“A MAN CAVE”– “A part of a home specifically reserved for adult male activities, such as drinking beer and watching TV; often a garage or den”
(Definition Wiktionary)
If you’ve been following me on Twitter or Facebook this week, you know I have been ALL OVER a recent article I read about mom caves, the latest trend (thank you Holly Pavlika of BigFuel.com for sharing). It’s all the rage. A MOM cave you say? We’ve all heard of THE MAN CAVE, where men go to decompress, have a bear, watch a porn, whatever. But a mom cave? And I’m here to tell you– yes, yes, yes!
Now the concept behind the man cave goes back many years, and stemmed from the idea that when a man came home to his wife and children, he first needed to go to his “cave” to decompress after a long day. But with more and more women in the workforce, contributing financially, and frankly, just downright exhausted and needing more “me-time“, more women are craving the same decompression time and cave time that men crave.
So when I posted that article on my Facebook Fan page and Twitter page you all started naming the things you’d put in your own mom caves… a massage table, flowers, a big cozy sofa for one with magazines, and more. But truth be told, if you are a mom, there is really no space in the house that is entirely your own. Not since you were a young girl living with your parents or single and living on your own, have you had your very own space to call your own. As moms, our lives are invaded (we often poop and pee with kids around)– and everything is shared. We share our bed, we share the kitchen, the den, the bathroom, even if we work from home, chances are we share the office space with our partners. I always say, the only space that is truly my own, is my car (and even that always has kids in it) 
So, if you were confused or on the fence before about why moms should have their own caves, did I do well at selling you on the concept? Decorators and design experts are all over this new “Mom Cave” craze. It obviously offers them a new niche. But, they are suggesting all different prices ranges on how you can convert a closet, a corner of a room, an office, a garage, a bathroom into your very own mom cave. Take a look at some of these….
Mom's corner cave
Mom took a little nook in the wall to make her cave
Check out how this tiny closet was converted to a Mom Cave
Mommy's place to hibernate
Now I know what you’re thinking. I’m thinking the same thing too. Nate Berkus or Martha Stewart or Debbie Travis came into these homes with huge budgets, and made these mommies the perfect mom cave. What about the rest of us who want mom caves on shoestring budgets, with no room in our homes? Well, obviously you can make your own cave as elaborate or simple, or as big or small as you’d like. Sometimes it’s a matter of buying some paints at Home Depot, a roller, a coffee table or chair at Ikea, and the rest is your own personal touch.
So, here is my project for 2011. Here’s me, (pardon the makeup-free scary look), and here’s my plan.
So, if I actually do make this my New Year’s resolution (I’m so dying for a mom cave), here is what I’d put in mine. IN A PERFECT WORLD, of course.
- All my Oprah magazines, and maybe a few Peoples or US Weeklys.
- A box of my organic and caffeine-free teas…. peppermint, chamomile, lemongrass. Mmmm. Ahhh. Ohmmmm
- My Ipod with an incredible sound-system docking station for my music (I’m a music-a-holic).
- A small flat screen TV on the wall.
- Fresh cut flowers.
- A big puffy couch for one with a place to rest my feet.
- A pretty lamp.
- Pretty paint and wallpaper.
- A little table for my laptop if I so choose to bring it in my sanctuary and write.
- My book collection. Oh all my books are in there for sure!
- No telephone, or maybe a telephone just in case I want to sit and chat with my girlfriends or my mom on the phone.
- Pictures of my wonderful family.
- Maybe a goldfish. Don’t laugh. I think I’d like one in there!
- Art on the wall.
- Pretty drapes
- Non perishable snacks in a pretty bowl (like granola bars and stuff). Haha but true.
- I think that’s it.
Now, here is all you need to get moving….
Now Nate Berkus, PLEASE COME AND HELP ME CREATE MY VERY OWN MOM CAVE! 
)
And tell us, WHAT’S IN YOUR MOM CAVE? We’d love to know!!!
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend,
xoxEDxox
Other articles you might enjoy:
Tags: a place to decompress, being a mom, bigfuel.com, bucket list, building a man cave, building a mom cave, debbie travis, facebook, holly pavlika, man cave must haves, martha stewart, mom cave, mom cave essentials, mom's cave, nate berkus, Twitter
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Nice article, I have bookmarked your blog.
Thankyou for this wonderful post, I am glad I detected this website on yahoo.
I have to say that Im really unimpressed with this. I mean, sure, youve got some very interesting points. But this blog is just really lacking in something. Maybe its content, maybe its just the design. I dont know. But its almost like you wrote this because everybodys doing it. No passion at all.
What a great resource!
Just stumbled upon your blog and so many of your terrific posts resonated with me. When we remodeled our home a few years back, I made sure to include a “cave” for me — it’s disguised as an office, where I do my freelance writing and editing, but I regularly use it for “Mommy Time-Outs.” When the going gets tough, I go upstairs and close the door.
I’m all over the idea of a Mom Cave too. I’ve been looking for the perfect nook/space/cut-out in my house too. I have BIG ideas for it, but I’m no Nate Berkus. I’m not sure I can pull it off without having an expert do it for me. Love this post & your blog. XO – MommyQ
Quite a beautiful website. I built mine and i was looking for some design ideas and your website gave me some. Did you develop the website alone?
Cheers
[...] got you all talking MOM CAVES! [...]
[...] got you all talking MOM CAVES! [...]
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Great site!Thanks for sharing!Good luck everyone!
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I absolutely love the idea of a “Mom Cave”! I think that everyone in a house should have a place that they can call their own. Kids clearly have their own rooms to go to but when you are married or living with someone you need to create that space for yourself. When I was a single mom I used to retreat to the coziness of my room..under blankets with dim lighting…and while my fiancée does not crowd my space now (at all) the idea of a place of my own sounds wonderful!! Great concept!
I want a mom cave too!!
My Mom Cave is my big bathtub, complete with chocolate, candles, @barefootwine and a good book. No visitors allowed.
Wait a minute, I take that back. Any visitor who wants to rub my feet while I read my book in the bathtub… well, I’ll allow that.
Love it!
My perfect addition to your perfect “Mom Cave” would have to be a fireplace. There is nothing more relaxing than escaping by a warm fire.
YES A FIREPLACE!!! LOVE THAT!
books, magazines, candles, and i love the massage table idea.
Oh my goodness I MUST HAVE ONE OF THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES! This is a fab idea!!
Great post Erica. I need one of these. In my mom cave would be magazines, books, a lock on the door and a glass of wine! This just sounds too good.