Sometimes we all need a little space to ourselves. But when you live in a home with several other people, that alone time can be few and far between. In the past two years, two concepts have been devised to address that very issue: the “she shed” and the “man cave.” You may have heard of one, the other or both, but these are spaces where a member of the household, typically gender according, can escape the chaos of the rest of the home and have space to him or herself. Sound appealing? Let’s look at a few of the components of the she shed vs. the man cave!
The She Shed
When you think of a shed, you may not think of a space where you want to spend your time—but the she shed is changing that concept. These often shabby-chic spaces can exist in many forms—and on varying degrees of luxury. Big box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot are even cashing in on the idea of the she shed, offering DIY kits for adorning yours. The first steps to creating your she shed include:
- Picking a space—either buying a new shed from a home improvement store, building your own or choosing an existing one in your backyard.
- Choosing paint and applying it—the right palette for your she shed depends on what you want to use it for. For example, if you are using it for meditation, you may choose different color than if you plan to use it as your art studio.
- Adding personal touches—once it’s painted, it’s time to furnish it.
A few staple components of the she shed include:
- Comfortable seating with pillows
- A coffee table, desk or dresser
- Mini refrigerator and wine rack
- Items needed for your hobby, whether it is writing your next novel, or just watching TV and napping.
- Live plants
- Personal effects
The Man Cave
The she shed vs. the man cave compares pretty similarly, with décor typically differing from gender to gender. A literal cave sounds nice, but often the space a man cave occupies is actually a basement, a garage, or even just an extra room in the house. The first steps to creating your man cave include:
- Picking a space—what space in your home is not being utilized? Or, what space could be repurposed?
- Planning for its purpose—what do you want to do in your man cave? Many man caves accommodate space for friends to come over and watch the game, have a beer or play pool. Think about what you’ll need.
- Populating it with stuff—the fun part about creating your man cave is filling it with all of your favorite things.
A few staple components of the man cave include:
- Abundant seating for friends
- TV with sound system
- Stocked bar
- Games, like billiards, darts, a poker table, etc.
- Subdued lighting
- Personal effects
Keep in mind that when it comes to the she shed vs. the man cave, it’s all about your personal preferences. You may or may not fall in to the typical gender stereotypes—or you may be the definition of them. Either way, your space should be one where you can unwind, relax and truly enjoy yourself.
For more home improvement ideas, continue to follow the Ryan Roberts Realtor blog! And for your real estate needs in Auburn, Opelika and Lake Martin, call Ryan today at 334-750-9872, or email [email protected].