This one is for all the shed lovers and man cave lovers out there who also happen to love good hard cash savings.
We know by now that man caves (and she sheds) are a popular trend in Australia at the moment, and with the holidays fast approaching (as well as the man in red who might bring you something extra special this year) now is the perfect time to start planning.
Whether you’re in the business of designing and selling sheds and are looking at designing sheds that allow for the perfect man cave experience, or you’re just after some solid ideas for creating that perfect shed man cave on a budget, we’ve got you covered.
As experts in shed software solutions, we’re passionate about all things sheds, and have a bunch of ideas to help you nail the perfect shed man cave on a budget.
Shed man cave ideas on a budget
Let’s start with tips for shed retailers on nailing the perfect shed packages for your customers that will allow them to create the ultimate shed man cave on a budget.
Are you a general shed owner looking for shed man cave ideas on a budget? You can skip ahead to our next section by clicking here.
Ideas for shed retailers: shed man cave basics and foundations
For the shed retailers and designers among us, we have plenty of ideas for creating the best in shed offerings for your customers that allows for the very best man caves.
Size matters — so offer a range for all budgets
Keep a variety of sizes on offer for your customers, and be sure to consider shed man caves in the mix. Man cave sheds (and she sheds) are for all backyards and are for all blokes (and sheilas). Some may have sprawling backyards, some may have acreage, and some may live in metro areas with metro-sized backyards (read: tiny).
Having a good number of shed sizes in ready-to-go shed kits is the go, so you can cater to all backyard sizes, and all budgets.
Here are some popular sizes to consider:
- 3m x 3m: This size is quite common for a basic man cave that might include a bench or desk, a small lounging area, and some storage. It’s compact but can still provide a comfortable hideaway for one or two people.
- 3m x 6m: This is a more spacious option, great for those who might want to include a larger entertainment setup, a more functional workbench, or even a small bar area.
- 6m x 6m: This size is on the larger end and is often used by those who want a multi-purpose space, like a gym combined with an entertainment area, or space for larger hobbies like car repairs.
Design smart for maximum man shed efficiency
A shed’s design, location, facing and placement can play a huge part in its efficiency and the cost to keep it comfortable all year round.
Shed man caves are great, and even more so if they don’t take too much in power bills to keep cool and comfortable on those hot summer days and warm in the winer on those cold Aussie days.
The best man cave shed designs work in features such as
- Great insulation
- Well placed windows and doors that allow for through breeze
- Fly screens so windows can be left open to get that through breeze without pesky visitors that buzz and fly
- The ability to add large industrial fans above
- A placement that allows the shed to make the most of the breeze, without copping too much sun
- Great blinds or curtains that block out heat if windows are in direct sun spots (which can be great for light)
- Excellent shed ventilation design.
Offer DIY options with shed kits (if you can)
Sometimes half the fun of being in the man cave (or she shed) is knowing that you’ve had a hand at making its magic happen.
If you’re a shed retailer and you have the option of sending out shed kits that customers can assemble themselves for a lower budget, this presents a great option for those who don’t mind a bit of extra work, have less available to spend but are itching to get their hands on a man cave shed.
Of course shed assembly is best left to the experts, so those without the skills are going to need to call in the help of some mates… but by cutting out some of your labour costs, you’re able to offer your customers some price savings.
Offer some pre-designed layouts, specific for man caves
If you’re looking to do a few man cave designs and want some ideas for shed man caves for those customers who are on more of a budget, creating some pre-designed layouts is a great way to go about it.
By creating some shed man cave design templates and offering options to choose from rather than starting from scratch with every shed man cave design, you’ll be able to cut down on the shed design costs and time and streamline your ordering processes; and pass those savings onto your customers.
Offer package deals for any popular ultimate man cave additions you can offer
If there’s a feature that you can add onto your shed designs that would be a benefit to just about any man cave, consider adding it in as a package deal option for your customers who want the ultimate shed man cave on a budget. While it adds to the shed cost, in the long run the customer will save money in going through the one supplier for parts of the shed fit-out as well as the shed itself.
Whether it’s shelving, a mezzanine floor, an overhead fan, excellent insulation, an air conditioning hook up, a sparky hook up, or anything else you can think of, offering it as part of your package options will help your customers design an amazing man cave shed on a budget.
Ideas for shed owners and shed people alike
Whether you’re a shed retailer or designer or a shed owner, these are some great ideas for creating the ultimate shed man cave on a budget that everyone can get behind.
Here’s some budget man cave ideas to deck out your shed interior and create the ultimate man cave shed.
Budget-friendly shelving solutions
Modular shelving units are a great man cave shed budget shelving option. Why? They’re versatile and can be adjusted based on the shed’s purpose – workshop, bar, or chill-out zone. If you decide you want to move things around later, it’s easy to switch up and doesn’t cost a whole shed redesign to do so.
DIY furniture
Have a handy side to you? Craft your own furniture.
Pallets are your best mate here. From DIY pallet furniture couches to drinks and snacks tables, there’s plenty of inspiration online.
It’s actually pretty incredible the stuff people DIY from pallet furniture or a few nice pieces of timber picked up cheap from a connection or off marketplace.
Whether you use pallets or timber you pick up cheap from somewhere, you can craft anything you can think of, be it chairs, a desk, a workbench, a dining table, or even a bar for your man cave. Celebratory beer anyone?
Mates rates
Got a mate who’s good with electrical stuff? An air conditioning mate? An insulation mate? Or even better, have a builder mate who can help you assemble your shed kit with you? (this has to be able to be to building code, of course, or you won’t save in the long run).
Whichever mates you can wrangle up with their skills, get them over for a man cave teamwork session. A bit of mateship goes a long way. You can pay them back in great weekends spent watching sport and enjoying a catch up soon enough.
The small details for character
Whether it’s your footy team poster, your team flags, a dart board, a pool table, a table tennis table, a basketball hoop or bottle openers, there are plenty of smaller touches and additions that don’t break the bank but add heaps of character to your shed.
Whether it’s footy, fishing, or vintage cars, deck out your man cave shed with what you love.
Budget-savvy tip: second-hand stores and online marketplaces are gold mines for man cave decor on the cheap.
Man cave essentials that are worth a bit of a spend
Wi-Fi Extender: Make sure your man cave’s got good internet. Whether for tunes or footy scores, connectivity is key.
Budget Tip: Check out online sales or second-hand electronics stores. You’d be surprised what you can get for a slab of beer!
And of course, don’t forget the shed itself: investing in a quality shed by a trusted Australian shed retailer, using high quality Australian steel is going to be the best for your budget in the long run; quality sheds by trusted shed retailers with a good reputation are going to far outlast any other option; and building a shed that will last is one of the best ideas for your budget in the long-term.
Happy man cave-ing
There you have it, legends. Whether you’re helping someone find their perfect shed for a man cave on a budget or decking out your own, it’s all about a bit of creativity and keeping costs down where they can (without sacrificing on quality or longevity).
We hope this article has given you some good inspiration for your shed man cave ideas on a budget.
