A Space FOR Dad A Space FOR Dad

According to the Britannica website, the history of Father’s Day is defined as, “A holiday celebrated on the third Sunday in June. Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day, which at the time was becoming established as a holiday. Local religious leaders supported the idea, and the first Father’s Day was celebrated June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd’s father. In 1924, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observance, and in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation that recognized the day. It became a national holiday in 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed legislation designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.”

As we celebrate Father’s Day this year and we think about the gifts we want to give to our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and others who function as father figures, we want to keep in mind the things that interest our fathers the most, such as hobbies, collections, activities and most of all, a space for us to spend time with our fathers. Mostly our fathers just want to spend time with us, and the act of helping your father create a space that is special for him and you will create memories that can last a lifetime.

Almost every man likes to have space in the garage for his stuff and hobbies. This particular space is organized for a motorcycle repair space; however, it could be adapted for almost any hobby. The rolling cabinets along the back wall allow for lots of storage of tools, but could easily store fishing tackle, gun re-loading supplies or hobby items. Keeping the cabinets against the back wall allows for ample floor space to work on motorcycles, cars or almost any project. The flooring can be left plain cement with a sealed surface for easy cleanup or apply an epoxy product or even rubber flooring. Lighting will be important, so upgrade the lighting with brighter bulbs and even a work light on the work bench.

Your father will love his own office that can serve more than one purpose. This room has space for a desk to allow computer work or hobby work such as building models, as well as a couch to entertain friends and watch TV. If needed, it could serve as a guest room, in a pinch, if the couch were a pull out. The windows bring in much-needed light and the simple window coverings are perfect for a more masculine office. Adding bookshelves for books or other things such as trophies or even a CD or record collection is useful as is plenty of wall space to hang family pictures. A neutral wall color, such as a light gray with light-colored and durable flooring makes for a perfect room for Dad.

Any father would love a theater room. This one makes use of multiple recliners rather than theater seating. This allows the furniture to be moved for the best viewing of the large screen TV. To make this room feel cozier, paint the walls a darker color and keep the flooring a darker color, as well. This space would benefit from a wet bar if plumbing were available. If not, a small refrigerator and storage for snacks would be useful.

Whatever your father’s interests, you can help him find and fix up a space just for him. Whether you help with painting the walls, organizing the tools, framing important pictures or just spending time enjoying a TV show or movie with your father in his special place, the most important thing is the time you spend together.