the workbench top in a pinch for use as a table when guests are over. There’s no rule against using some of those cabinets for snack storage either.
Complete the transformation with a mini fridge tucked off to the side of your man cave, and you’re ready to host! However, just make sure that everything is securely stored and if necessary, add extra ventilation to ensure temperature control.
Don’t Forget About Wall Space
As Consumer Reports notes, the wall directly across from your car’s hood will have the most opportunity for storage, especially when it comes to cabinets. That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of your side walls too, just that storage there will be shallow. Using storage bins on the far walls and Slatwall racks for the side walls will allow you to maximize all available space and keep everything in close proximity.
Storage Bins Are Your Friend
Stackable bins are especially useful when you’re looking to do a man cave makeover, but be sure to label them. An alternative to stackable bins are transparent bins that will allow you to see where all of your things are at a glance. It can be tempting to leave items in cardboard boxes, but bins are not only easier to access - they look better too. Little things like that will shift your space from a boring garage to a distinctive man cave.
Set Up a Garage Sale with Your ‘Sell’ Pile
Once you’ve got your ‘sell’ pile ready, it’s time to set up a garage sale. One of the best ways to figure out pricing for your items is to check Facebook Marketplace and eBay. The added benefit is you can sell any leftover items through those online marketplaces after your garage sale is over. Just as you organized, decluttered, and sorted items by type when cleaning out your garage, do the same for your for-sale items too.
Advertise and Organize
Gone are the days when you’d have to rely on garage sale signs placed on lawns and stapled to telephone poles. Those old school methods can still work, but it’s important to find people where they are. Check to see if there’s a neighborhood group for where you live on social media. Post on forums and create shareable stories on all of your social profiles. Try to vary your approach and tackle as many angles as possible.
Get The Whole Neighborhood Involved
Another great way to guarantee foot traffic is to team up with other people in your neighborhood. With more homes on the block participating and more people advertising the event, you’ll have a higher chance of clearing out all your unwanted junk. You can even get a bit cheeky and note that every sale adds to the man cave fund. When you present a clear goal, people are more incentivized to participate.
Don’t Forget Furniture
No man cave is complete without furniture. It’s best to think modular and portable here. Just as you’ve maximized your space with storage, you’ll want to do the same with seating while still keeping things comfortable for your guests. Nothing against couches, but it’ll be easier to rearrange and fit individual chairs in your new space. Then, if you invest in a few recliners, everyone can kick back whenever they want.
Get Ready to Entertain
You’ve cleared out your space, organized, and picked out furniture, but your man cave is still missing something. You need some entertainment! If you have room on one of the walls, why not mount a flat-screen? Another way to keep your buddies entertained is investing in a good pool table and/or foosball table. That way, you can get together on game day while also having a little tournament of your own.
Stick to Regular Upkeep
Once the garage sale is over and you’ve organized your space into the man cave of your dreams, your work is anywhere but over. Regular upkeep is important anywhere in your house, but especially in your garage. When you’ve dramatically changed the look and feel of a space, it can be easy to fall back into old habits. Keep a close eye on accumulating clutter and make use of those new cabinets, bins, and Slatwall racks!
Conclusion
Just because a major revamp of your garage can seem daunting doesn’t mean it has to be. By breaking things down into smaller tasks, sorting out your items, and clearing out your junk in a garage sale, you’ll be well on your way to the garage man cave makeover you’ve been dreaming of!