Backyard Getaway: Turn an Outdoor Storage Building into a Man Cave

Backyard Getaway: Turn an Outdoor Storage Building into a Man Cave
May 12, 2020
There’s an old saying that a man’s home is his castle. Truth be told, it really isn’t. If you’re a married man, it means you share your home with your wife, and most likely your kids. That means you can’t hang your posters in the living room, which is probably overrun with children’s toys. You may no longer have privacy in your home, so why not gain your own space with a man cave in your backyard?

You can convert a portable garage, shed, or other outdoor storage building into your own backyard getaway. All it takes to build a backyard man cave is some creativity and ingenuity. Once you assemble it, your backyard man cave can be the home-away-from-home you’ve always dreamed of.

Which Outdoor Storage Buildings Make Practical Man Caves?

ShelterLogic Group manufactures many types of outdoor storage buildings that are practical for use as a man cave. The type and size of building you choose will depend on how you’d like to use it.

Also, would you like to add electricity? It’s possible to run underground power to your man cave (call the electric company before you dig). Or simply run an extension cord from your home to your man cave to power lights, a laptop, or a TV.

Let’s look at the types of outdoor storage buildings that can be used as a man cave.

Portable Garages and Sheds


A portable garage or shed has a lightweight powder coated steel frame and a ripstop-tough fabric cover. Should the need arise, you can easily move your man cave from one side of your yard to another. They also have wide entryways. That makes it easy to furnish your man cave with the furnishings you desire. Also, you can keep the entry way open and get more light inside.

Portable garages and sheds are easy to assemble and can be anchored to just about any type of surface*. Also, some portable garages are wind rated and snow rated**, and can stand up to tough weather.

Convert a Portable, Durable Shelter into a Man Cave



ShelterCoat Custom Shelter

  • Rugged custom-built steel and fabric shelter with thousands of options available.

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Shed-in-a-Box Series

  • Small footprint with a big value for backyards where space is at a premium.

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AccelaFrame Garage

  • Go from box to building in minutes with its quick and easy assembly system.

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ShelterTube Garage

  • Durable wind and snow load rated shelter with a steel square tube frame.

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Metal Sheds and Garages

Metal sheds and garages are more permanent structures and should include a flooring surface like concrete, brick, or wood. Made with tough galvanized steel, metal sheds and garages can also blend in with your backyard aesthetic. They also feature textured finishes that protect the unit from rush, corrosion, and dents.

Metal sheds have pad-lockable doors, and metal garages have a locked entryway and a traditional roll-up door. These elements make your man cave more secure than a fabric shed or garage. These units do not have windows built in, but you can customize you unit to include one.

Steel Shelters That Are Up to The Task



Ironwood Shed Frame Kit

  • DIY shed that gives you the flexibility of choosing the wood, color and more.

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SOJAG Everest Garage

  • Tough steel garage features a roll-up garage door and a 28-inch side door.

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EZEE Shed

  • Features Snap-It Quick Assembly system for a stronger shed with faster assembly.

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You can insulate a metal shed or garage and make it suitable for year-round man cave use. Also, insulating a metal shed will also help make it soundproof. Read this blog post and learn how to insulate your metal shed.

Commercial Storage Shelters

Have a lot of space to work with? Then you may want to consider using a ShelterTech SP commercial storage building as a backyard man cave. These built-to-order shelters are configurable in many sizes, and are wind rated and snow rated to handle rough weather*. They are made with durable galvanized steel frames and ripstop-tough covers and can be assembled in just days.

You can configure a ShelterTech SP commercial storage building as small as 12 x 20 ft., with a roof height of 9 or 11 ft. You can also go as large as 30 x 100 ft., with a roof height of 15, 18, or 21 ft. There are also several possible size configurations in between.

3 Reasons to Love the ShelterTech SP

  • Ease of Installation: ShelterTech structures can be built in a matter of days. You can have your ultimate man cave ready in a weekend.
  • Strength: Our shelters are designed with the worst weather in mind. You can keep your man cave up and running all year long.
  • Portability: If you need to move it, your helterTech structure can be easily disassembled and relocated to a new location.


Available in 3 Styles



Round

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ShelterTube Garage

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How You Can Use Your Backyard Man Cave

There are many ways you can use a backyard man cave: it all depends on your interests and likes. Also, it depends on what you like to do with your downtime. Are you a sports fan? Do you like movies? Or do you just like to kick back with a good book? The man cave activity ideas are endless, but we’ve narrowed out list down to 9 activities:

Use it as a Workshop

Do you like to tinker with engines? Do you like to fix things around the house? Grab your toolbox, some shop lights, and a workbench and make your man cave the ultimate workshop! You can use your workshop to fix anything on wheels, like a bike, motorcycle, or car. You can also use your man cave to repair computers and other electronics. It’s also a great spot to refinish furniture, or to cut wood or tile for your indoor renovations.

Use it as a Music or Podcast Studio

You’d love to play your guitar, drum pad, or keyboard in the house, but you’d disturb everyone around you. A man cave would be a great place to get away and play your music. The acoustics may not be great for an amp, but you can still go acoustic or keep the volume low. However, you can soundproof your man cave so you can keep your music to yourself. Your man cave can also be a great place to record a podcast for the whole world to hear.

Use it as a Home Gym

Want to get in shape, but don’t have time for the gym? Your man cave can be your ultimate fitness center! You don’t need heavy weights to get in shape. A set of dumbbells or kettlebells can help you get rid of your dad bod. You can also get a treadmill, exercise bike, or a stepper and work on your cardio. Grab a set or two of anti-fatigue floor mats for a place to sit and stretch.

Use it as a Viewing Room

Husbands and wives don’t always have the same taste in movies and television. And your kids may be hogging your television anyway so they can watch cartoons or superhero flicks. In your man cave you can stream what you want to watch when you want to watch it. Grab a television or laptop, some headphones, and a chair and head to the man cave. While you’re at it, grab a mini fridge and your beverage of choice, and a table to but your class and some snacks on.

Set Up an Arcade

Whether or not you invite your kids, you need a place for gaming. With your Xbox One, PS4, or Nintendo Switch, and television screen, you can have your own game room. Also, you can pick up some vintage arcade classics, like stand-up video games and pinball machines, and make it an arcade! Just add a gaming chair or another comfy place to sit and you’ll be good to go!

Use it as a Study

Over the years, man caves have gone from frat house to sophistication. You can ditch the game room idea and use your man cave as a study! Add a few bookshelves, a lamp, and your favorite reads, and enjoy free time with a good book. You can also add a desk and an office chair and use your man cave as a research hub. Just bring your laptop or tablet with you and let your curiosity guide you.

Use it as a Cigar Lounge

Now this one may be a stretch because you’ll really want to keep your man cave heavily ventilated. And for that matter, you’ll want to keep the doors wide open. But your man cave can be a great place to smoke cigars and drink some scotch. Maybe you’ll want to keep your doors open while you smoke. Better yet, you can grab a portable chair and a pop-up canopy and smoke outside your man cave.

Use it to Create Art

Every artist needs a studio. A man cave can be used as your artist’s studio. Whether you paint, draw, sculpt, do photography, or more, you can use your man cave to foster creativity. Grab your easel, your drafting table, your supplies, and everything else you use to be creative and bring them outside.

Use it for Collections and Other Hobbies

Has life been so busy that you’ve given up on your hobbies? With a man cave, you’ll have a place to bring your hobbies back to life! Whether you need a studio to build model planes, or a space to keep your baseball cards, comics, or vintage records, your man cave will come in handy. You’ll have hours of enjoyment reconnecting with your hobbies!


Man Caves are Essential for Alone Time



Whether you need time to yourself or you have no room in your house, man caves are essential for anyone who needs some time away from the family. Instead of building one from scratch, you can convert an outdoor storage building into a space to call your own.

* We always recommend a properly anchored structure. Please reference your manual for anchoring best practices or check out this anchor guide.
** Wind and snow loads given are for reference only and assume a securely anchored frame according to local building codes and ordinances. These have been calculated using combined snow and wind load provisions in accordance with ASCE 7-05. These calculations are based on an unoccupied, fully enclosed building. Local building code requirements vary by location; conformance to local codes is the responsibility of the purchaser.
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