Man Caves vs. Mom Caves

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Man Caves vs. Mom Caves

As we all know, “If Mom’s not happy, nobody is happy”, so it is now fitting that 

we are seeing the creation of “Mom Caves” surface on the interior design scene. 

Recently, I was asked to contribute to an article for the Plano Star Courier and here are my thoughts... and for the complete article with more pictures, click here!

For years, we have created “Man Caves” for our husbands and dads to 

retreat to a secret space to unwind.  They have their theater rooms, gaming

 rooms, cigar bars, wine grottos, masculine libraries, home offices, 

over the top garages, outdoor living… and the list goes on!

Moms are now carving out small spaces for the to escape from it all and when 

the door is closed, mom is off duty.  These Mom Caves actually provide a

 place for Moms to work or explore a passion… Moms are doers!  Yet at the same 

time, the cave must look pretty and be a place she wants to stay a while.

The Mom Cave also needs to be the sanctuary to hide in if she feels 

like doing nothing… really tune out the grind of everyday life.  

Leave the guilt at the door and take the time to recharge!

What?

-Small office (pay bills in style -equip with soft lamp and yummy scented candle)

-Craft room (a lot of storage and ability for the scrapbooking to take over and be a mess!)

-Meditation/Reading room (comfortable sofa or chaise, music, soft lighting and blankets)

-Girl time (enough seating for girlfriends, small beverage bar, coffee cups and martini glasses)

-Sewing room (storage for fabrics, large working table, good lighting)

-Guilty pleasure TV (watch the Real Housewives…alone!)

Where?

-CLOSET! (use vertical space for storage shelving)

-Window seat niche

-Master sitting area (use folding screen)

-Guest bedroom

-Underneath a staircase

-Staircase landing

How?

Since the space may be small, make it a jewel box and add:

-Gorgeous wallpaper

-Feminine chandelier

-Lots of texture (fluffy pillows, velvet and silk throws, plush rug)

-Patterned fabric storage boxes

-Soft paint palette (create a color scheme that is completely different than the rest of the house)

-Personalize it to you (mementos, framed family photos, favorite things)

Rules?

-Skip the overstuffed man recliner and make it a space that makes you smile!

Here's some fun!

Olioboard.com created a contest to submit concept boards

based on the artist's view of the perfect Mom Cave...very creative

For me, it is about quiet time… I can imagine my space with soft lighting, 

a chaise lounge, stacks and stacks of design magazines, scissors, file folders 

and sticky notes (maybe my laptop and a minifridge!). 

A place where I can declutter “my stuff” which makes me a happy mom!

Until next time,

Images via: Real Simple, Chicagogirlgonemild.blogspot.com, womenonthefence.com, olioboard.com