Checklists for designing and building the perfect chill spot in a home should all include the same essential elements: Comfortable seating, space for entertaining guests, and a secret entrance. A mancave without a secret entrance is basically just a basement, and no one has enjoyed hanging out in a basement since That '70s Show. Classic hidden door mechanisms like rotating bookcases and trick wall panels never get old, but pop culture has also inspired people to be more creative with their upgraded spaces. Here are six cool mancaves that will inspire you to call a contractor.
1. $50,000 ELDER SCROLLS BASEMENT
Nothing says fandom quite like spending $50,000 to replicate the world of your favorite role-playing fantasy video game in the basement of your home. It’s pretty cool that this guy’s father was on board to help bring this dream to life with such attention to detail, and that his wife saw the vision and wanted to help with the design.
2. BOOKCASE SMOKING PARLOR
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After a long day of work, it sometimes feels nice to just throw on a robe and sneak into your dimly lit smoking lounge for a cigar and a glass of cognac. The vintage map, model ship, and electric fireplace work perfectly in the small space, and the Raiders of the Lost Ark idol replica is a nice touch.
3. $2 MILLION BATCAVE THEATER
Batman’s secret headquarters is one of the most iconic hidden spaces in pop culture history, and Elite Home Theater Seating did a great job capturing the essence of the cave for this concept space (which was later built somewhere in Greenwich, Connecticut). From the stalactite ceilings to the alcoves that display a replica of the Tumbler and other Dark Knight paraphernalia, Bruce Wayne himself would love to spend some quality brooding time here. The kicker is that this theater can only be accessed through a Batman-themed study, where a grandfather clock hides a fingerprint scanner-controlled elevator.
4. "DOORS OF DURIN" SECRET PASSAGEWAY
You don’t have to be a member of the Fellowship to appreciate how cool this is—though some knowledge of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series is helpful to understand the design. The owner of the magical door says that a voice-activated control is coming soon (in the novel the word “mellon” opens the door), but we think it’s cool just the way it is.
5. CLASSIC SLIDING DOOR
Hidden rooms with sliding doors automatically feel cooler because it’s such a mysterious and spy-worthy feature. The company that made this video owns the domain hiddenpassageway.com, which showcases other examples of their work. This particular room is in the home of an unnamed Hollywood producer.
6. TARDIS HIDDEN THEATER
Having a replica of the TARDIS from Doctor Who in the corner of a room isn’t the most inconspicuous thing someone can do, but even fans of the show who know that the police box is bigger on the inside wouldn’t expect to find this. Designed by the Maryland-based Gramophone, this TARDIS leads to a full home theater with a 100” screen, starry ceiling, and other sci-fi-influenced features that would make any Whovian envious.