Forget Man Caves: 4 Woman Cave Ideas

Forget the man cave, a woman cave (or she shed) is what you want. And there’s a big difference. Where the typical man cave is filled with manly things, a woman cave is filled with whatever makes you happy. It doesn't even have to be in the basement. If you love all things pink and fluffy, that’s great. But feminine doesn’t mean frilly; there are many ways to create a woman cave you’ll want to spend much of your free time.

A Woman Cave For What You Love to Do

What do you love to do? Chances are, the answer is a list, not a phrase. Maybe your list includes quiet reading, exercise, sewing, quilting and scrap booking. Or you might enjoy playing an instrument and recording music, watching television, writing or woodworking.

Your interests don’t have to fit anyone else’s notion of quality down time. But you do need a comfortable, convenient and flexible space for all the activities you love.

The first thing you need to understand is it only matters that you have your woman cave. Places will vary based on the size of your home and how many other people are competing for that space. You also want to consider how much storage space you need for supplies and whether you want (need) to leave projects spread out for weeks.

• Guest bedrooms are perfect when they're used infrequently, like one weekend every few months.
• A reading nook in a hallway, with a picture perfect window might be your perfect woman cave.
• Basements and attics might offer more space and most of them are usable even when unfinished. You can store supplies in buckets with covers and wear an extra sweater if necessary.
• Bathrooms work well for exercise enthusiasts who want to exercise and luxuriate in a bath afterwards.
• When outdoor space and money permit, many people prefer a stand-along building separated from the house. And this might mean converting a detached garage like the one shown above.

It might take time to find the right space so I encourage you to keep looking for it. For years my quilting meant cleaning off the kitchen table. Then I got smart and set up a corner of the basement which we'd only be using for storage. Over the years my quilting space took over a spare bedroom – in San Jose California, Portsmouth New Hampshire and then our beach condo in Hampton. And when we moved to Arizona, I opted to keep my quilting in my home office because it's big enough and has a wonderful closet big enough for my fabric stash.

Master Baths Transform Into Spas

What if you could have your own spa at home? There’s no reason not to and you can schedule a massage therapist to come to your home, to get the full treatment. If you've got the space, master bath improvements can include more space and natural light, larger showers with built-in audio systems, colored lights and even steam showers or saunas, similar to those you would find at a spa.

Want to spend more quality time in your woman cave inspired bath? Consider radiant flooring and heated towel racks to create a space where you can enjoy manicures, facials, and more at home. Add lots of fluffy towels, mirrors and decorate to match your personality. Your woman cave is the opportunity to enjoy spa pampering without leaving your home.

Crafts are Serious Business

Talk with any serious crafter or maker and she’ll tell you, “don’t touch my stuff!” Sewing machines and looms to weave your own fabric are expensive, and so are the yarns and quilting supplies you'll want in a wide range of colors. In a woman cave, all of your projects and that special stash of fabric and yarns, will stay safe from curious hands and you don't have to pick up your projects at the end of the day. A studio inspired crafter women cave will help you stay focused on projects.

Imagine having a room full of cubbies, shelving, and work stations you can leave set up so you can sit down and get to work. When you've only got an hour free at night, you'll want to go to your studio inspired woman cave and continue working on the project you left there the night before.

You’ll need plenty of good lighting. And depending on which projects you like, you’ll need tables, chairs at each work area, an ironing board and special furniture like an oversize quilting table for marking and cutting patterns quilts or clothes. Just like office equipment, you'll want to invest in quality furniture with the right ergonomics to let you enjoy your crafts for many hours, weeks and years. The better the chair and table fits you, the more comfortable you’ll be.

Stay in Shape in the Privacy of Your Woman Cave

LOL! I see men admiring this woman cave exercise room!! Exercising in full view of the family isn’t always fun, so if staying fit is on your list of priorities, the privacy of your woman cave might be the perfect place to do it. You’ll need room with enough space to move comfortably. And if you follow along to your favorite fitness instructor on television or with a recording, you'll want an unobstructed view of a TV. If space is limited, you might need to set up exercise equipment along the walls to keep your walkways clear. An out-of-the-way wall is the perfect spot to mount a ballerina’s barre, which is a fast-growing exercise trend, since you’ll also need a mirror.

If reading is your passion, consider creating your own personal library. You won't need much space as this photo shows, with a cozy reading nook created with bookshelves lining what was once a small closet. Comfortable seating like this built-in bench offers a place to snuggle up with a great book, knitting or TV. See a few more reading nooks here.

Think outside of the box: your woman cave can be whatever you want it to be. In fact, that’s the whole point — a space that’s yours and yours alone, even if you occasionally invite guests. Your woman cave isn’t a selfish splurge, nor a waste of household space. Everyone needs time for themselves. So maybe it’s time to bring out the graph paper and start dreaming up your own personal home away from home, that just happens to be inside the home.

If you could add a woman cave to your home, what would you include?