Masculine Interior Design: Beyond the Man Cave

For many, when they envision a masculine space, some of the first things that come to mind are a big screen television, sports posters on the wall, and a large leather recliner. A masculine space can be so much more than a cliche.

For me, a masculine room should feel like a strong and sophisticated space with a feeling of warmth and comfort. Masculine spaces are tailored, paired down, cozy and fuss-free. I like masculine rooms because I find them inviting. Garrett's office has become my favorite room in the house, and I often find myself wanting to linger there more than our own living room. It offers a mix of textures, bold colors, and a lovely smell of musk and leather. It feels like a gentleman's lounge and an office, all in one.

More than offices and man caves, other spaces in your home can take on a nice blend of feminine and masculine qualities. Mixing these harmoniously can make it a room that both you and your husband/wife can enjoy.

To create your own elevated masculine space or add in some elements to a room that is feeling too feminine, follow these six design tips.

One: Pick Your Palette

Before you start on the design of a room, I recommend you first start by picking the paint color. In a masculine space, you won’t be finding many pastel hues. Keeping the colors earthy and on the darker side will make the room feel cozy and masculine. Classic neutrals work well in a space for men. My husband likes color and isn’t afraid to embrace it, so we started his office by selecting a navy hue.

Two: Add Pattern

Whether you’re designing the room to feel modern, traditional or a mix of both styles, finding the right patterns for a masculine space may feel daunting. What makes a pattern feel inherently masculine vs. feminine? Swap the more feminine florals and damask prints for masculine geometric and ikat patterns. While feminine design typically means that edges are rounded and soft, masculine design is edgy, bold, sharp, and clean. 

For Garrett’s office, I selected a modern chair with a bold black and white print instead of the traditional “leather chair” to keep the space feeling fresh and playful. I used a simple white dining chair that would be comfortable for him to sit in as his desk chair and then spiced it up with a tiger ikat accent pillow.  

Three: Make it Textural

This is important for any room to keep things from feeling flat and boring. Blending shiny with matte, smooth with textured, and round with sharp will give the space depth. Add tweed, woven rugs, leather and flannel to achieve a textural space.

Four: Accessorize the Space

Old leather books, horns, pewter bowls, vintage cameras, masculine scented candles, and busts or statues are all great accessories to create a masculine space. A few good bottles of bourbon can even act as a simple accessory.

Keep his interests in mind if the room is meant for him. If he likes football, find a vintage leather ball and put it in an acrylic case. To highlight his alma mater, buy a vintage pennant flag with his school name and frame it. If he played a sport, hang his old letterman jacket or jersey on the wall.

One of the ways I paid tribute to football and Ole Miss for Garrett was with a 1960s pennant flag and some black and white vintage press photos I found on ebay of some of the school’s most notable players. 

Five: Add Art

Art for a masculine space is an opportunity to have some fun in the space. Have a lot of darky and moody elements? Add a pop of color. Want to keep the space neutral and calming? Use a series of black and white photography and sketches on a gallery wall. 

As you know from watching my weekend wine tour on Instagram, this was a moment of contention in the room. Garrett purchased a large lion painting for the room and I purchased a classic oil painting. Needless to say, the styles clashed. He still loves his lion painting, but agreed that it didn’t really go with the vibe of the room. We were going for and old-school lounge feel, so the oil painting feels appropriate for the look. 

Six: Keep it Simple

A masculine space needs to stay tailored, clean, and simple. Too many accessories and it takes away from the formality of the space. Mix tweed, leather, horn and lacquer with some pops of geometric prints and you’ve got just enough to make the room feel masculine.