How to Design your Own Personal Mom Cave

While the home has traditionally been the domain of all womankind, society has changed its attitudes regarding traditional gender roles significantly over the last several decades, so that now, women are not only able to work outside the home, but often it is expected that the household will enjoy an income from both parents. In some cases, women are even the primary earners or sole breadwinners for their families, leaving fathers home to care for kids and manage household affairs. And for many women this shift has brought about the realization that the man cave might not be such a silly idea after all. When you’re working all day and you come home to a house full of raucous kids, you too may want your own private space where you can relax for a few minutes, switch gears, or even get in some meditation or yoga to help you transition between your professional and personal spheres. In other words, you need a mom cave. Here are a few tips to create the space that’s just right for you.

How to Design your Own Personal Mom Cave

Mom cave ideas – create a space with plenty of light

Image via: Buckboard Hill

Talk to your spouse.

The first thing you may want to do when you’re planning to build a mom cave is discuss the prospect with your spouse. Just like you wouldn’t want your partner to plan a major home project without consulting you first, it’s important that you not assume you can utilize space in the home that might otherwise serve the whole family just because you’re making the most money. Your partnership should be equal in all possible ways, so discuss your plans with your significant other so that you can agree on a space in the home that is suitable and set a budget for your project.

Consider your goals.

Before you start picking out paint and wood flooring, it’s important to take a moment to think about what you want to do in your mom cave. Will it be a personal office space? Do you want to use it as a yoga retreat? Or would you rather fill the room with flowering plants and a comfy day bed for napping? The ways in which you plan to use your space will have a significant impact on every aspect of the renovation and design process. So make a solid plan ahead of time to save yourself from expensive and time-consuming changes later on.

Mom cave ideas

Image via: Heartbeat Oz

Find sufficient space.

Many families are at capacity when it comes to using the space in their home. Even if you have an extra room, it may currently be a home office, a play room for the kids, or even a storage space. However, you can always consider alternatives such as an unused attic, a garage conversion, or perhaps even building a small granny flat or installing a prefab unit in the back yard to house your mom cave.

Make your space multifunctional.

You likely have several ideas about how you want to use your mom cave in those rare moments of respite from the demands of your daily life. You might have to get creative, but by doing a little research you should be able to find ways to make even a small space multifunctional thanks to convertible furnishings and hidden storage options, just for example.

Mom cave ideas

Image via: Southern Exposure

Outfit your space appropriately.

Once you’ve painted and installed some plush, new carpeting, it’s time to start collecting the pieces that are going to turn your empty space into a mom cave. This could include an ergonomic office setup, a stressless recliner, or some of your favorite pieces of framed artwork. Lacking the budget to buy new? Check out estate sales and reclaimed furniture outlets for affordable alternatives. Just make sure that whatever you choose to put into your space, you make it your own.

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