Room layout advice (Mancave)

[SnakeCharmer]

So, I got outranked by my wife from my mancave/office and have been relegated to the smallest empty bedroom in the house.  Room is about 12'x12' square.  That single window is offset for no apparent reason other than the architect / floorplan designer threw a blind dart.  Something *not* shown on the picture after I 'drew' it up in excel is the closet door which is to the right of where I have the TV and such placed on the drawing.  Nothing is in place right now, it's all in boxes. 

Current desk is pretty standard.  Tower on the left, two drawers on the right. 
TV is 42" plasma.  Looking to either mount on the wall or one of those cool entertainment centers with the TV mount built in that I can house the PS3, 360, modem/router and (eventual) home theater receiver). 
Outlets aren't a problem.  Plenty of those.  Or I can have one installed.  Phone jack is located on the wall behind the desk.  I can move it, if need be. 
Intend on setting a wall mount surround system.  Eventually.

The problem is that it's pretty much glare central without putting up blinds/curtains.  Which I'm not opposed of, but I like having my windows open - particularly the double window that overlooks the back yard.

I can't come up with a better layout than what I've put here.  So looking for ideas here.

[Merusk]

Since you mentioned it, I'm going with: The window is offset for cross ventilation of the room and better light.  Sticking it in the corner with the other window fucks both.  It's held far enough away from that corner to allow for window treatments.

Which way is North?  You already mentioned glare, but you've got to ask which is worse.. glare off the screen so you can't see the picture or shining directly in your peripheral vision when watching tv or at your desk.  I've only got half curtains in the game room where the 'puter is and they need to be full or I need to install blinds to eliminate both problems.  It irritates the shit out of me enough that I've taken to making impromptu blinds out of large cardboard pieces for when I just can't take anymore.  (I live in KY so it's not as tacky as it sounds!  )

 If you've got an old enough home adjustable slat shutters might look sharper and more in tune with the house than curtains or miniblinds.  Plus ideally they'd be made from wood and stained, which is much more manly than fabric.

[SnakeCharmer]

The single window faces north.  The double window at the bottom faces west.  House is 4 years old, colonial style. 

Window treatments will be cut to fit plantation blinds.  I suppose, honestly, glare won't be THAT much of an issue because about the only time I'll be in there is at night.  I don't do any gaming or go into solitary mode when the fam is awake.  I'm a nightowl; wife and son go to sleep at 9 pm-ish and 8 pm-ish respectively.  Though that will likely change the older my son gets, particulary on weekends, when my game time will become even less than it is now.  He'd already moved his little mini recliner in my old mancave to watch Kung Fu Panda and Cars.  When he's awake and I'm home, he's my shadow. 

[Venkman]

You're lucky to have 12'x12. Last mancave I ever had was 4'x6', literally a walk-in closet I repurposed. In part because the duct work for the central air went right through the room and I likes it coooolllldd Nowadays I'm relegated to the corner of the living room. But at least it's more face time with missus. So I ended up getting my ya yas out of the office at work. A year later and people still tell me it's the best office in the building.

For your room, how big is your PC? Honkin' desktop or a laptop? You might be better off dumping the desk altogether and just reclining with the computer. Even if it's a desktop, how good is your TV?

[SnakeCharmer]

Honkin' desktop.  1080p Panasonic plasma.  Not too keen on hooking the computer up to it since I like to have it running in the background as I game/surf/whatever.  Or play the PS3/360 and look up cheat codes walkthroughs when doing the console thing.  Plus I've got a pretty nice 24" monitor for my computer, so there's that.

[schild]

This is a terrible room for a mancave.

[NiX]

You have a recliner. Mount the TV to the ceiling. Problem solved.

[01101010]

You have a recliner. Mount the TV to the ceiling. Problem solved.

Not a bad idea. hmmm...

[SnakeCharmer]

This is a terrible room for a mancave.

I know.  This is the hand I'm dealt, though.  So pony up with a suggestion or gtfo, sucka.

You have a recliner. Mount the TV to the ceiling. Problem solved.

Nah.  More trouble than it's worth, and I don't know if I'd ever get over the fear of the thing falling off.

[Sky]

Go with thermal, room-darkening curtains.

[Cyrrex]

And once you've darkened the room with said curtains, pony up for a projector.  Mancaves positively LOVE a projector, even in that dinky little space you got.  Seriously, dollar for dollar, I get more joy out of my projector than any of my other toys (and I have all the toys).

[SnakeCharmer]

The only chance I have for a projector is if the plasma dies.  I'd LOVE one, but wife would ixnay that the minute I said 'pro-'. 

[Cyrrex]

What with your wife giving you the small room and also telling you what you can and cannot do, I'm thinking you may need to stop calling it your "mancave".   

[chargerrich]

Sounds like your wife needs an attitude check... tell her to make you a sandwich why you move your plasma and recliner to the largest bedroom, while politely throwing her shiat in the hallway...


... then be sure to post an update from the hotel you will be staying at! 

[fuser]

Sounds like your wife needs an attitude check... tell her to make you a sandwich why you move your plasma and recliner to the largest bedroom, while politely throwing her shiat in the hallway...


... then be sure to post an update from the hotel you will be staying at! 

I'd suggest building the mancave offsite as you will probbly loose it 

[Pennilenko]

My woman helped me design and layout my mancave. Only its half hers cause we enjoy computers and gadgets togather.hmmm. I think I am the luckiest man alive, because the projector was the wife's idea. She is awesome. I laugh at all you people with wifes that limit you.

[Rasix]

My woman helped me design and layout my mancave. Only its half hers cause we enjoy computers and gadgets togather.hmmm. I think I am the luckiest man alive, because the projector was the wife's idea. She is awesome. I laugh at all you people with wifes that limit you.

I married my wife, not my clone. I'm somewhat reminded of that Seinfeld episode, "I can't marry me. I hate myself!"  She doesn't game, doesn't care about huge TVs, but does care what her house looks like.  

I have no mancave. I don't particularly need one though.  I have my PC in my office and my consoles (all 4) are hooked up downstairs.   suppose it'd be nice, in the way a pool would be nice. But I'm not going to start petitioning for my office or the spare bedroom to be converted anytime soon.

edit: Measured my office, same dimensions.  Would be rather "cosy".

edit #2:

TV is 42" plasma.  Looking to either mount on the wall or one of those cool entertainment centers with the TV mount built in that I can house the PS3, 360, modem/router and (eventual) home theater receiver).

With the space you have, I'd recommend a lower profile entertainment center.  Don't go for the built in mounts, they look horrid.  Unless you like that horrid look, then fire away.  But those are really bulky also and would take up a lot of space there.

[Signe]

Righ doesn't need a man cave, either.  He can put anything anywhere he likes.  He has an office which he mostly uses to build servers and stuff when he needs to or when something loud is going on and it is useful for tax purposes.  I don't know how many computers he has at the moment (lots)  but he has laptops scattered all over the place.  As long as things don't get so overwhelming that I can't dust and clean, who cares?  We watch the same TV, listen to the same stereo, use the same DVD player and consoles - we would have no use for a man cave.  Maybe having one is trendy or something.  I guess we're not trendy.  

That room is a bit small and that layout you have looks fine to me.  Those insulated curtains FTW, though.

[slog]

I would eliminate the Computer Desk entirely. 

Get a sliding table (like the ones you see in the hospital) and use it for your wireless mouse and keyboard.  Mount all the monitors to walls, and you are good to go.

[NiX]

Signe, you should make a womancave. Be a trend setter!

[Cyrrex]

Pretty sure she has one built in.

Signe, you need to stop thinking that all women are like you.  Take that as a compliment, by the way.

[Polysorbate80]

What with your wife giving you the small room and also telling you what you can and cannot do, I'm thinking you may need to stop calling it your "mancave".   

[Nebu]

Those insulated curtains FTW, though.

I bought a black pair with a rubberized liner for a front room that gets hot from summer sun in the daytime.  JC Penney had them for like $20 a panel and they are saving me tons in AC costs this summer.  My daughter also likes them on days when she sleeps until 1pm.  They keep her room nice and dark. 

Thermal curtains: Two thumbs up. 

[Signe]

Pretty sure she has one built in.

Signe, you need to stop thinking that all women are like you.  Take that as a compliment, by the way.

Thanks!  I think the same of you!   

Those insulated curtains FTW, though.

I bought a black pair with a rubberized liner for a front room that gets hot from summer sun in the daytime.  JC Penney had them for like $20 a panel and they are saving me tons in AC costs this summer.  My daughter also likes them on days when she sleeps until 1pm.  They keep her room nice and dark. 

Thermal curtains: Two thumbs up. 

We bought the same curtain, I think, only mine was sage green.  I have a very sunny living area and one window is right in Righ's eyes when he's trying to work.  Now I'm getting a shade for when they're drawn because they look horrible from outside.  JC Penny has some awesome clearance.  Here's the shade. 

[Sky]

Mine are also from JC Penney We've got them in chocolate brown, a linen texture. The white backing leaves something to be desired, but we're also running a champagne sheer behind it so it's not too bad from outside. Been considering some roman shades or something for the french doors, which are a pita, custom width. I'd consider that shade Signe linked but the metal is all wrong, would need a dark bronze finish.

But yeah, with my masonry house and the thermal panels, it really keeps the place cool in the daytime.

[Signe]

The shade has a white back, too, but it's not anywhere near as bad as the curtain.  They have thermal shades on that page, too, that are really cheap if curtains aren't your thing. 

[IainC]

I like how the MANCAVE! thread has turned into a soft furnishings thread. We should talk about shoes also.

[Sky]

Proper room darkening is definite mancave-approved conversation, numbnuts. We've already discussed shoes in another thread, anyway.

[Lantyssa]

Signe, you should make a womancave. Be a trend setter!

We have one.  It's called the house.

[01101010]

Proper room darkening is definite mancave-approved conversation, numbnuts. We've already discussed shoes in another thread, anyway.

throw pillows on the other hand.

[schild]

The only way to get a mancave proper is to get rid of the woman.

[Rasix]

That's not a mancave, that's a fortress of solitude.

[schild]

That's not a mancave, that's a fortress of solitude.

Potato, Potato.

[NiX]

We have one.  It's called the house.

You assume in every case there's a woman in the house

[Margalis]

I laugh at all you people with wifes that limit you.

Redundancy removed.