5 Easy Steps to the Perfect Mom Cave

image taken from http://www.homegoods.com/momcave.asp

The "Mom Cave" is all the rage right now and I have decided that I want need one.  In this house full of boys, I need a retreat, a sanctuary, a place to escape from the dinosaurs, trucks, pirates and dirt, a place to be creative.  It is perfect timing too since we are in the process of building a playroom for the boys in the basement...

I'm going to carve out a little space for myself! I need it, I deserve it, how about you?  Do you have a "Mom Cave", a space of your very own?  Everywhere I look I am inspired by amazing “Mom Caves”.  Some are beautiful, others clever and others still are just plain cool but how to get started?

  

Take this definition of a Mom Cave (from the Home Goods’ website):

/mom keyv/noun

a spare room or designated area in the home

that is transformed into a personal space 

where a woman can re-energize through 

the activities she loves.

Elaine Griffin, author of "Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own  Decorator" says that “when you open the door, you should go, ahhh.” *  Ok, so I need to make the space a refection of all things I love - crafts, art, music, books, the colour white ... a space where, when I open the door, I want to go in and um, never come out?

image taken from http://www.homegoods.com/momcave.asp

 5 Steps to the Perfect Mom Cave **  

• Carve Out Your Space: a little closet, guest room or even a corner of your bedroom can become a perfect mom cave.  Really any spot will do but aim to incorporate natural light or use mirrors to reflect light to make the space seem bigger.  Natural bling :o)

• Separate Your Space: doors are great but room dividers, curtains or bookcases can also work to section off your area from the things around it.

image taken from http://www.homegoods.com/momcave.asp

•  Color, Color, Color:  think carefully about how you are going to use the space. Choose soft hues of blue or green if you are looking to create a meditative or relaxing space.  Intense colors like oranges and yellows ignite creativity.  Think of what color you are most drawn to and start from there and don't forget to choose an accent colour - think Tiffany's teal blue with chocolate brown for example.   

• The Comfort Factor: an accent colour is important to adding layers of visual interest into your space.  You can do this by adding throw pillows, a comfy chair or wooly blankets – items that bring in texture and softness to your space will make it more relaxing 

•  Add Personality: adding momentoes, accessories and art work all help make that space your own.  Choose things you love to look at and things that make you happy, after all it is all about you!

For my Mom Cave "inspiration board" click here!

- Kristin - 

PS - Are you lucky enough to have a Mom Cave?

*http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/parenting-family/2011-01-22-mom-caves_N.htm 

** loosely based and modified from http://shine.yahoo.com/event/lifeslittlepleasures/5-steps-to-make-your-own-mom-cave-2406034