A trio of man cave essentials

Apr. 10—Jordan had the United Center, Gatsby had his mansion and the Beatles had their yellow submarine.

Throughout history and in popular culture, Man has always felt the need to inhabit his own space and adorn it according to those unspoken rules of manhood.

Spring is the perfect time to carve out your own man cave or to revamp your current space to greater glory.

Whether it's your backyard shed or the basement garage, fixing up your man cave properly is crucial to becoming the envy of your buddies.

Here is a trio of essentials you need in your man cave.

Sports memorabiliaEvery boy's room has a poster of Derek Jeter or Michael Jordan, or a pair of well-used Nikes sitting in the corner.

When you reach manhood, however, there's a certain panache you must display in your dwelling. After all, a man's home, or in this case, his man cave, is a reflection of the man himself.

A vintage pair of boxing gloves hung from a nail next to your bar or fridge is a simple style statement that screams aficionado. An antique wooden baseball bat or set of irons propped against your leather lounger shows effortless class.

The best part of adding sports memorabilia to your man cave is that it's not only got the cool factor but often reflects something about the man who displays it.

The boxing gloves signal hidden assertiveness, a baseball bat boasts prep prominence and golf clubs display unspoken patience.

Search the antique malls and your grandpa's attic freely, but choose wisely. What you display says something about you.

Leather chairNo secluded spot is complete without a leather chair that looks like your grandpa sat on it when he returned home from Normandy.

The more wrinkles the better, here, gentlemen. You want something with character that can tell a story or two but can still handle an all-night affair, not unlike Grandpa.

Vintage leather chairs come with a caveat: they're making a resurgence in the home decor world. You'll be fighting the wannabe Joanna Gaines for them in the downtown antique shop, so don't be afraid to extend your search far and wide.

When you do land that perfect chair, though, place it smack-dab in the center of your man cave.

It's the centerpiece, after all, and when your buddies see it they'll be drawn to sit back and relax with their favorite brew.

Classic novelYeah, yeah, you haven't read a novel since your senior seminar. But, men, it's never out of style to show you're well-read. Some of history's greatest men—Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and LeBron James—were all voracious readers.

Classics like Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" or Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" not only give us insight into the world we live in and the relationships we build but will go a long way toward impressing any ladies you may let into your space.

Stick with the Lost Generation of writers like Fitzgerald and Hemingway to really give that air of spiritual alienation.

Ladies love a dreamer, even one who dreams of lost causes, and a stack of classic novels will signal to her that you're more than sports and beer.

Used book stores are a treasure trove of classic books to fill your corner cabinet.

Bonus points if you can find first editions or early prints of those books. The vintage scent alone will lend a certain aura to your man cave.

Plus, there's nothing like having something around that doubles as a fire starter.