A Room to Escape To

Whether you call them man caves, woman caves, no kids allowed rooms, or family relaxation areas, everyone needs a place to escape to once in a while. We’ve all had those moments when we need a moment alone or to escape somewhere, anywhere for just a little while. A place to gather with our girlfriends to "dish" or a place where the guys can congregate and be themselves. Or maybe you’re dreaming of a room that the whole family can gather to relax in or a place to entertain friends and family. Any and all combinations of these rooms are possible with a little imagination.

Creating this space can be as simple as utilizing a basement, spare room, or garage area that is not currently being used to it’s best potential. If you have the room, it is also possible to add on an extra room, conservatory, or even build a separate detached room somewhere on your property like a hacienda or mother-in-law suite. Consult with a local contractor or architect to see what your best options are.

Once you’ve decided where to put such a room, the next step is to decide what to put in it. If you had a room to escape to, what would it be? The options are limitless. Here are a few suggestions to get your mind warmed up and thinking.

Perhaps a combination gym and lounge area is what you had in mind. Put in your weights and desired gym equipment, a comfy couch and maybe a plasma television and stereo system, and you’ve got a great room.

If this is not what you had in mind, what about a game room with a pool table and a built in bar. Some high top tables, barstools, hanging television, stereo, and perhaps a pinball machine or slot machine for everyone to enjoy. This room would be enjoyable for family, friends, and even just some alone time. Another option for a game room could include putting in a card table for poker nights.

Maybe you have a hobby that’s become overgrown and you need a bigger space for it. You could create a hobby room for whatever your hobby may be. Whether it’s for a slot car track, a train set, scrap booking, or a place to store your collections, it could offer a respite to escape to and become totally engrossed in whatever you enjoy most.

If you enjoy the arts, maybe an art studio or combination dark room and photo studio would be more to your liking. You could add whatever art supplies, furnishings and equipment that you may need and spend your moments of quiet time relaxing enjoying something you love to do.

If you need a spare room as well as an escape, this is possible as well. You could make this space like a small apartment. Add a bathroom, a sleeper sofa, some comfy chairs and cozy furnishings. This may be a room where you can not only house guests but also escape to for some quiet television watching, reading, music, or just to gather with friends. It might also be a quite comfortable "dog house" for that occasional spat with your spouse.

Whatever you decide to do with your space is up to you. Feel free to let your imagination soar. It doesn’t have to be an expensive project if you utilize the space and things that you already have. Whatever you decide, enjoy yourself. You deserve it!

Shannon Shimizu is a small business owner of a contracting referral service called Five Star Consumer Referrals, Inc. The goal of the business is to supply homeowners with excellent contractors who are licensed, insured, bonded and whose references were checked.

In addition to running her business, Shannon is a wife and mother to two young children. Juggling motherhood and a full time business can be stressful, but the rewards of being able to work from home and raise her children is well worth the tradeoff.

For more information on Five Star Consumer Referrals, Inc., visit http://www.5starhelps.comhome