Looking for man cave ideas? This clever garage conversion gives you the best of both worlds. With one simple partition wall, you can divide your garage into two functional zones — a practical workshop when there’s work to do, and a cosy man cave when it’s time to unwind.
How to build a garage man cave: step-by-step guide
What you’ll need:
- Wall plates, studs, noggings and blocking 70 x 45mm H2 treated pine
- 820mm cavity door unit to suit 70mm wall frame
- Ceiling battens 70 x 35mm H2 treated pine
- Wall and ceiling lining 2400 x 1200 x 12mm CD plywood
- Architrave 64 x 19mm dressed pine
- Skirting and cornice
- 42 x 19mm dressed pine
- 820mm internal door
You’ll also need:
- Sugar soap
- stiff broom
- pressure washer
- degrease
- chalkline
- power saw
- nail gun and nails
- drill
- 10mm masonry drill bit
- 100 x 10mm masonry screws
- ratchet
- spirit level
- hitch brackets
- nails and screws, various sizes
- handsaw
- acrylic undercoat
- painting equipment
- construction adhesive
- Dulux Wash & Wear low sheen interior paint in Raku
- Berger
- Jet Dry paving paint in Regal Fortress
- Dunlop Damp-Proof waterproof membrane
- carpet underlay
- carpet
- carpet cover strip
- Dulux Aquanamel semi-gloss in Raku
- pendant and LED downlights
Step. 1
Clear out the garage. Using a sugar soap solution, scrub the floor with a stiff broom. Rinse with a pressure washer. Remove oil stains using a degreaser. Leave to dry.
Step. 2
Mark out the position of the wall frames on the floor using a chalk line.
Step. 3
Refer to the wall frame diagram (opposite) and construct the stud frame walls to create the man cave. Include an opening for a cavity sliding door in 1 wall. (For complete step-by-step instructions on building a stud partition wall, check out the project sheet, opposite.)
Step. 4
Lift wall frames into position to meet the line chalked on the floor in Step 2. At each end of the walls, on either side of the door, and every 900mm between these points, drill holes and attach the frame to the floor using 10mm masonry screws, tightening with a ratchet.
Step. 5
Make the walls plumb—nail the frames together and through the end studs into the existing wall frames.
Step. 6
Secure the top of the wall by attaching a wall hitch bracket to the top plate and to the ceiling joists. Where the wall is parallel to the ceiling joists, cut blocking to fit between the ceiling joists and nail the hitch bracket into them.
Step. 7
Use a handsaw to cut out the bottom plate in the door opening. Install the cavity sliding door unit in the opening following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step. 8
In the man cave, nail ceiling battens to the ceiling joists. Place a batten adjacent to the walls and space others every 600mm between these. Ensure the batten and the end of a full plywood sheet coincide to provide a fixing point for the sheet.
Step. 9
Have a licensed electrician run cables for power points and lighting, as required.
Step 10
Apply undercoat to one face of the ceiling lining sheets and let it dry. Spread construction adhesive along the ceiling battens for one sheet and hold the sheet up. Nail to hold, then screw sheet to battens. Repeat this process to line the entire ceiling, cutting sheets as needed. Apply two coats of interior paint to the ceilings, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.
Step. 11
Cut wall sheets to suit the height of new and existing walls. On existing walls, nail blocking between wall plates and noggings to provide a fixing point for sheet edges. Spread construction adhesive along the studs and press the sheet vertically onto the wall. Nail into wall studs, plates and blocking. Cut sheets to fit into corners and around doors and windows. When fixing linings to a cavity door unit, screw into the rails on the unit so that nails don’t protrude into the cavity.
Step. 12
Apply two coats of paving paint to the workshop area of the garage. Allow to dry after each coat.
Step. 13
To prevent the concrete slab in the man cave from getting damp, apply two coats of waterproof membrane using a brush and roller.
Step. 14
Fit carpet underlay to the man cave floor. Follow with carpet, cutting to fit tightly to the edges of the room. At the door, cut the rug so that the edge sits under the door. Fix the carpet cover strip over the cut edge.
Step. 15
Cut architraves to fit around door openings and any windows. Use short nails over the cavity door unit so they don’t protrude into the cavity.
STEP. 16
Cut and fit skirting around the junction of all walls and the floor. In the man cave, press the skirting firmly against the carpet before nailing it in place to hold it in position. Use short nails along the cavity sliding door unit so they don’t protrude into the door cavity.
Step. 17
Cut and fit the cornice to fit around the junction of the wall and the ceiling in the man cave. For a matching finish in the workshop, nail cornice around the top of the walls as well.
Step. 18
Apply an undercoat, then apply two coats of water-based enamel to the door. Allow to dry after each coat. Fit supplied fixing clips to the top of the door and hang in the cavity of the sliding door unit. Cut and fit the pelmet provided to cover the top of the door frame, hiding the top of the door and the sliding track.
Step. 19
Have an electrician install power points and lighting as required.
Man cave ideas: layout, furniture and decor inspiration
Once your garage man cave is built, it’s time to give it personality. Whether you’re into sport, gaming, movies or music, there are endless ways to style your space and make it uniquely yours. Here are a few popular man cave ideas, themes, and furniture ideas to get you started:
The gamer’s retreat
Turn your man cave into the ultimate gaming zone:
- Ergonomic gaming chair
- Wall-mounted monitor or large-screen TV
- LED strip lighting
- Floating shelves for consoles and accessories
- Soundproofing panels
The sports bar setup
Bring the pub to you with this classic man cave idea:
- Bar fridge or mini kegerator
- High stools and a DIY bar. Here’s how to build your own bar.
- Framed sports memorabilia and team flags
- Dartboard or small pool table, if space allows
- Large screen TV for game day
The industrial workshop vibe
Keep your garage’s raw, functional feel while adding comfort:
- Exposed plywood or brick walls
- Leather armchair or recliner
- Tool-inspired shelving and black metal accents
- Edison bulb lighting or a pendant light
- Rolling workbench that doubles as a table, like this foldaway one. Or try this DIY portable breakfast bar.
The movie den
Perfect for unwinding after a long day:
- Recliner or two-seater lounge
- Projector and screen or flat-screen TV
- Blackout blinds or curtains
- Popcorn machine or bar cart
- Movie posters or wall art for a personal touch
Man cave must-have furniture and finishing touches
Theme or no theme, if you’re creating a man cave, these essential items will make your space very comfortable.
- Mini fridge – for cold drinks and snacks
- Comfortable seating – a recliner, lounge or gaming chair
- Clever storage – wall-mounted cabinets or cube shelving
- Multi-use table – for cards, drinks or hobbies
- Flooring – carpet for cosiness, or painted concrete for easy cleaning
- Lighting – add dimmable downlights, pendant lighting or ambient LED strips
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