Looking to build a man cave on a budget? If you're anything like me, you tend to spend your daydreaming time thinking about what you'd like your dream home to be: a tricked-out garage, back yard, maybe a home theater. And what home is truly complete without a man cave?
The problem with those daydreams is that most of the time, our dreams go far beyond our budget. Too often, that stops me from even trying, but a great man cave doesn't have to cost tens of thousands. No, a man cave on a budget, done right, can be pretty mind-blowing!
If you're working with a tight budget, building an awesome man cave is definitely a challenge. You've got to look harder for good materials, sacrifice some outlandish dreams, and get creative with your design. One thing you don't have to do, though, is settle for something you don't think you could see as a real escape for your soul.
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: a man cave is all about the man. It should showcase your personality and passion, and feel like you're sitting inside your own head. Building a man cave on a budget, with all those considerations and challenges, can be intimidating.
The best place to start is with solid inspiration- and that's exactly why we're here! Check out this list of awesome budget man caves, and get to thinking and creating for your own awesome, low-cost man cave today!
18 Man Cave On A Budget That Won't Break The Bank!
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1. Big Screen, Simple Furniture
2. Natural Wood + Plush Couches
3. Decorated Garage Man Cave
4. Budget Bar/Workshop Combo
5. Homemade Corner Bar
6. LED Backlit Screening Room
7. Book Nook Man Cave
8. Memorabilia Man Cave
9. Cozy Man Cave
10. Wood Crate Bar Area
11. DIY Bar Counter and Shelves
12. Simple Media Room
13. Laid Back Musician's Man Cave
14. DIY Gamer's Den
15. Pop Culture Man Cave
16. Gamer's Nook
17. Poker Night Man Cave
18. Low-Key Billiards Room
1. Big Screen, Simple Furniture
By focusing the budget on getting a projector and a giant screen, the homeowners used their budget where it counted: the picture. This is a perfect man cave idea for people who love sports, movies or hosting watch parties with friends.
The simple furniture has a really homey, almost “college house” feel, and the whole man cave seems happy and laid-back. Take a tip from this man cave: put the money where it matters.
2. Natural Wood + Plush Couches
Depending on how you look at it, this man cave is either going to seem too simple, or too fancy to be a budget job. The natural wood walls, made from reclaimed planks, and soft couches are all there is.
I chose it for the list because it makes great use of reclaimed materials which look amazing but don't cost a fortune. The TV is a bit small for my taste, but it's a great, uncluttered man cave nonetheless!
3. Decorated Garage Man Cave
The homeowners made a wise decision with this man cave: rather than sink their budget into furniture, paint, and other expensive, renovation-style upgrades, they invested in some decor and a ping pong table. The look of the man cave is pretty classically macho.
The walls are representative of the owner, and it feels like they weren't trying to shoot for the moon for the sake of impressing people, which is a common pitfall of home renovations! Kudos to these homeowners for keeping things low-key.
4. Budget Bar/Workshop Combo
Again, here we see that the focus of the man cave is set on one area, rather than equal spending on all aspects. As a result, you get a pretty cool workshop area that flows pretty seamlessly into a wood bar counter.
The two leather bar stools add a touch of class, and everything just fits together. Off to the left, you see some sports memorabilia and a couch with a wooden coffee table, where the rest of the man cave is. It's an altogether great budget man cave!
5. Homemade Corner Bar
Do you have a “do-it-yourself” attitude or a knack for working with wood? Consider building your own bar, rather than paying someone to build it for you or buying one pre-built. You'll save tons of money on labor and shipping, and you'll get a result that has a DIY feel that is actually positive, rather than looking slapped together.
I love the natural color of the wood; it lets me know that I'm looking at a DIY project that has some impressive craftsmanship in it.
6. LED Backlit Screening Room
LED backlights for TVs and computer monitors might be one of the cheapest ways to radically change the way a room feels. This media-focused man cave clearly didn't have a budget in the thousands; rather, they spent a small amount of money and got a huge aesthetic boost to any movie night, gaming session, or sports watch party they host!
If you want to make a huge upgrade for a tiny investment, LED backlights should be a no-brainer.
7. Book Nook Man Cave
The creator of this man cave clearly has one passion that ranks above all others: reading. That became the sole determiner of where funds were invested for the man cave. By creating a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling bookcase, the owner made a visually pleasing man cave.
This is a great example of how putting your man cave budget into one big, splashy item can actually be a good idea. Usually, it's probably wise to invest in a few things, but in this case, it worked out splendidly!
8. Memorabilia Man Cave
A piece of great advice when it comes to the overall look of your budget man cave: decorate, don't renovate. Decorating is just as creative as renovating, but a lot less expensive. This man cave is covered in sports memorabilia and has a nice ping pong table as the main attraction.
It's great to look at, and great to spend time in, but it didn't cost a fortune to set up! That is unless all that memorabilia is signed by famous players…
9. Cozy Man Cave
No frills here, just a nice, dimly-lit room you can escape to after a hard day. A great cave doesn't need to provide much more than a space where you can take refuge for a bit, let your guard down, and breathe easy.
This is the perfect spot to do just that: it's quiet, secluded, and cozy, allowing you to ease your mind!
10. Wood Crate Bar Area
Using a collection of antique style wood creates to form bar storage is a great way to maximize a tiny budget for a man cave aesthetic. Sure, it doesn't have a bar countertop or a giant expensive liquor shelf. But, you can't tell me it doesn't look good!
It's a stylish way to have a bar in your basement where you can fix a drink and get back to watching the game, and what more does a man cave really need?
11. DIY Bar Counter and Shelves
Using well-shaped, naturally stained wood and black iron pipes to create a bar counter isn't a new idea, but it sure is a good-looking one. The best part of this bar idea for a man cave is that it looks like something you'd find in a real bar or restaurant.
Plus, you can build it with materials you'd find at any hardware store, and it won't eat up your entire budget! If you're looking to add some contemporary rustic style to your budget man cave, take this design idea as inspiration!
12. Simple Media Room
Depending on your taste, you might not need a fancy setup to feel at home in your man cave. Maybe all it takes is a good tv, some stylish furniture, and dim lighting to watch your favorite movies and shows in peace.
This is a great example of a man cave that takes it easy, and I love the neon glow of the lighting inside the coffee table! There's not much to hate about a man cave that keeps things straightforward!
13. Laid Back Musician's Man Cave
Get your instruments, mount them to the wall, and decorate with some classic vinyl album artwork. Sound easy and affordable enough? If you're a rocker or folk guitarist at heart, this man cave should speak (or, rather, sing) to you.
The focus here is all on the music. It's not cluttered, it's not covered in posters or jerseys, it's just a nice room with nice furniture where you can jam to your heart's content!
14. DIY Gamer's Den
Did you already invest most of your savings into your PC or console setup? No worry- that's where a gamer should be putting their money. To complete your gaming den, all you really need is a good chair, simple decor, and a TV to unwind with.
Everything else is just a distraction from what your man cave is all about- the games! I really like this man cave because it has asymmetry and balance, and the color scheme looks just as good in daylight as it would during an all-night game binge.
15. Pop Culture Man Cave
Do you love comic books, superhero movies, and adventures that take place a long time ago in a galaxy far away? Your ideal man cave, even on a tight budget, is one that lets you proudly display your collectibles and watch your favorite movies and series in peace.
After all, what's worse than getting completely immersed in the world of your favorite characters and then being interrupted?
A man cave such as this lets you dive all the way in to the stories you love. I'm a big fan of the display shelves; they're inexpensive and make the whole room look full even though there is tons of floor space remaining!
16. Gamer's Nook
Similar to the other game and movie-related man caves we've looked at, this man cave focuses on the games and has lots of room for displaying and storing a collection. This is definitely one of the more solitude-focused man caves on the list; not many people are going to fit here, and that's more or less the point.
If you find playing a few rounds of a game or finishing a new quest the perfect way to blow off steam after a hard day at work, this man cave might be calling out your name!
17. Poker Night Man Cave
Any list of man caves would be incomplete without a poker table somewhere in the mix. Poker nights are a great way to relax and spend time with the guys, and this basement poker den has everything you need.
While it may not recreate the feeling of playing at the Casino Royale, you probably won't be vying for a 150 million dollar pot, either. If you love having poker nights and need a man cave of your own, this one might be a good place to start the planning journey!
18. Low-Key Billiards Room
Do you love playing pool but don't want to step into a seedy bar and get hustled? Or, more likely, do you wanna have the guys over and hustle them? In any case, this is a great way to keep the budget low on your man cave while still getting the pool table you want.
The decor is minimal, as is the furniture. All eyes are on the game, and you can have hours of fun with friends here, or just practice your craft all alone!