Military Man Cave Ideas for Homeowners and Renters

Having a place where you can escape daily life and be yourself is vitally important to recharge. Even military members PCSing across the country or world need a designated relaxation spot in their home. Your military man cave may be a room in the house, basement, garage or even a shed out back.

And don’t let the name fool you. Women can have their own “man caves” as well! This area is your hub to decorate and furnish however makes you feel the most calm, comforted and at home. Your military man cave should express who you are and can be any level of lavish or basic, depending on your budget.

Military Man Cave Ideas

While furnishing your military man cave, it’s important to remember that your space needs to be PCS-proof if you are renting at your next installation. This means less intense construction on the actual space and more taking advantage of the transformative potential of furniture, decorations and entertainment pieces.

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 personal situation. Those PCSing and renting military housing may want to structure their man cave in a way that is easily portable, while homeowners may not have to worry about those aspects as much.

Do you want your space to be filled with the newest high-tech gadgets? Or do you prefer to create a cozy cave for reading and wine-sipping? Whatever your preference, every great man (or woman) cave has these essentials.

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

Fill your cave with items that bring you joy, such as your favorite pastime or hobbies. Consider investing in a tabletop sports game such as air hockey or table football if friends are welcome in your man cave. Whatever makes your military man cave feel like your space should be prioritized.

Man Cave Theme Ideas

Building your man cave around a theme is a great way to unite your space cohesively. You could establish a theme related to one of your key interests or a specific persona that you enjoy. Some of the top man cave themes include:

• Music
• Pool hall
• Cars/motorcycles
• Military history
• Patriotic
• Sports (football, baseball, hockey, etc.)
• James Bond
• Marvel
• Superman

Not interested in a theme based on a hobby or interest? You can set up your military man cave according to the mood that you want to portray. In addition, 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 the home theater you’ve been daydreaming about. Make sure your military man cave is as portable as possible by knowing “What is Your PCS Weight Allowance in 2023?”

Flexible Man Cave Floor Plans

To ensure your military man cave is portable and PCS-proof, purchase items keeping in mind that they’ll need to work with a variety of floor plans. Separate chairs and couches may be easier to finesse around different room sizes than an oversized, jumbo sectional.

If you’re working around a tight budget, consider buying coffee tables, end tables and lamps at yard sales, flea markets or even discount furniture stores such as IKEA. It won’t be as hard for you to sell or dispose of these less expensive items 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. This will help you make sure 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, it may be a better idea 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, keeping the box and the styrofoam for the next move is key. This will help you repack it just as the factory did before it was ever opened. If you’re anticipating multiple PCS military moves with your TV, you may also want to consider purchasing an extended service contract.

This will help you out if your device becomes damaged during a move. Purchasing from national chain stores such as Best Buy will also ensure your contract is valid no matter where you PCS in the United States.

As tempting as it is to mount your TV, consider using the stand instead. Military landlords don’t appreciate unneeded 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 easy those pieces are to 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 you outweighing 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 will still give 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 will allow you to transport your man cave bar anywhere you’re stationed easily.

Best Color for Man Cave

First, check to make sure you are allowed to paint the walls in your military housing. If you have the go-ahead, consider the vibe and atmosphere you’re going for. 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, you can 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 versions that can fold up and be put away when they’re not in use. Poker table tops also come in lightweight and collapsible forms. Gaming consoles, chess boards, board games and dart boards are also highly entertaining while being easy to pack up and move.

Military Decorations for Home

Add personal touches like pics of you with friends, flags, medals, signed sports paraphernalia and whatever else brings you joy. There are plenty of sites where you can fill it in with just the right thing, such as ManCaveGifts.com.

Free-standing bookshelves can easily be broken down and transported to your new PCS location. For PCSing military members, these are recommended over built-in shelves or heavy showcases to display your trophies, medals, ribbons and collectibles.

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 creditable military housing options until you find the right cave (home) for you and your family!