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Multi-Generational Living: How to Make it Work
Follow this practical guide and create a home that works for more than one generation
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Multi-generational living is on the up! With more of us living longer and the cost of living increasing, many homes are seeing children, parents, grandparents and even great grandparents all cohabiting under one roof. And, while your first reaction might be to rebuke in horror, there are, in fact, numerous benefits for us all living together. Imagine having retired grandparents on-hand to help with the grandkids, being able to help young adults save for a house deposit, or ensure elderly relatives have someone to look out for them on a daily basis? Great, right?
Okay, so there are going to be challenges with having several generations – each with their own requirements and set of demands – in the same space, but there are things you can do to your home to make this wholesome set-up a resounding success.
Feeling inspired? Read on for top tips on how to create a harmonious environment that works for everyone.
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► For tickets to the upcoming Brisbane HIA Home Show, 13-15 September, click here
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Okay, so there are going to be challenges with having several generations – each with their own requirements and set of demands – in the same space, but there are things you can do to your home to make this wholesome set-up a resounding success.
Feeling inspired? Read on for top tips on how to create a harmonious environment that works for everyone.
________________________________________________________________
► For tickets to the upcoming Brisbane HIA Home Show, 13-15 September, click here
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Plan and Zone Your Space
With a few generations all using your home for different things, at different times, it’s important you have a layout that works for everyone. For example, do you want shared spaces where you can cook, eat and watch TV together, or will you want separate rooms where you can all do your own thing? For some, the thought of an open-plan layout might sound too busy or noisy – and the idea of the kids watching TV in the same space as the grandparents trying to have quiet time, not an appealing prospect.
However, a carefully designed open-plan layout that’s been cleverly zoned with furniture, such as open bookcases, and lighting, to create separate areas for different tasks, will offer a versatile room that also brings everyone together at the end of the day. The key is to find the balance between intimate and communal areas, and create a flexible layout that suits everyone.
Top Tip: Make the most of redundant secondary spaces, such as landings, hallways, alcoves and even bay windows, and turn them into reading nooks or desk areas for individual family members to retreat to when needed. Also, consider adding a separate annex or granny flat in the garden for grandparents, or even teenagers, to escape to. Talk to designers and builders at your local home show who can help you with your plans.
With a few generations all using your home for different things, at different times, it’s important you have a layout that works for everyone. For example, do you want shared spaces where you can cook, eat and watch TV together, or will you want separate rooms where you can all do your own thing? For some, the thought of an open-plan layout might sound too busy or noisy – and the idea of the kids watching TV in the same space as the grandparents trying to have quiet time, not an appealing prospect.
However, a carefully designed open-plan layout that’s been cleverly zoned with furniture, such as open bookcases, and lighting, to create separate areas for different tasks, will offer a versatile room that also brings everyone together at the end of the day. The key is to find the balance between intimate and communal areas, and create a flexible layout that suits everyone.
Top Tip: Make the most of redundant secondary spaces, such as landings, hallways, alcoves and even bay windows, and turn them into reading nooks or desk areas for individual family members to retreat to when needed. Also, consider adding a separate annex or granny flat in the garden for grandparents, or even teenagers, to escape to. Talk to designers and builders at your local home show who can help you with your plans.
Make it Accessible for Everyone
Future-proofing your home is an important requirement to consider, especially if you have an older generation sharing the space where accessibility may become an issue. It’s worth looking at your home’s design and how it would work for reduced mobility, whether you’ll need to install lifts, tailor entrances or create larger circulation space for wheelchair users.
Consider the outdoor areas as well, and whether they are user-friendly for young and old. Are there steps or different levels that could prove tricky to navigate, and does it offer enough entertaining options for the whole family? Think about adding an outdoor kitchen if you have the space. It will take the strain away from the main kitchen in the warmer months, allowing more space for everyone to help out with the daily meals and food prep.
Top Tip: Make life simple for everyone by upgrading your home to a smart one, whether it’s with smart lighting that can be operated easily by everyone, intelligent security for peace of mind, smart toilets for convenience or fully automated connected living for the ultimate simplicity. The beauty of smart technology is that you can tailor every zone in your home to the needs of those using it, even if that’s different family members at different times of day. Check out the Smart Hub at the Brisbane Home Show, for all the info you need on connected living technology.
Future-proofing your home is an important requirement to consider, especially if you have an older generation sharing the space where accessibility may become an issue. It’s worth looking at your home’s design and how it would work for reduced mobility, whether you’ll need to install lifts, tailor entrances or create larger circulation space for wheelchair users.
Consider the outdoor areas as well, and whether they are user-friendly for young and old. Are there steps or different levels that could prove tricky to navigate, and does it offer enough entertaining options for the whole family? Think about adding an outdoor kitchen if you have the space. It will take the strain away from the main kitchen in the warmer months, allowing more space for everyone to help out with the daily meals and food prep.
Top Tip: Make life simple for everyone by upgrading your home to a smart one, whether it’s with smart lighting that can be operated easily by everyone, intelligent security for peace of mind, smart toilets for convenience or fully automated connected living for the ultimate simplicity. The beauty of smart technology is that you can tailor every zone in your home to the needs of those using it, even if that’s different family members at different times of day. Check out the Smart Hub at the Brisbane Home Show, for all the info you need on connected living technology.
Create a Design to Suit All
Designing a multi-generational home isn’t just about achieving a home that’s right for you all now, but also about building a space that is going to last. This applies to every room but especially the bathroom, where you’ll have many different requirements. Multiple sinks will make the morning rush or bedtime routine easier, while plenty of power points at appropriate levels will ensure everyone can charge toothbrushes or use hairdryers and shavers at the same time.
Easy-access baths, walk-in showers, and simple-to-use tapware and furniture are ideal for elderly relatives, while plenty of storage will ensure the bathroom stays calm and free of clutter. Assign everyone their own cabinet, shelf or storage basket and it will encourage toiletries to be neatly stored away and not left out.
Top Tip: Head to your local home show to discover the latest in innovative bathroom products that will make life easier.
Designing a multi-generational home isn’t just about achieving a home that’s right for you all now, but also about building a space that is going to last. This applies to every room but especially the bathroom, where you’ll have many different requirements. Multiple sinks will make the morning rush or bedtime routine easier, while plenty of power points at appropriate levels will ensure everyone can charge toothbrushes or use hairdryers and shavers at the same time.
Easy-access baths, walk-in showers, and simple-to-use tapware and furniture are ideal for elderly relatives, while plenty of storage will ensure the bathroom stays calm and free of clutter. Assign everyone their own cabinet, shelf or storage basket and it will encourage toiletries to be neatly stored away and not left out.
Top Tip: Head to your local home show to discover the latest in innovative bathroom products that will make life easier.
Get Everyone Involved
Encouraging everyone to help with choosing finishes, materials and the look of your shared home is a great way of making each family member feel they are contributing. It also gives everyone a chance to design a house that works for their specific needs, as well as everyone else. Get the family together for some light-hearted group moodboarding evenings, and take the opportunity to use this family time as a way of ironing out any concerns or issues before moving in.
If you have anyone creative in the family, consider adding their pieces to the communal areas, such as hallways and dining spaces, as a talking point, while a gallery wall of family photos will create a sense of unity and wonderful memories.
Top tip: Get excited about design as a family, gather inspiration, visit home shows, watch seminars, and book consultations with designers and architects who will help make your plans a reality.
Looking for more expert advice on multi-generational living? Visit the Brisbane Home Show for live presentations from industry experts, where you can probe them with your questions.
Your turn: How have you made your multi-gen home work? Tell us in the Comments.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Encouraging everyone to help with choosing finishes, materials and the look of your shared home is a great way of making each family member feel they are contributing. It also gives everyone a chance to design a house that works for their specific needs, as well as everyone else. Get the family together for some light-hearted group moodboarding evenings, and take the opportunity to use this family time as a way of ironing out any concerns or issues before moving in.
If you have anyone creative in the family, consider adding their pieces to the communal areas, such as hallways and dining spaces, as a talking point, while a gallery wall of family photos will create a sense of unity and wonderful memories.
Top tip: Get excited about design as a family, gather inspiration, visit home shows, watch seminars, and book consultations with designers and architects who will help make your plans a reality.
Looking for more expert advice on multi-generational living? Visit the Brisbane Home Show for live presentations from industry experts, where you can probe them with your questions.
Your turn: How have you made your multi-gen home work? Tell us in the Comments.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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Following, alisonslater1 we are in that exact same situation now, and whilst it is working wonderfully well with 2 separate living zones and plenty of privacy. We do still have the same worry for the future as to how to make a fair separation of funds after we are gone! I guess we need proper legal advice.
I think it makes perfect sense for generations to buy together. The older person may be on their own, often feeling alone or lonely, the younger generation, often have young children and cannot get enough money together to get onto the property ladder, wasting money on rent. As long as it is set up correctly in the beginning with legal advice, I think it is the way to go for many, grandparent and grandchildren can form a close relationship and, if all play their part, a healthy functional multi-generational family is created
We are in the process of building a granny flat for me under my middle daughter's house and extending their living area for them. My granny flat will be separated from them by a connecting door and so I will be able to have privacy and so will they if we want it. I am paying for my share but they have had to borrow for their share. If I had to pay to move into an old people's village it would cost me more and there are ongoing expenses there as well, not to mention that it is not what I want. My eldest and youngest daughters have no children and I can be useful by collecting my only grandson from school. You could say that I am spending their inheritance money on this granny flat but I am entitled to do that for my own comfort My middle daughter is prepared to look after me in my dotage and if I was to die on the day we moved in (or before that from the stress of the building), I believe that she is entitled to any increased value in her home just for offering, and my other two daughters are fine with that. I will leave whatever is remaining to be shared equally between the three girls.