It is the dream of every dad – a den to call his own. So here, with Father’s Day on the horizon, Ellen Widdup explores how to create the perfect space for the man of the house.
We all deserve a place to retreat to at the end of a hard day’s work. But dads generally get overlooked when extra space in the home is designated as a playroom, an office or a spare room.
More often than not, pops is left to potter about in the shed or rearrange his tools in the garage.
Here we look at ways to find an indoor area for dad to call his own.
Going underground
You can forget your teenage years and student days of Pirelli calendars, copies of Loaded and Match of the Day firm fixtures decorating the walls of your bedroom.
If you are going to make a man cave, it needs to be a little more grown up.
And if your spouse objects just point out that, done well, a snug can actually add value to your house.
In London many homeowners have added basements to their homes as space is in such short supply.
And increasingly people are considering it outside the city.
Petra Vitler, of Suffolk Interior Design, believes going underground might be the best way to find space for dad.
She said: “We’ve all heard the term ‘man cave’ but these spaces are now becoming far more sophisticated than the weekend conversion of the shed or garage.
“There’s a growing trend for basements to become an entertainment space.
“The UK is behind many other countries in building basements - it’s the norm in America and Germany and most Swedish houses have basements.
“It is even possible – in most cases – to add a basement where none now exists. Imagine, after a hard day, relaxing in front of the largest TV the wall can accommodate, perhaps a bar area and popcorn machine.”
Settle down
The key to making a den work is comfort. Sitting down to watch the big match on a deck chair ruins the whole concept.
So, it is vital to get the seating right. The obvious choice is leather – but be careful not to make the room appear like a stuffy gentlemen’s club.
Delcor have a vast range of high-end seating and sofas which would work perfectly for dad’s den.
If you have the room, a sofa is more welcoming – just because this is dad’s space does not mean mum can’t pop in for a glass of wine from the chiller.
Try www.home-cinema-seating.co.uk for the very best in snug comfort.
Petra said: “These cinema seats are made in luxurious Italian leather and even have drinks holders which heat or cool your beverage
“And of course they recline, massage and have lumbar heating options, the ultimate in comfort and control - if you don’t enjoy the movie then just relax and enjoy the chair, guaranteed to relax and soothe away stress.”
And if you are having cinema seating and a popcorn machine you definitely need a big screen.
“Decent projectors start at around £800 and have remote, drop-down screens. If you add dimmable lighting it will contribute to creating the ideal hang out zone,” Petra added.
Drink at the bar?
Most chaps have dreamt about a home bar – but so often it ends up resembling Del Boy’s from Old Fools and Horses.
Firstly, you need the room. Do not squeeze a bar in to the corner of your snug. Frankly, it will look silly.
And unless you are a master carpenter it is worth the money to get an expert to do it for you. Knocking a bar together from an old table that has been in the garage for years will ruin the whole room.
Petra said: “Quench Home Bars offer a varied selection of bars in various forms and sizes - add a couple of bar stools and you’re away.
“Wine racks and coolers can also make a great feature in your den if a bar is not a realistic option.”
Colour is key
The den needs to be distinctive. If there is a theme through the rest of the house let dad break it in this room.
Petra said: “Colours such as red, purple, blue and dark green can have a gloomy effect but used in snug, small rooms they transform into comforting spaces with a feeling of security. “North facing rooms benefit from warm colours, yellow and orange hues in particular as these raise the perceived temperature and inspire activity.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here