A place where you can escape daily life and be yourself is vital for recharging. Even military members PCSing across the country or the world need a designated relaxation spot in their homes. Your military man cave may be a room in the house, basement, garage, or even a shed out back.
Don’t let the name fool you—anyone can create a man cave, regardless of gender. The important thing is having a space that feels like yours. Whether you call it a man cave, a retreat, or just your favorite room, it’s your place to relax, recharge, and feel at home. Go big with top-of-the-line features or keep it simple and budget-friendly—your military man cave should reflect your personality, your style, and what brings you comfort.
More Like This: Planning your space is just one part of a successful PCS. Download our free PCS Toolkit for checklists, budgeting tips, and moving hacks to help you stay organized—no matter where orders send you next.
Military Man Cave Ideas
While furnishing your military man cave, remember that your space needs to be PCS-proof if you rent at your next installation. This means less intense construction on the actual space and more use of furniture, decorations, and entertainment pieces’ transformative potential.
Of course, if you are a homeowner, you’re free to hammer, drill, and saw anything you like to build more permanent man cave structures. For the following tips and advice, always consider your situation. Those PCSing and renting military housing may want to structure their man cave in an easily portable way, while homeowners may not have to worry about those aspects as much.
Do you want your space filled with the latest high-tech gadgets? Or do you prefer to create a cozy cave for reading and wine-sipping? Whatever your preference, every great recharge space has the following essentials.
Military Man Cave Checklist
Fill your cave with items that bring you joy, such as your favorite pastime or hobbies. If friends are welcome in your space, consider investing in a tabletop sports game such as air hockey or table football. Whatever makes your military man cave feel like your space should be prioritized.
Man Cave Essentials
- Flat-screen
- Oversized chair
- End table and/or coffee table
- Fridge (mini or regular-sized)
- Entertainment (books, games, tabletop sports, etc.)
- Lamp and/or alternative lighting
- Personalized decorations
Optional Man Cave Ideas
- Couch
- Surround sound
- Desk and office chair
- Bar and stools
- Fireplace
- Rug
- Pet bed and toys
Man Cave Theme Ideas
Building your space around a theme creates a unified, personalized vibe. Whether you’re designing a classic man cave or simply carving out a haven that reflects your passions, a clear theme helps tie everything together. Consider drawing inspiration from your hobbies, favorite eras, or pop culture icons. Here are some popular and inclusive theme ideas:
- Music Lounge – Showcase vinyl records, instruments, or concert posters.
- Vintage Arcade – Bring in classic games, neon signs, and retro vibes.
- Home Theater – Perfect for movie buffs, with big screens and plush seating.
- Automotive or Motorcycle Garage – Ideal for gearheads who love engines and chrome.
- Sports Fan Zone – Celebrate your favorite teams with memorabilia and big screens.
- Travel Escape – Decor inspired by your favorite countries or dream destinations.
- Book Nook or Library – A cozy, intellectual retreat with shelves and reading chairs.
- Rustic Lodge or Cabin – Wood tones, leather furniture, and outdoorsy touches.
- Modern Minimalist – Clean lines, smart tech, and a calm, clutter-free vibe.
- Superhero or Sci-Fi Universe – Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Star Trek — the choice is yours.
- Bond-Style Lounge – Sleek, sophisticated, and martini-ready.
- Creative Studio – A workspace for music, art, writing, or whatever fuels your passion.
Not interested in a theme based on a hobby or interest? You can set up your military man cave according to the mood you want to portray. Additionally, simply coordinating a color scheme could really make your man cave come together.
This could mean dark woods and leather, camo and animal prints, or even modern furniture with bold colors. We suggest heading to Pinterest, where you can find endless man cave theme ideas!
More Like This: Keep in mind that your Permanent Change of Station (PCS) may not be able to accommodate your dream home theater. Know your PCS weight allowance to ensure your military man cave is as portable as possible.
Flexible Man Cave Floor Plans
To ensure a portable and PCS-proof military man cave, purchase items that work with various floor plans. Separate chairs and couches may be easier to arrange around different room sizes than an oversized, jumbo sectional.
If working within a tight budget, consider buying coffee tables, end tables, and lamps at yard sales, flea markets, or discount furniture stores like IKEA. Selling or disposing of these less expensive items is easier if you have to move somewhere that can’t accommodate them, such as an OCONUS assignment.
More Like This: Want to ensure your man cave makes it to your next installation? Work it into your PCS budget to help ensure the funds to set up your military man cave are available after your move!
Man Cave TV Setup
As tempting as it is to buy a Jumbotron, a better idea may be to go for a high-quality TV of around 50-55 inches. Not only are giant TVs at higher risk of breaking or becoming damaged during a PCS, but replacing one can also be a great financial burden.
Regardless of the size, keep the box and the styrofoam for the next move to help repack it just as the factory did before ever opening it.
If you anticipate multiple PCS military moves with your TV, also consider purchasing an extended service contract. This will help you if your device becomes damaged during a move. Purchasing from national chain stores such as Best Buy also ensures your contract is valid no matter where you PCS in the United States.
As tempting as it is to mount your TV, consider using a stand instead. Military landlords don’t appreciate unnecessary holes in their walls. Of course, if there is already a space for a mount, there’s no reason not to take advantage of it.
Man Cave Furniture
Before you purchase man cave furniture, consider how easily those pieces move. A large reclining chair and ottoman are much easier to move than an extended couch because they are in two pieces.
Lighter bed frames are also more ideal than heavier ones, as they are less likely to contribute to exceeding your PCS weight allowance. Man Cave Kings has some great furniture offerings, including theater chairs that can be separated for an easy move.
Man Cave Bar Ideas
Most PCS military housing already comes with full-sized refrigerators. Therefore, purchasing a separate large refrigerator just for your military man cave is unnecessary. How about a mini fridge instead? Going with a smaller option still gives you deliciously cooled beverages right in your cave, and it won’t contribute much to your electrical bill like a second full-sized refrigerator would.
Built-in bars definitely add a certain ambiance to any man cave. However, as a PCSing military member, you probably aren’t allowed to do this type of construction on your rental. Check out the wide range of outdoor patio bars and collapsible bar chairs instead! This allows you to easily transport your man cave bar anywhere you’re stationed.
Best Color for Man Cave
First, check that you are allowed to paint the walls in your military housing. If you have the go-ahead, consider your desired vibe and atmosphere. Do you want your space to truly embody a cave? Consider painting all four walls a deep blue or gray.
If you want a more stylish approach, choose just one wall to paint with a pop of color in a shade that represents your favorite fascination (sports, books, TV shows, etc.). This is a very low-maintenance way to jazz up your space and make it your own!
Man Cave Games
Foosball and pool tables are heavy; however, you can find much lighter, foldable versions that can be put away when not in use. Poker table tops also come in lightweight and collapsible forms. Gaming consoles, chessboards, board games, and dartboards are also highly entertaining and easy to pack up and move.
Military Decorations for Home
Add personal touches like flags, medals, signed sports paraphernalia, pictures of you with friends, and whatever else brings you joy. Plenty of sites, such as ManCaveGifts.com, help to fill it in with just the right thing.
For PCSing military members, free-standing bookshelves are recommended over built-in shelves or heavy showcases for displaying their trophies, medals, ribbons, and collectibles, since they can easily be broken down and transported to their new PCS location.
Find the Perfect Man Cave With AHRN
Is the perfect military man cave space at the top of your list of must-haves when searching for military housing? Sign up at AHRN to search for exceptional military housing options surrounding your new installation. Here, you can sift through pages of credible military housing options until you find the right cave (and home) for you and your family!