65 Elevated Man Cave Designs That Won't Look Prehistoric

Although "man cave" has been part of the American lexicon for more than a generation, its first recognized use seems to have sprung up in the early '90s. First Man Cave points to John Gray's 1992 book, "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex," in which the author describes the need men have to "withdraw into the cave." Another theory suggests it was Canadian Star columnist Joanne Lovering's joking reference to the basement as a "man cave" and also suggested that the garage "is a cave of solitude ..."

Even as boys, men kept their "stuff" in their bedrooms and invited friends over to check out their treasured collections of sports memorabilia, model cars, and movies as a way of establishing common bonds. But once they moved from home to the dorm and then in with their partners, many of those keepsakes were put either in storage or in the trash.

While no one knows precisely where the man cave concept was born, comic book heroes have had such sanctuaries for decades. Superman had a Fortress of Solitude, Batman had his Batcave, and many boomers grew up longing for some similar adult treehouse where a fella could get away to relax. But no good idea goes unexplored for long, and we now have more man cave ideas to share than gadgets in the Batcave.

What guy doesn't like cool neon? Here beer brand names share the room with a small pool table with a bar in the back. It's perfect for a night of suds 'n' buds.

One of the giveaways that you're looking at a man cave and not just a den is personality. Here, the VW mural that dominates the room creates curiosity — Who's the man behind a design like this?

Outside the man cave, you might have to fight to watch what you want. Here, you won't even be able to fight with yourself, as you can watch two flatscreens at once. 

Sometimes less is more, as this spartan arrangement illustrates. LED backlights cast a high-tech glow, and the comfortable but minimalist decor says either "don't bother me, I'm working," or "don't bother me, I'm playing."

Here's a bar that never closes because it's yours. Wooden pillars, bronze foil ceiling accents, and a tiffany lamp barely visible make this spot cozy and as relaxing at happy hour as it would be for a nightcap.

Here's a man cave suited for the New Frontier. Its stylized '60s James Bond pop art mural is perfectly complemented by a jet-age lounge look, including what looks like a mylar inflatable chair.

This has the look of a starter man cave, with director's chairs and a mismatched couch, and a blender instead of a bar. All the expense seems to have been spent on accumulating high-end electronics.

This design puts simple sophistication on display. There's a fireplace, a gaming table, cocktail seating, and one tier up, a complete bar. The black, white, and brown color scheme keeps it simple but classy.

No telling what mischief goes on in this reclusive-looking getaway. There's a gaming table that could double as a conference table, a full bar set up in the distance, and the lighting says "by invitation only." It could be a man cave or the set from some Martin Scorcese film in the making.

Is there any question about this guy's love for America's favorite pastime or his beloved Chicago ball teams? From the lights that recall every baseball diamond ever to the custom-outfitted pool table and mural, this is one serious man cave love affair.

Here's a chopper's paradise, the kind of guy who wears his passions on his sleeve and apparently runs as hot as his engines. Black leather, flame-decal replica vinyl barstools — he's clearly in hog heaven here.

Nothing quite says "Howdy" like a man cave that seems ready for a Saturday night shootout in an Old Western. Here wood accents and swinging saloon doors offset the unseen pool table in the foreground to lend a Gold Rush feel to the room.

This home bar man cave looks so much like a resort; you'll wonder if you're going to run a tab if you drink here. Accent lights on the massive wooden bar area and red vinyl chairs add to the understated drama.

If tinkering with machines is what provides your moment of zen, then this should have tremendous appeal. It's a combination chop shop and bar setup, a place where guys can hang out and work on their bikes or just relax and talk about working on bikes.

A Boston fan's fever dream, this man cave is decked out in Fenway Park memorabilia, and the look extends to the Tiffany lamp and a flatscreen large enough to keep your eye on the ball at all times.

Just because the typical man cave is underground doesn't mean you can't install one overhead. Here an attic has been transformed with some comfy-looking seating, what looks like a killer sound system, and a beautiful pool table in the foreground.

The artfully displayed miniature surfboard and the auto racing sponsor barstools make this little setup a charming hodgepodge of influences, but there's no mistaking the unpretentious cool of the bar, which may not be much more than a repurposed food prep island.

No question that this home theater owner is a fan of the big screen. Plush oversized leather chairs with visible cupholders make this a film fan's fever dream. You make the rules here, and if anyone's talking or texting ... you get to decide whether they get kicked out.

Accent lighting is the key to highlighting this man cave owner's personal Hall of Fame. The seating, along with the expansive use of wood, conveys the same casual air of refinement you'll find in sports arena boxes. Just beyond view is a flatscreen to show all the action.

There are as many different ways to concoct a sports-related man cave as there are teams to cheer. Here the emphasis is on trophies — balls, cards, shirts, and even boxing gloves. With the addition of a poker table and bar, what more does a guy need?

You can just about hear The Beach Boys in the background of this over-the-top tribute to early 1960s car culture. Assorted gleaming restored autos of the era are strewn about, and in the background, there's a mall replica that is certain to evoke memories of milkshakes, JFK, and a simpler time.

Didn't know they had foosball around in the Victorian Age? While the table runs against the theme, with its exposed brick and all-gears-visible clock, it does make the main man cave point well — a personal retreat should incorporate whatever elements the owner wants.

What serious sports fan wouldn't love to be here, where the action never stops, and you're surrounded by like-minded guys who think every down, pitch, and jump ball is something to be debated or celebrated?

If there's a theme here, it seems to be "mind your own business." There's a cool carpet and swanky pool table, but everything else, from the bargain-basement curtains to the Yuletide-looking lights strung above, have no point but to please the owner. And that's the point.

Why spend money on a resort when you can bring one home? Sumptuous leather chairs, a slick bar setup, an elongated sofa with multiple flat screens, and a pool table decked out in purple felt. That's living large.

Leaning into your passions is one of the core reasons to have a man cave in the first place. This auto enthusiast has a showcase for his treasured rides, and you could almost recreate drive-in here with the screen at the far end of the room.

Red and gold make this man cave look more like a love nest than a retreat. The curtains and carpet, as well as the throw and pool table, are all various shades of scarlet. And that gold couch says, "let's snuggle."

Consider the use of space here, where it seems the objects have more room than the owner or any visitors will — but there is still room for some ping pong or beer pong.

Sure, it's a garage, but it's a man cave, too. The keepsakes — everything from a mounted deer head to a Texas roadway sign and a "Godfather" poster has found a home here, alongside a college dorm-sized fridge, bar, and ping-pong table. Otherwise, there's still room for garage storage.

From here, it looks like someone just made partner. Here's the classiest of man caves, with a convertible behind glass, a spacious living room, and a staircase to the world waiting above — if and when you're ready to return.

If you're looking for a place "where everybody knows your name," as the "Cheers" theme suggests, you can't go wrong setting up your own little bar. People are more likely to know your name if it's the same one as on the mailbox outside.

If you're looking for a spot comfortable for jocks to hang out, you can't do better than a locker room man cave with exposed brick, leather chairs, and genuine lockers.