A man cave is a perfect place to go to unwind after a long day. It’s a dedicated hiding hole to watch the game with your friends, play video games or just relax. Whatever the man cave means to you, it is always sacred. There is one rule though – your man cave should represent who you are, which teams you support, what you enjoy, and your personality. Creating the perfect cave can be costly, but there are ways you can get what you want and stay within your budget.

And, PS, “man cave” is just a popular term and not just for men. Some of the most amazing man caves we’ve seen were built by people who were decidedly not men. Think of it as your personal cave, whoever you are!

 Start with the Essentials

First things first, you need a place for you and your buddies to sit down. Furniture would normally take up the majority of your $1,000 budget, but we have some ways to get around that. Remember, it’s a man cave. We aren’t going fancy, we are trying to marry functionality with personality. Instead of a big couch, bar stools, bean bag chairs, and bungee chairs are great alternatives. Overstock.com has a great selection of bean bag chairs for you and your crew. If you are looking into bar stools, try your hand at making them yourself. You can create your own authentic stools for a fraction of the cost. And better yet, you can create them to match the theme of your man cave. Another option outside of a traditional couch would be a nice futon. The benefit of a futon is its always-satisfying versatility. Amazon has great futon options for under $200 that could fit any hangout.

A flatscreen is the next most important part of your man cave. You need something big enough to be able to enjoy the game without anyone having to strain their eyes, but also budget friendly. Shop for deals, especially around the holidays like Black Friday when you can get big TVs for less than $400. However, if you don’t want to wait until the holidays roll around, take a look at newegg.com or amazon.com for great sale prices delivered straight to your door. And of course, a game console like a refurbished (and almost half off from the regular price tag) Xbox One or PlayStation would make a great and entertaining addition to the cave as well.

Time to Decorate

With proper seating and your new big screen taken care of, it’s time to really get into what makes the man cave YOUR man cave. Whether it’s sports memorabilia, movie posters, comic books, or video games, there are endless possibilities to personalize your room. Even the simplest of things can bring a whole new light to the atmosphere you have.

For example, if you have a mini fridge or an old full-sized fridge lying around, paint it the colors of your favorite team. Not only does it become a piece of art, but it is now a functional part of your room and it didn’t cost you more than a little bit of paint. Cover a wall with chalkboard paint from HomeDepot to easily track scores and brackets – this is also great for playing games and keeping track of reminders. If you have any team jerseys, hang them up on the walls. You can make a rack for your hats using nothing but reclaimed pallets and large nails that will add a bit of rustic flair, too. And If you’re more into movies or comics, get in touch with your local theater and see if they have any old movie posters that were going to be trashed and salvage them. Comic books can be found easily and for cheap at local flea markets, and they can make great wall art by either being put up on a shelf or lining a wall or two with their colorful, action-packed covers. If you want to add some flair to your man cave, try installing some LED light strips behind your TV for as low as $28. You can run them along your walls, or behind your bookshelves to give that unique (UFO) feel when you enter the room.

Ready to get your man cave new project started? If you’re not quite financially ready and don’t want to empty your emergency cash stash, a LendingPoint loan may be a great option.

Even if your credit score is lower than you would like it to be, you do have personal loan options. A personal loan can even help improve your credit score. By taking out one of our personal loans. You can make affordable monthly payments and build your credit story by making on-time payments each month. As you continue to make your payments on-time, you build your credibility and your credit history. Apply today!