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    Bye-Bye, Man Cave! 7 Better Ideas for Your Basement

    By | At Home – Thu, Apr 19, 2012 5:50 PM EDT

    Way better than a man caveWay better than a man caveFor a long time, a finished basement was destined to be a man cave. We're talking giant TV, sunken furniture, and maybe even a less-than-classy tiki bar. My uncle even had musty carpet on the walls and a pair of swords crossed over a rust-colored sectional. Uh, groovy? Basements are better when they serve more of a function - and with a lot more style. From playrooms to guest bedrooms to miniature home theaters, these 7 basement ideas are vast improvements on the typical man cave.



    Minimalist OfficeMinimalist Office1. Minimalist Office
    The exposed brick and beams make this basement office look industrial and modern.














    Bright BedroomBright Bedroom2. Bright Bedroom
    Basement bedrooms don't have to be dark and dreary. A wall of shutters mounted atop fluorescent tubes create this fake window full of light.


    Indoor rink Indoor rink 3. Indoor rink With a few coats of paint, this basement was transformed into a hockey rink.














    Related: 7 incredible kids bedrooms even YOU'LL want to sleep in


    Reading NookReading Nook4. Reading Nook
    A basement is the perfect place to read undisturbed. Now all you need is some tea and a good book.














    Low-Budget Home Theater Low-Budget Home Theater 5. Low-Budget Home Theater Now this is where I want to have an Oscar party! Build a pallet theater for movie nights underground.









    Storage Galore Storage Galore 6. Storage Galore Finishing your basement doesn't have to mean losing storage space. Beautiful built-in shelving gives you plenty of room to grow.









    Related: 10 everyday household items that double as organizers


    A Modern BarA Modern Bar7. A Modern Bar
    Two words: House party. There's no tiki in this sophisticated basement bar.











    - By Jacinda Boneau
    Follow Jacinda on Babble

    For 13 more amazing basements, visit Babble!

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