The lion's den has the connotation of an impenetrable compound. Likewise, a home's den was for many years a space dedicated to the man of the house: a precursor to today's man cave. Dens were associated with leather furniture, plaid fabrics, hunting memorabilia, rugged tweed fabrics and dark wood paneling. A place of respect for the breadwinner of the home, this often functioned as the space for paying bills, working and reading. The den was also the place where special conversations were had, advice was given and life-altering decisions were made.

Today the den has all but disappeared, giving way to another male-oriented room: the man cave. This room, which everyone jokes about nowadays, is the byproduct of the den and the bonus rec room sometimes found in the basement or as part of an enclosed porch. Times have changed, and the role of this room has morphed into more of an entertainment room, especially during football, baseball and basketball seasons — so basically it's used year-round.

Man caves are not as primitive as the name suggests. They are not rooms for hand-me-down sofas, rickety furniture and velvet Elvis works of art. Gone are the tiki bar and dartboards. These rooms are now quite sophisticated, fitted with custom built-ins, bars, wine coolers, surround-sound systems and larger-than-life TV screens. Furniture rivals that of the home's main areas. Sleek sectional sofas sturdy enough for a football team are needed, as are foot-friendly coffee tables and game tables for weekly poker games.

For some, special priorities come first. Those with hobbies may have a workbench or shelves of supplies, but always organized behind sets of doors. Collectors may choose this space to show off collectibles that may include anything from vintage album art to cigar bands to guns.

Almost any style of furniture can be used in this room — but certain features need to be considered when adding a room or an addition to a home for this purpose.

First, install the best insulation possible. This will deaden any sounds from equipment or excited sports fans. This can be accomplished during construction, and additional noise-reduction can be accomplished by installing drapes and upholstering walls. Insulating this type of room also makes sense from an efficiency point of view.

Great acoustics are essential in the man cave. Soft surfaces such as wood or cork floors, large area rugs or wall-to-wall carpet are ways to ensure the best quality of sound. Moveable items such as books and plants also help the acoustics of a room.

Plumbing should be available and accessible for a beverage center, a wine cooler and icemaker and/or a bar with a sink to avoid comings and goings to the home's main kitchen. There should also be a half-bath somewhere near the cave. This will prevent visitors from flushing toilets when others might be sleeping.

Today's man caves aren't really just for men. They are our calling for collective activities that are centered over the million-year concept of gathering with people who are like "us".

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash