Page 10 - 2013 LDN Home Improvement Magazine

THE MANCAVE: For men only, and
the women who love them!
The saying goes, “Home is where the
heart is.” While the sentiment behind
the phrase is warm and pleasing to
the ears, it is not the entire truth behind what
a home really is. A home is, quite literally at
times, a storage unit of sorts. A home is where
one’s material possessions are kept.
However, a home can require a bit of
reworking for those who do not live alone.
Everyone likes to have their own bit of personal
space. From newlyweds to extended families,
each person in a household needs to make a
piece of the home their own. That piece will
reflect the personality of the inhabitant and, in
turn, give the inhabitant a little peace of mind.
By now, some of you may be wondering what
I am talking about. But there are certainly those
who share these feelings and know exactly
which two words come to mind: man cave.
The term may seem a bit crude and exclusive
to one gender. In truth, it is no different than a
young boy’s pillow fort with a paper sign that
reads, “No Girls Allowed.” Every boyfriend,
husband, father or son needs a place to unwind
after a day of school or work (or both); a place
where the remainder of the house or apartment
is a distant thought, yet close at hand. It is a
place where a man does not share storage with
wives, daughters, sisters or girlfriends.
Once again, only two words come to mind:
man cave.
Now a man cave is different from one man to
another. For those who seek to obtain this style
of masculine solitude, here are some tips to get
you on your way.
The obvious first priority in designing a man
cave is comfort. The occupant should strive to
establish the most comfortable setting possible.
In order to achieve maximum comfort, it would
be advantageous
to acquire a
c o m f o r t a b l e
a r m c h a i r .
Furthermore, any
armchair worth
its stuffing should
come equipped with
a functional recline
feature.
For those men who find their wallets a little
less full than they would like, check with
family members. Chances are there is a family
member looking to remove old furniture from
their living room. This would be a good strategy
for any young man moving out of his family
home and striking out on his own. A second
idea would be to check thrift stores for cheap
donated chairs; a few scratches or tears merely
provide a bit of character.
In lieu of a chair, a futon makes a good
substitute, and it provides seating for friends,
2013 HOME IMPROVEMENT MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com May 1, 2013
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