Mum-of-three Jessica Pool felt she was the only member of the family without her own space for some quiet time.
Her kids had their bedrooms and partner Matthew had his shed.
After suffering from postnatal depression, she wanted somewhere she could relax and take some time out if she needed to.
The 25-year-old decided to clear out the coats and toys under the stairs and for just £17, she turned it into her ‘mum cave’, complete with reading nook, calming candles and mood lighting.
Jessica from Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, said: ‘I decided to make it because it was just a dumping ground and I got fed up with sorting it out all the time.
‘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.
‘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, who lives with her partner, Matthew, a civil engineer, and their three children Madison, five, Charlie, three, and Oliver, nine weeks, said the space is a phone-free area with no distractions – just a place where she can sit and think.
She managed to create the space in just two hours.
She added: ‘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.
‘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.’
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