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Man caves and She Sheds: 2015’s hottest luxury design trends

These spaces are typically reserved for drinking beer, watching sports, smoking a cigar, or building things. However, a new trend has emerged this year to mirror the male affinity for specialty areas. The female answer is the She Shed — does your house have one?

Meet the She Shed

When you think of a backyard shed, you immediately think about men. After all, this is where things like lawnmowers, discarded 2×4’s, old paint cans, and odds and ends are stored. Until recently, the last thing you would think about is a cute, quiet female retreat. However, that’s exactly what sheds all across America are becoming — She Sheds.

They’re more than an answer to the traditional man cave, they’re unique, functional, and provide solace. “I can sit and read in my house,” says Tamara Habert, whose Houston home has its own backyard She Shed. “But I’m also looking around thinking to wash the windows. I need to do the laundry. Look at the dust over there. I’m in here, I’m not thinking that.”

Just like man caves, every She Shed is different. Some choose to model the design after their home, while others take a unique spin. Some want modern amenities, while others aim for quaint and vintage. It really just depends on the person and the budget.

Top She Shed Trends

The fact that She Sheds are sweeping the nation means trends are beginning to develop. The Pinterest-culture of female America has allowed people to mimic other designs and some phenomenal styles are being perpetuated. These include:

Garden She Sheds. Many She Sheds double as both quiet retreats and gardener sheds. These double-duty sheds are perfect for reading a book amongst the lovely aroma of blooming flowers and the comforting sounds of chirping birds.

Quiet nap retreat. Need to get away? Some She Sheds are designed for nothing but relaxation. Complete with small cots or beds, comfortable pillows, and windows for an ever-so-slight breeze, She Sheds are perfect for napping or reading.

Cocktail bar. When the girlfriends are coming over, what better place to spend time than in your own mini cocktail bar? Many She Sheds are taking things to the extreme and actually designing small cocktail bars, complete with bar stools, menus, low lighting, and of course, plenty of vodka.

Top Man Cave Trends

Society hasn’t forgotten about the man cave, though. While She Sheds may be stealing some of the spotlight, these classic hideouts are still as popular as ever. Whereas many She Sheds aim to be quaint, Home Stratosphere classifies the average man cave as “elaborate, expensive and loaded with all kinds of features and designed in various themes.” A few of the top man cave trends in 2015 include:

Functional, yet sophisticated. The desire for most men is to have a space that’s both functional and sophisticated. In other words, they’re designing spaces that can be used – think pool tables, dart boards, and putting greens – while still remaining classy by incorporating elements such as wine bars and original artwork.

Overhead projectors. TVs seem to be getting bigger and bigger – causing many men to invest in projectors instead of keeping up with new models every year. These theatre-style projectors can accommodate massive screen sizes and bring an entirely new meaning to watching the game at home.

Wet bars. It’s no longer enough to stash beer away in a man cave mini-fridge. The new trend is to install a full wet bar with access to a wide variety of liquids. In fact, installing a wet bar and running plumbing is often one of the most expensive aspects of building a modern man cave.

The Psychology of Man Caves and She Sheds

For an outsider looking in, the idea of a man cave or She Shed may seem silly, immature, or delusional. After all, aren’t grownups supposed to act like grownups and do away with seemingly childish things? Well, some would say it’s not childish at all – it’s quite natural, in fact.

“Everyone needs their own place and space to get away from their husbands or wives and put their minds at rest a little,” says Rodger Powell of Mancave Construction. However, it’s not all about retreating. Men and women both like to have a special place for displaying items, decorations, and hobbies that don’t quite fit with the rest of the home. “Whether it’s Coca-Cola, Harley Davidson stuff, or college ball. It becomes sort of a display area for them,” Powell says.

While titles like man cave and She Shed may be popular, the truth of the matter is that these spaces are very versatile. Husbands spend time in their wives’ spaces, while wives occasionally watch the big game in their husbands’ rooms. However, at the end of the day, it’s nice to have somewhere where you can retreat without answering questions.

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