How To Build a House With The Whole Family in Mind
Make the most of your investment with these considerations.
Building a house from scratch is an investment, not just in property, but in your future. If you want your home to see you through many years, it’s worth building for multi-generational living.
Between 2010 and 2014, the demand for multi-generational homes increased by 38%. When you build from scratch, you don’t have to find a mediocre solution or compromise independence and privacy—you can design your home for harmonious, family living.
Multi-generational living can take various forms. Whether you’re welcoming a young adult back home after college, housing an aging parent or relative, or preparing for a new baby, planning ahead in your custom build can make life simpler for years to come.
Why Live Together?
Rising rent costs, a newfound appreciation for interpersonal connection, and a focus on spending time together as a family all drive buyers to build homes that are equipped to take care of the entire family. Pooling savings together may mean you can afford to build in your dream location or include all of your ideal amenities.
Privacy & Independence
A key element to consider when building a home meant for multi-generational cohabitation is privacy. Different generations will benefit greatly from having their own space for entertaining friends and relaxing apart from each other. This may look like building a three-story house, with the top floor functioning as an independent space for older children to have their bedroom, living area and a bathroom.
Alternatively, you could build an ADU or build on top of your garage to create an entirely separate living space, even including a kitchenette. Bear in mind that building anything above the ground floor will more or less close off the option to repurpose it for an elderly relative down the line.
Ideally, private zones should be linked with communal areas so that everyone can mix while still respecting the need for individual privacy. Open-plan kitchens and dining rooms make a good space together, while making the common space appear larger.
Regardless of the overall home plan, you’re almost guaranteed to need multiple bathrooms. Aside from the fact that waiting for an occupied bathroom is torturous, keep in mind how differently kids, parents and grandparents are likely to use the space.
Convenience
Open-plan living is also great for juggling childcare with other responsibilities. Having a kitchen that looks onto a living room or play area can give you peace of mind when you’re cooking or cleaning and you can easily keep an eye on the kids. An island bench also doubles nicely as a homework zone for the kids while you get household tasks done.
Adaptability
Most importantly, you’ll want a layout that is flexible and can adapt over time as your family’s needs change. When your kids are young, having their bedrooms near yours is a great convenience. However, it’s also important to factor in that you might not always want them in such close proximity. A study near the master bedroom can be temporarily used as a nursery and offer more privacy down the line.
Pay attention to the little details, too. As much as possible, keep the option for ground-floor living open and allow yourself to pivot as the needs of your family change. Making your home accessible for those with limited mobility and providing yourself with options to rearrange over time can help make your new build a forever home for your entire family.
Ready to build your dream home? Atmos is here to help you through every step of the process.
