Woman Turns Messy Under The Stairs Space Into Her Own 'Mum Cave'
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One mum has thought of a genius way to boost her mental health - creating a peaceful 'mum cave' under the stairs to chill from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Jessica Pool, a mum-of-three, suffered from postnatal depression after the arrival of newest addition.
The 25-year-old noticed everyone in her family had a place to go for some quiet time except her, and was desperate for some space to call her own.
So cleverly, she decided to utilise the messy cupboard under the stairs. You know, the one we pretty much all have that's usually stuffed through of pointless odds and ends?
Jessica set to work on the cupboard, removing the coats, toys, and cleaning products, and began transforming it into her dream zen zone.
In just two hours, and with just £17, the mum transformed the tired old cupboard into a miniature boudoir with a reading nook, calming candles and mood lighting.
Dreamy.
"I decided to make it because it was just a dumping ground and I got fed up with sorting it out all the time," said Jessica from Shrivenham, Oxfordshire.
"I thought it would be somewhere for the children to go but then I thought no - they have their bedrooms.
"Sometimes us mums need somewhere we can escape to and still be near the children to look after them.
"Sometimes I'll go take myself away for five minutes to give myself some space.
"Children take themselves away when they need a break and this is somewhere I can go.
"You hear about man caves and toy rooms, but I'd never heard of a mum cave."
Jessica lives with her partner, Matthew, a civil engineer, and their three children Madison, five, Charlie, three, and Oliver - nine weeks.
The mum said the children have their bedrooms to escape to, while Matthew has his shed.
"I suffer from postnatal depression and I felt like I needed somewhere I could take myself without inflicting my mood on the children and then I can come out and be mummy again."
Jessica's new space - dubbed the Mum Cave in her family - is a totally phone-free area with no distractions.
To create, it only cost £17, which Jessica spent on paint.
"I took all rubbish to the tip, spent two hours painting, and spent about £17 on it - on paint and shelves, the rest of the stuff is from around the house," she added.
"It's improved my quality of life drastically, today if I've felt a bit annoyed I'll go in there.
"I've explained to my children that it's my space. I've told them they can go in there, but it's more for me than them.
"They are pretty understanding, there's nothing in there for them to do. It's a non electronic cupboard so I don't take my phone in there, I go in there for headspace and to recharge."
This is such an amazing idea.
We wonder, do you have to *have* to have children to create a mum cave? Asking for a friend.