Designing a home is half the fun of owning one. But what if the home you’re planning is for a multigenerational household?
It’s still a lot of fun for would-be homeowners, but it’s a more extensive project as you’re designing with and for many people with different tastes and needs. Bigger projects mean thinking bigger, such as considering the space for multiple people who regularly gather in the same room.
To help people develop their creative ideas for a multigenerational home, we’ve put together some tips to help solidify what you picture for space and room design.
What is Multigenerational Living?
Before we outline some ideas for multigenerational home plans, let’s define exactly what we’re talking about. When two adult generations live in the same home, it’s considered a multigenerational household. It is also divided into three sub-categories:
- Three Generations: this is the most common type and includes grandchildren, adult children, and grandparents. Sometimes referred to as the “sandwich generation,” it’s a standard setup for adult children who care for their parents.
- Two Adult Generations: this type of multigenerational home grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where adult children lived with their parents or vice versa.
- Grandfamilies: This is the least common form of multigenerational life where grandparents live with their grandchildren.
These categories aren’t exclusive. For example, other family setups fall under multigenerational, such as extended family or close relatives like aunts, in-laws, and cousins.
Why Space Design Matters
A house can be considered an organized space with rooms designed for specific purposes. When you go around an existing home, you immediately know the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Sure, some rooms can be multi-purpose (such as a home office or bedroom), but mostly a person knows what each space is for.
It’s essential to get a family meeting and make a plan for each space and room as a general design guide. This way, everyone’s needs are accounted for. This part is essential when choosing a plan for your own custom house. It’ll help narrow down the home you want to be built into choices that best reflect what your family needs to live comfortably.
Not taking the time to talk with everyone who will be living in the home could mean not having enough space in common areas to accommodate everyone spending time together. Other problems can also arise, such as not having adequate primary suites, too many people for the number of bathrooms, and privacy problems.
Multigenerational Space & Room Ideas
The room and space ideas listed below aren’t exhaustive but are vital areas that will drive how you utilize spaces in floor plans and get your creative juices going:
The Kitchen
Whether cooking is a family tradition or an area of joy for just a few people, it’s essential to think about space and the flow from other house areas. So here are some questions you’ll need to consider:
- How much counter space will you need?
- Will you need a kitchen island?
- What should the kitchen connect to for easier access if anyone has mobility issues?
The Great Room / Living Room
The room where the family will spend most of their time together should have enough space for that. Also, consider how the great room flows with the rest of the house. The great room should easily connect and be the center of the home, leading to all other areas and vice versa. Here are some questions you’ll need to ask yourself:
- Will you have guests or host gatherings often?
- Will you need a couch area for TV viewing and a quiet area?
- Will the older or younger members require their own space?
The Great Outdoors
Many people forget about their backyard till the weather is nice enough to enjoy. If your family enjoys time outside, eating on a patio, and having a comfortable space that fits everyone, an ample outdoor living space may be the right floor plan for you. Here are some things to consider:
- Do you need a setup for outdoor cooking?
- Will you need ramps for wheelchair accessibility or stair rails for older adults?
- Do you need to separate the backyard for privacy and outdoor activities?
Laundry Space
More people means more clothes, and this isn’t a space you want less of. Having enough room for multiple people to do laundry, place dirty clothes, and keep well organized will save a lot of stress while making sharing chores easier. Here are some details to put some thoughts in:
- How many washing machines will you need?
- Will you need a pull-out drawer ironing board to have more space?
- Will you need an area to hang your clothes inside, or do you have an open space to hang your laundry outside?
Storage
Whether a utility closet or the garage, storage space is another area people only think of once they find they have too little of it. With multiple people living in the same home and potentially a few cars, having space that comfortably fits everyone’s belongings helps keep the house organized and help prevent bickering over who’s stuff gets stored inside vs. out. To get you started:
- Do you need open shelves so that people can readily see and access things?
- Do you need waist-level shelves for those who have difficulty balancing while reaching?
Utilize & Customize For Your Family
Designing rooms and space isn’t only decorating it and placing furniture. It’s considering the space itself and ensuring that all family members can live comfortably in the house. While existing homes can be a struggle for the multigenerational lifestyle, having a custom home built on your lot gives much more design freedom for your creativity.
We at HiLine Homes offer floor plans for multigenerational homes, like this one, through our streamlined construction process designed for efficiency and affordability with Home Consultants to help guide your creativity into our floor plans and approach. Set up your home-building consultation today.
View our Multi-generational Home Plans for more inspiration:
- 5 bed
- 3 Car Garage
- 3.5 bath
- 3464 sq ft.
- 5 bed
- 3 Car Garage
- 5.5 bath
- 3711 sq ft.
