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

Way better than a man cave
Way better than a man cave

For 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 Office
Minimalist Office

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














Bright Bedroom
Bright Bedroom

2. 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 Nook
Reading Nook

4. 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 Bar
A Modern Bar

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











- By Jacinda Boneau
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Family Kitchen | Babble.com
Family Kitchen | Babble.com

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