Man caves have evolved since the dawn of time, from literal rock caves to gentlemen’s clubs and garages, till now finally your own personal garden man cave. We understand that lads sometimes need their own space for manly activities, whether it’s collecting beer mats, cleaning tools, watching TV or simply relaxing with friends.
With a bit of design planning and creative vision, your garden man cave can be a place not just for you, but also your mates and family to enjoy and unwind.
At the Garden House Company, we build bespoke garden rooms and annexes in Kent & Sussex tailored to our client’s needs.
Here, we’ll break down everything you need to know about garden man caves in the UK, from ideas and inspiration to tips on design and building. This one’s for the boys!
What is a Garden Man Cave?
A garden man cave is, simply put, an outdoor space in your garden to escape to relax, unwind, or entertain. There are many types of man caves, from those built with your garden shed to a more robust and purpose-driven garden room or annexe.
Garden rooms have become much more popular in the UK since the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the rise of remote work, with people now looking to cut costs and create their own manly haven in their back garden. An L&G survey revealed that searches for ‘garden rooms’ in the UK was still 22% higher in 2023 than in 2019, reflecting the continued demand for this premium space.
Benefits of a Man Cave in the Garden
Escape & Relaxation
After a long day at work, a garden man cave offers a place of respite and relaxation away from the main house to decompress. Whilst cohabitation has its charms, everyone needs some alone time every now and then!
Entertainment Value
On the other hand, a man cave can be a great space to host friends for a big game, a games night, or just drinks and a BBQ.
Designing a bespoke garden room means you can customise the space to your needs. For example, you and your mates might enjoy watching the football, in which case you may consider a garden room cinema to enhance the experience. A garden room bar can also elevate your man cave!
Adds to Property Value
A garden man cave is a unique feature and as such can really add to your property value. As someone who sold their house in Kent in 2022 with a garden room, I’m speaking from experience!
It’s estimated that a garden room can add an average of 8.4% to the value of your home according to property portal MoveStreets. Learn more about the other ways investing in a garden room can add value to your home.
Makes the Most of Unused Garden Space
A garden man cave enables you to make the most of your outdoor area and keep your man business away from the main house. Struggling to find somewhere to host a poker tournament or play pool? A bespoke garden room can address these needs!
At the Garden House Company we provide a design and planning service which will help utilise your garden space in the best way possible.
Garden Man Cave Ideas & Inspiration
Sports Bar Style
If you’re just looking for a place to meet your mates and watch the game, consider a sports bar style for your garden man cave. With wall-mounted TVs, beer fridges, and bar counters, you can create that pub atmosphere and avoid the rising costs for a pint!
You could even go the extra mile and add spirit optics to the wall or a wine cellar below. At the Garden House Company, we specialise in ‘The Art of Possible’. Get more ideas and learn about planning considerations for a garden room bar.
Home Cinema
For movie buffs or those looking to take their sporting interests to the next level, a cinema can be a fantastic addition to your garden man cave. Take control of the remote for once and watch your favourite old-school classics, new releases, or the big game in style.
Deck out your man cave with soundproofing, comfy chairs and a projector to create the ultimate garden room cinema. Learn more about how a garden room cinema can dictate your space.
Hobby Rooms
Looking for a space to store your collections, create art, or indulge in your hobbies? A garden man cave offers exactly that. You might design this space to store special equipment like fishing gear, wetsuits, or shooting lockboxes.
A man cave can also be a perfect place to engage or re-engage with your favourite hobbies. Whether its model plane building, painting, or pottery, a garden man cave can be designed to provide the perfect workshop.
At The Garden House Company, we’re experienced in designing these sorts of garden rooms – learn how we built Stephen’s studio & workshop, who wished to incorporate gym use, workshop use and secret toolshed space into the design.
Fitness or Wellness Retreat
For the more active-minded blokes, you could kit out your garden man cave as a home gym, avoiding expensive subscriptions and other sweaty gym-goers. Or transform the space into a relaxation zone with a sauna or steam room.
At The Garden House Company, we love the Scandi-style designs which have risen in popularity in recent years – in fact, I’ve decided to install one for my wife’s pilates studio to further enhance her business and provide a mini wellness retreat for clients and family alike!
Find out how we designed this garden room gym for our client who wanted a space for varied sporting activities.
Music Studio
If you want a place to jam with your mates or just listen to your own tunes, a garden man cave doubling up as a music studio can be a great solution. With this type of man cave, getting the correct insulation is important to both soundproofing and retaining heat for the colder months. Learn more about how to insulate a garden room.
Tips for Designing Your Garden Man Cave
There are many decisions to take when designing and building your garden man cave, which will depend on the type of build you go for.
Garden Shed Conversions
If you’re just looking to uplift your standard garden shed into a man cave, then the costs will be much less but you’ll be limited in what you can do. For some of the ideas covered earlier in this post, like a cinema room or gym, you’ll be pretty restricted with these designs.
Consider how old and structurally sound your shed is, what base you have, and what foundations you’ll need.
Purpose-Built Garden Rooms
The most bespoke option for your garden man cave, a purpose-built garden room means you can design it completely according to your vision. Working with an expert garden room builder, you can customise your man cave and ensure it’s usable all-year round. At The Garden House Company, we specialise in building bespoke garden rooms and annexes.
Brick-Built Garden Rooms
Brick-built garden room man caves are a good choice if you want your man cave to stand the test of time and blend seamlessly with your home in terms of design. However, a fully brick-built garden man cave can be more expensive.
A more cost-effective option is using structural insulated panels (SIPs) or a timber frame finished with brick slips. This provides the same aesthetic of a traditionally built garden room while being more insulated and efficient/flexible to build.
Start Designing Your Garden Man Cave
Whatever kind of man you are, a garden man cave can give you a dedicated space to relax, entertain, or pursue your hobbies. Our team at The Garden House Company can help you design and build a bespoke garden room to your needs.
View our garden room gallery for more inspiration or get in touch today!
