As a mother you wear many hats whether you are a stay at home mom or a working mom. Your job as a mother is ongoing and doesn't allow for a break. A lot of times you have to create a break to regroup, re-energize and refresh. This is where the Mom Cave comes in.

"A Mom Cave is a small, personal space where the lady of the house can go to relax and enjoy her special time away from the family."

You're probably asking yourself, "How in the world am I going to find a space for myself when every area in the house is taken?". Well, I've put together some helpful steps, must-haves and creative design tips to help you create your special retreat.

Select a Room. Before you can create a Mom Cave you must first select a room or space in your home. It should be a space that is private and off limits. The laundry room and kitchen are NOT options for a Mom Cave. My personal Mom Cave is a small room in the basement that no one uses except me. My family knows it as mommy’s area. Here are some ideas of areas in your home that you may want to consider.

an extra bedroom
a vanity area or small corner in your master bedroom
a large walk-in closet
an area in the basement
an area in the attic
a bonus room
an area in the backyard
the balcony or deck
the porch
a home office, primarily used by you
the garage or large shed converted to a finished space

Add Seating. Once you select a room or space you should think about what type of seating you will incorporate. Seating will be the largest piece of furniture in the space. Depending on how you use the space, an ottoman or bench can work for a small area. However, if you have a space that can take more seating you may want to consider a comfortable chaise or recliner to use as your primary seat.

For an entire room consider furnishing your Mom Cave with a sofa or sectional for your occasional girlfriends that stop by. Keep in mind the size of the space will determine the scale and selection of the furniture. Create a welcoming environment by incorporating soft textiles to your seating combined with tranquil colors and patterns.

Use Tables. If your space allows, use side tables to create balance. I recommend using unique pieces as tables. This is your chance to let your style and personality shine! Cluster 2 or 4 cube ottomans to put your feet up or place a tray to create a table top surface. These pieces will add a sense of story and character to your room. Add a desk or a small dining table to use as a functional surface for sewing, making crafts, creating scrapbooks or writing.

Include Artwork/Accessories/Lighting/Paint Colors. Ever walk into a room with nothing on the walls? It doesn’t feel complete, right? Artwork and accessories are one of the most important components to decorating a well designed space. These accent pieces make the room polished and feel complete.

Use different forms of seating (sectional w/ chaise, armless chairs, arm chairs, etc.) to create a comfortable, casual environment.

Make sure your artwork flows with the style or theme of your room. It should complement the colors in your room. For example, if you have tan colored Mom Cave think of adding a pop of teal through the artwork and accessories. You can also create a picture collage with you and your loved ones by clustering artwork ½ inch - 1 inch apart, this will add a personal touch to the room. Try using your favorite vacation pictures or a beautiful landscape. Don’t forget to add candles and accent lighting to your room for ambiance. For paint color, select a rich tone that is soothing to the eye or add wallpaper to make a statement.

Incorporate your favorite color and add it's contrast color for visual interest.

Incorporate things that you love to do. Your Mom Cave should be filled with things that you love, enjoy and that exclusively represents YOU! As a mom myself, I love to have everyday pictures of my kids or pictures of vacation trips we took as a family on my desk when I am writing because they truly inspire me.

If your passion is reading, add a bookcase or a woven basket to store magazines. If you love to watch movies or listen to music add a unique cabinet that can hold a flat screen television and an iPod for music.

Cozy up with your favorite books and some candles in your mom cave.

Remember it’s important to determine if this space is going to be just for you to curl up with a book and coffee or a space where you may want to have girlfriends over for cocktails.

The options to creating and designing your Mom Cave are endless! However, if the thought of adding one more thing to your to-do list is overwhelming and already has you stressed, let me help. I enjoy working one-on-one with families, especially women to help them design personal spaces that are beautiful and functional. Let's work together! It will be fun and you'll LOVE the end result!

Remember, it’s all about YOU so make sure to fill your Mom Cave with love, memories, and inspiration. Leave a comment below and tell me what you would do in your Mom Cave!

Here's to having a space of your own!