Multigenerational living continues to be one of the biggest trends in residential home design. Creating a home for multigenerational living requires empathy, flexibility, and an understanding of each generation living under the same roof. While every family situation is unique, designs need to be adjusted based on the people living in multigenerational homes. Keep reading for tips on creating a harmonious multigenerational home that works for your family.

Multigenerational Living Room by Room

When creating a home for multigenerational living, tackling your house room by room can be more beneficial than considering the house as a whole. Breaking up the home more easily allows the family to go through each room and decide what changes need to be made specific to that room. For example, you may turn a spare room into a bedroom to better accommodate a grandparent. Additionally, you can make changes in the kitchen to make it more accessible.

Accessibility

Accessibility is one of the most important factors when creating a home to accommodate multigenerational living. Ensuring your home caters to each generation is crucial when creating a functional house. For example, custom cabinetry at different height levels for each generation can be a great addition to your kitchen. Bathrooms, in particular, are a place where accommodations are needed the most. Adding grab bars, walk-in showers with no large steps, handheld shower heads, and higher toilets for older family members or those with more restricted mobility helps. Consider adding an en suite bathroom for your older relatives to increase safety and reduce longer walks to the bathroom.

Additionally, putting bedrooms for older relatives on the first floor can help alleviate stair stress. Or, if you want to designate an entire floor or basement for an older relative, you can install a chair lift for accessibility. Widening hallways to accommodate wheelchairs or adding railings are also important steps. Adhering to aging-in-place design principles can help with this process.

Privacy in Multigenerational Living

Usually, one of the most significant considerations members of all generations agree on is privacy. While communal spaces are great for bonding and family time, having a space for each generation to relax and decompress in private is just as important. Considering different options, such as creating separate entrances, living areas, and kitchens for each generation or creating time schedules for each generation to use the communal spaces, can help you figure out which will work best for your family. It is common for most multigenerational homes to have multiple living areas and kitchens. If this ends up being your family’s decision, it’s essential to create a layout where these multiple spaces can coexist without being too crowded.

Communication and Style

Lastly, communication is key to any remodel, so everyone must be on the same page regarding design, layout, and non-negotiables before the process begins. If different generations have vastly different personal styles, it can be hard to meld these different design styles throughout

your home. Sitting down with some of your favorite decor pieces or a mood board can be a great place to start figuring out how to fuse these styles.

Please contact us today if you are planning a project that includes multigenerational living.