"Man Cave" Lighting for Father's Day
Father's Day may be just two weeks away, but you still have time to make it a special one. This year, instead of buying Dad another ugly tie, ask yourself one important question: What does your dad treasure more than anything in the world? If you guessed his car, you're wrong. He only bought the Camry because your mom said it was a good idea. His beer fridge? That's close, but still wrong. No, what your dad treasures above all things is his TV. Think about it. He spends more time in a month watching his TV than he did watching all of your T-ball games put together.
Now, you may be asking yourself how can you make your dad's TV better than it already is. How, you might ask, can you improve on 1,080 vertical lines of beautiful, crystal-clear resolution? The answer is simple: Build a Man Cave around it.
For those who don't know, a Man Cave is a dim, dusty lair where Dad (and perhaps a few honored friends) will spend the better part of the last half of his life. Though it's filled with priceless sports memorabilia and the largest LED TV in the county, what will make Dad's Man Cave the envy of all his friends and neighbors is cool lighting. A Man Cave without lighting, after all, is just a cave.
The first "layer" in Man Cave lighting is tape light and rope light. Rope light will work great in crown molding, behind a TV, or even contorted into the shape of a beer bottle, while tape light is ideal for the underside of a bar or a pool table. For color, pick out Dad's favorite football team colors and simulate the effect of an NFL-themed dive bar. If Dad is more of a movie buff than a sports fan, use chasing rope light with a sound-activated controller to flash and strobe in sync with the explosions in Dad's favorite Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Let poor taste be your guide!
Next, it's time to get some work done with task lighting. Assuming your dad has a pool table in his Man Cave (as any self-respecting man should), you'll need the right pool table light. Our island pendants, though intended for the kitchen, are just as good for billiards. It goes without saying that you should use antique light bulbs wherever possible, since they make cigar smoke look ten times better. Of course, if you don't want cigar smoke (and other musty smells) permeating your entire home, you should also think about installing a Broan ventilation fan or two.
Finally, no room, even a Man Cave, is complete without accent lighting. Does your dad have a nice collection of framed football jerseys? What about faded Kathy Ireland posters? Make sure those priceless artifacts get the attention they deserve with picture lamps. Maybe even throw in a couple wall sconces to class the joint up. However, you simply must complete the project with the hands-down manliest thing we carry at 1000Bulbs.com: Shotgun shell lights. Nothing says "no outsiders allowed" like a shotgun shell wreath on the door or a shotgun shell light string running the length of the room.
How would you decorate your Dad's Man Cave for Father's Day? Let us know if your like our ideas or share your own in the comments. You can also contact us on Facebook or Twitter!
