Multi-generational homes are households where two or more generations of a family share the same living space. This can include adult children living at home, as well as parents and grandparents sharing a household.
Many families share a household for financial purposes, as it’s more affordable than senior living or helping a young adult pay for housing. But the reasons go far beyond that. Families may share a home to provide caregiving, have companionship, or honor cultural traditions.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, households with three or even four generations have quadrupled between 1971 and 2021, with more than 18% of the U.S. population living in multi-generational housing.
While this arrangement provides financial stability and comfort for many families, the realities of sharing a home can create unwanted stress. Fortunately, renovations and thoughtful home designs can reduce the tension of living in a multi-generational home. Let’s explore how multi-generational home plans can create space, privacy, and comfort for everyone sharing your home.
James Barton Design-Build has three decades of experience helping families create their perfect home. As a Certified Remodeler and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, we have the knowledge and skills to make your home into an accessible space that serves all of your family’s needs. Contact us to learn more about how we can transform your space.
Multi-Generational Housing: Factors to Consider
Sharing a space with multiple generations of your family can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging without making modifications to your home. When planning renovations for a multi-generational home, be sure to think about these factors:
- Creating privacy. Having spaces where you can be alone will reduce tension and make everyone feel more comfortable.
- Shared spaces. Being able to share areas such as a kitchen and outdoor living area is practical, while also giving you a place to spend time together.
- Accessibility. Even if no one in your household needs universal design features now, incorporating these into your design ensures your home is accessible for everyone.
Creating Privacy in a Multi-Generational Home
As much as you love your family, you probably don’t want to be on top of each other all the time. In some homes, you can create a sense of privacy by repurposing rooms. However, other families may have a better experience by starting fresh with a new floor plan. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Separate entrances allow household members to maintain independence and individuality. Depending on the structure of your home, you can create separate entrances on different floors or renovate to create a new entryway.
- Finishing a basement can be the perfect solution for creating privacy and giving family members their own space. When renovating a basement, you can include essentials like a bathroom, laundry room, and bedroom.
- Building an addition is a great choice for families sharing a smaller home. Instead of trying to get everyone to fit in the existing space, a home addition gives you all the room you need.
- Soundproofing between rooms or levels of the home allows you to go about your day without worrying whether you’re making too much noise when doing laundry, cleaning, or socializing.
Have you considered an Accessory Dwelling Unit? Standard renovations work great for some families, but others might want to consider building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). An ADU serves as a separate living area on the property or within the structure of a single-family home. ADUs are meant to work as completely independent living spaces, so zoning requirements and other regulations are different from those for standard renovations.
Sharing Spaces in Multi-Generational Housing
Having your own living areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms is great for privacy, but for certain spaces, it makes more sense to share the same room. Most multi-generational housing will have a shared kitchen and outdoor area. You might also share a living room or family room.
Sharing these spaces might make sense for the layout and function of your home, but it can create conflict if the areas are cramped or poorly designed. Renovating your kitchen to make it more spacious can be a great solution.
- Reconfiguring the kitchen layout can give you more storage so each member of the family has their own spot for food and dishes.
- Creating a dining area or a large kitchen island will give you room to enjoy meals together.
- Designing your kitchen with wider walkways reduces congestion when multiple people are using the space, while also making it more accessible for anyone who uses a wheelchair.
Aside from kitchen renovations, having a shared outdoor area is the perfect way to give everyone more breathing room. Consider adding multiple seating areas, a screened-in porch addition, or even an outdoor kitchen you can enjoy in the summer.
James Barton Design-Build has an extensive portfolio of outdoor living spaces. Browse our past projects for inspiration and see what’s possible!
Renovating with Accessibility in Mind
Whether you currently need an accessible home or not, it’s important to think about universal design when creating multi-generational home design plans. According to the CDC, more than 28% of the U.S. population has a disability, with 12% living with a disability that makes it difficult to walk or climb stairs.
At the same time, only 3.5% of homes incorporate universal design elements, such as widened doorways, smooth floors, and curbless showers.
As Certified Aging in Place Specialists, the team at James Barton Design-Build knows how to create a functional and safe home renovation without sacrificing style or quality. View our accessible remodeling gallery to discover the possibilities.
Create the Perfect Multi-Generational Home with James Barton Design-Build
Sharing a home with adult children, parents, grandparents, or grandchildren can be equally rewarding and stressful. Fortunately, renovating your home can create the space you all need to live together comfortably. Whether you need to make your home more accessible, create more privacy, boost your storage, or create a shared space, James Barton Design-Build can help turn your vision into a reality. Contact our design team to discuss your plans and learn how renovations can transform your home into a space everyone can enjoy.
