Though it isn’t a practice that immediately comes to mind for many Americans, multi-generational living is a lifestyle that has been adopted all over the world and is becoming more and more prevalent among those who want to remain close to older parents or relatives, or those with adult children who have moved back home. No matter the particular configuration of the family, a well-designed home should promote kinship, uphold proper boundaries, and provide each family member with peace and security.

Unsure how to prepare your home for a bigger family? Questioning whether to simply rearrange the living situation in your home or renovate to add more space? Read on to discover the key qualities every multi-generational home should have and how you can adapt your dwelling to provide these qualities. With intention and thoughtful design, every home can be a sanctuary, and each dwelling can enable families to grow and thrive.

Peaceful Living: Building Boundaries

One of the most important questions asked when moving more family members into the home is simple: where will they stay? However, this question does not just apply to bedrooms and bathrooms. While it may be a simple matter to convert a spare room into living space for relatives, the available space in the rest of the home should be considered as well. Will your incoming relatives require extra space for their hobbies or work, such as an office or craft room? Will living, dining, and kitchen spaces be shared communally, or would it be beneficial to create further boundaries within the home?

There are several solutions to situations where each part of the family would prefer their own living space. Two-story homes, especially those with multiple kitchens and living areas, can be easily divided so that family members with different lifestyles and schedules can coexist peacefully on their own designated floor. If your home has an unused basement or garage, these can also be converted into separate living areas with just a few renovations.

But what if your home does not provide adequate space as-is, or you would like to expand the home to accommodate your family’s needs? Luckily, adding square footage on to the home is beneficial to your property value as well as the members of the home. Many families choose to build an extra wing onto their house that is designed specifically to accommodate new family members, and other families opt to build separate apartment-like structures near the home to utilize the acreage of their property and maintain healthy boundaries between relatives.

The way in which you create space for your growing family will depend on your specific needs, as there is no “one size fits all” approach to multi-generational homes. It is always a good idea to consult with your relatives as well as your designers or contractors to find the best way forward.

Communal Living: Designing Spaces for Togetherness

For large families, the places where you spend time together are just as important as the places where you spend your private time. Ensuring that a positive family dynamic remains intact means putting thought into the communal spaces of your home, and how they can be used to promote togetherness, fun, and lasting memories.

The kitchen is often the first place this communal spirit can come to life; it is where a grandparent passes on a treasured recipe to their grandchild, or where siblings gather to talk after dinner. For everyone to use your kitchen equally, try positioning countertops and appliances at different heights throughout so that each member can prepare food safely. Create a “family hub” where communications and a calendar are kept, such as a refrigerator with a digital message board. Finally, adding extra seating or an eat-in area ensures that everyone stays comfortable in your kitchen.

The living area is most thought of as the center of the household because of its versatility and ease of use. Improvements to this space can be made based on your family’s lifestyle: If your group enjoys watching movies, repositioning furniture, improving your home’s theater system, and adding extra coffee table space for food and drinks can make everyone’s experience better. For board or card game night, invest in extra-comfortable seating and a table that provides easy access to the game. Even little touches, like adding magazine trays or bookshelves for family members who love to sit and read, can make all the difference.

Accessible Living: Inclusive Interiors

For elderly relatives or family members with special needs, ensuring that your home remains safe and accessible is a top priority. You don’t have to sacrifice beauty or good interior design to do so, however— accessibility features can become a nearly seamless part of your home with just a little planning.

Entrances and walkways are the first to consider if your home needs to be wheelchair or walker-accessible. The easiest way to build safe entryway is to convert or add ramps to your steps or porch, but if you would like to retain the look of your existing entrances, secondary entryways to the home can be built that are ramp accessible. Next, think about all of the walking areas throughout the home and alter furniture placement to provide plenty of space for family members to safely get around. Open concept homes or homes with a large amount of space are ideal for this reason. For multi-story homes, making sure that mobility-impaired family members can live and relax comfortably on the main floor is the easiest solution.

Bathrooms are another important accessibility consideration. Often the simple fix of adding grab bars and non-slip rugs can minimize the majority of accidents, however many families also opt to install walk-in showers instead of tubs, custom-built vanities that are the correct dimensions for wheelchair users, and storage that is placed at an optimal height for each family member so that no unnecessary bending or reaching is required. Assess the needs of your family members and consult with a professional about how their spaces could be made more comfortable.

Clean Living: Maximizing the Space

If space isn’t an abundant resource in your home, finding ways to include new family members and their belongings can be challenging. Often a separate conversation will need to happen before the move where you and your family decide what items are necessary to bring into the home and what can be given away or sold. In preparing your home itself for additional guests, there are also several design tips you can follow to maximize space.

Firstly, think about storage. Closets, cabinets and drawers, and wall shelving are existing storage spaces that might benefit from a group re-organizing session to see if more can be done with the existing space. Adding storage space without taking up needed room is also possible: look for dual-purpose furniture, such as ottomans with hidden storage compartments, and assess any secondary furniture in your home to find out if it can be replaced with foldable or collapsable furniture. Opt for full-length bookshelves or wall shelving for a dramatic increase in storage space, and look into adding additional cabinets or shelves in high places (such as above doorways) that are out of sight.

Next, think about converting spaces into dual-purpose rooms. Creatively-designed home office or crafting nooks can be added to other rooms without detracting from the overall space; attics, basements, and garages can all be converted into living spaces or reading and relaxing spots that provide a little escape from the main area of the house; and large rooms can be divided up into smaller ones whenever someone requires their own space.

Creating a functional, beautiful, and harmonious multi-generational house requires thoughtful planning and care, but is by no means impossible. We hope this guide provided you with the inspiration and motivation you need to design the best home for you and yours.

Looking for a bigger space for your family? Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty can help you find the perfect upgrade. Head to the link below to browse through our selection of stunning, spacious properties throughout Chicagoland.