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This article is an extension of an earlier article I wrote that talks about what makes a man cave a man cave. In this article, I will talk about some of the things that you need to have in your room to make it feel like an authentic man cave. The 7 things that need to be in your man cave are a TV, an entertainment center, a fridge/minifridge, a comfortable couch, a place for people to gather(pool table, dartboard, or bar top), creative lighting, and a display of your collections/hobbies/passions. Together, these create a man cave that isyour own. The purpose of this article is not to give a buying guide for the categories of items listed. It’s a starting point for you on your search. As my previous article mentions, one of the most important aspects of a man cave is its authentic representation of you. So me “telling” you to buy certain things isn’t going to fly. Let’s get started! This list is in no particular order. Every Man Cave Needs A Flatscreen Television: One of the first things that came to my mind is a great flatscreen TV. In today’s world, so much revolves around the TV. This is an important addition to a man cave because it serves multiple purposes. Perhaps most importantly, you can enjoy it while hanging out in your man cave alone. You definitely don't need multiple people to enjoy a TV! Secondly, it plays a crucial role in entertaining guests. You can either all gather around it, or just use it for background noise. It is extremely flexible. If you design your man cave correctly (which if you are hanging out here, you are on the right track!) this TV can do everything! It can be the go-to for a family movie night, just you catching up on your show, background music for a hangout, or a party to watch the big game. All of this is to say that one of the most important decisions you will be making is what TV to buy, Not if you should buy one. Every Man Cave Needs An Entertainment Center: This is something that I feel is underrated. A good entertainment center is not to be ignored. If you plan on using the TV as the focal point of your man cave, you may want to spend some time picking out a good entertainment center. The wall your TV is on will get the most attention. This is also where you are going to have the most wires/gadgets hanging around. Like the decisions surrounding TV’s in man caves, the question isn’t if you should get an entertainment center, it’s what type. If you do not have many systems/boxes, you may decide to go with one that is more open. If you have a bunch of like cable boxes, gaming systems, and routers, you may want to go with one that is closed off. Wires and electronics can make your man cave feel cluttered. Picking the correct style of entertainment center based on your needs will help bring it all together. Be picky though, this is an important decision. Every Man Cave Needs A Fridge/Mini Fridge: When I started designing my man cave, I wanted to have as much in here as possible. I wanted to limit my needed trips outside of my retreat. So, as you may have already guessed I took my mini-fridge search seriously. If I had more space, I would definitely have a full-sized fridge. That being said, the mini-fridge I have is the perfect size for water, soda, and beer. It even has a little freezer compartment for my whiskey rocks. Can’t beat that. In all seriousness, I think a fridge of some kind is an important inclusion in your man cave. It improves your ability to entertain others. It also stops guests from wandering aimlessly around your house looking for a drink... If you plan on having a bar, it is absolutely a must. If you design your bar right, the minifridge can fit right under the bar top. The space in your man cave is precious! Do what you can to maximize it. When looking at minifridges, you are going to want to pay attention to what you find most important. When I started looking around at minifridges, I was surprised at how much variation there was. If you are like me and want the flexibility of freezer space, keep that in the back of your mind. Every Man Cave Needs A Nice Couch: Assuming you don’t want your man cave to be standing room only, you are going to need somewhere for people to sit and enjoy themselves. In most man caves, people choose to put couches in front of the TV. But you can do a lot more. I am starting to feel like a broken record, but this is one of those decisions that only you can make. To be honest, I added this to the list because it is just important you plan on having room for more than just two people to sit. What’s the point of creating an impressive man cave if you can’t share it? There are so many options out there for couches and seating that it is almost not worth me starting to get into it here. So instead, I will give you a few questions to start your search. After all, that is what this article is for, helping you start that search. Those questions are: what color do you want your couch/seating to be, and what material do you want? If you are going for a rustic look, browns, and leathers may be a good idea for you. Also, how much room do you have for seating in your space? If you have a good amount of room, take a look into sectionals. Sectionals tend to be a little more expensive, but honestly, it’s worth it. You have more control over your space, and you can rearrange forthe occasion. Every Man Cave Needs A Place For People to Gather: This is another one of those things that can be overlooked by first-time man cave creators. It can’t be overstated how important it is to have a place for people to gather in your man cave. I suppose this could be around the TV on your couch, but why limit yourself to that? Having a bar or island in your man cave is a great example. It is a space that people can sit face to face and enjoy each other's company. I think of this category as the place in your man cave that people can hang out witheach other. Other examples are dartboards, pool tables, poker tables, or maybe even just a few chairs that are in the corner of the room that is facing each other. Not all man caves are created equally. The amount of space you are working with may require you to get a little creative. But I think it is important to have this type of space included. Especially if you aim to entertain people. Every Man Cave Needs A Collection/Hobby/Passion Display: This is the category I was and am still the most excited about. Anyone can pick out furniture and paints that look good in a room. But what makes the room your man cave retreat is what you surround yourself with which is important to you. What makes you unique is what you enjoy doing, collecting, and admiring. Add those things to your man cave and it is unique to you. Do you like golf? Frame a flag from Pebble Beach. Are you a hunter or fisher? Display what you are most proud of! Do you collect shot glasses, golf balls, or sports cards? Display them proudly on your walls. Not only do these things add personality, but these things getting people talking. Part of creating a man cave is proudly showing how much work you have put into your space. This is why it’s the perfect place to display some of the things in your life that you also put time into. Every Man Cave Needs Unique Lighting: The last thing on the list is a little bit of a wild card. If I had to bet, this is the inclusion in this list that is most often forgotten. Every choice you make in your man cave adds personality. Don’t settle for bland lighting. In my man cave, we have lights that hang down from the ceiling that has awesome looking dark red-colored glass covering it. Would it have been cheaper to just have a generic overhead light in the ceiling? Yep. But I am so happy with those unique lights. Lights are an opportunity to continue whatever design you have in your room. If you have a contemporary style, you will probably have light fixtures that have pronounces edges and lines in them. If you have a rustic theme going, you are going to want to look for lighting that highlights the natural look of the wood grain. I have talked about ceiling lights, but floor lights or lamps can also add a lot to the room’s feel. Start poking around for ideas, find a style or theme you like the look of, and keep exploring. At the end of the day, find lights that you like. I suppose it kind of matters what others think, but at the end of the day, it’s your man cave, no one else’s. Honorable Mention: Every Man Cave Needs A Bar/Island: I was debating whether or not I should include this in the “place for people to gather” section. I feel that this a popular option that It is worth giving it an honorable mention. By incorporating a bar or an island into your man cave, your room will quickly become the favorite of your friend group. I can’t think of another element someone could add to a man cave that breathes as much character into the room. I kept it as an honorable mention because it is an expensive inclusion, and it also requires a lot of room to make work. But if you can swing it, it is an awesome feeling to have one. Final Thoughts: So that is the list I came up with the for 7 things you need to have in your man cave. Some of them are obvious inclusions, but some of them can easily be forgotten. I hope you enjoyed reading. More importantly, I hope you have some ideas to start exploring! Until next time,