Have you ever thought about living in a house where grandparents, parents, and kids all get along? In the U.S., multigenerational living is on the rise. Almost 60 million individuals currently share houses with people from different generations. High home expenses and the importance of close family relationships are two big reasons. In 2024, a record 17% of homebuyers bought a multigenerational house. Families feel it’s a tremendous benefit to split bills, carpool to work or school, and care for young and old under one roof. Designing or renovating for this lifestyle demands considerable preparation. You need a layout that lets people be together and have their own space. It should also provide areas for kids and seniors to use.
Grandparents welcome their grandchildren into a warm, multigenerational home. Picture returning home to a warm, busy house where kids are running about playing, adults are talking over supper, and Grandma is getting comfortable in a chair. Your bespoke multigenerational house needs both a communal heart and personal space to make that scene function every day.
Research says that the number of Americans living in homes with more than one generation has grown four times since the 1970s. Today, roughly one in five Americans lives with their parents, kids, or grandparents. This number has more than doubled in the past 50 years. More and more Gen X “sandwich families” and even older millennials are choosing big homes that let them pool their resources and help their parents as they get older. It’s evident from these numbers that building or remodeling a home for more than one generation is now the norm.
Embrace Open, Shared Spaces
The kitchen, dining room, and living room are the main spaces of a home with people of all ages. An open-concept great room allows everyone to be together. For example, a huge kitchen island enables youngsters to do homework while dinner is cooking, grandparents can talk or read nearby, and parents can cook together. By combining the living, dining, and kitchen rooms, you can create a space where you can host big family dinners and keep an eye on the kids at the same time. These rooms are warm and welcoming for people of all ages because they have natural light and simple color schemes.
You will also require flexible spaces if your house is full of people. A lot of builders now add extra rooms, including daylight basements with play or media spaces, guest suites on the main floor, or covered patios, so people can stretch out when they need to. One expert on multi-gen homes says that these “flex space areas” are highly important. Basements, decks, and even mother-in-law suites allow everyone room to breathe. A little office nook off the family room, for instance, can be a terrific place to do schoolwork or work from home without blocking the view of the rest of the house.
Accessibility and Aging in Place
If you’re creating for more than one generation, think about how some family members might need to get to things easily. That could be an older relative with a walker or young parents trying to carry both their groceries and their strollers. Before building starts, remember that it’s far cheaper to build it in than to add it afterward. Some universal design ideas that make life easier for everyone are door handles that seem like levers instead of knobs, no-step entry, and bigger hallways and doorways.
At least one bedroom and a full bathroom should be on the main floor. Suites on the ground floor let grandparents or guests be independent without having to climb steps. If you want that person to have more freedom, these rooms can even have a small kitchen or sitting space. Most older people desire to stay in their own homes as they get older, yet less than half of homes offer bedrooms on the main floor or a no-step entry. Adding them now will make sure your home is ready for the future. Also, make sure your bathrooms are safe as you get older by adding things like curbless showers, grab bars at the toilet and tub, and flooring that doesn’t slip.
Privacy and Independent Living
It’s great to get together for family movie night, but everyone needs some alone time as well. Smart intergenerational design keeps the public and private areas apart. Give each generation its own space, such as separate bedrooms (with their own bathrooms if possible) or even suites that are all their own. Making “houses within a house” is a common strategy. For instance, a dual-key home has two living units under one roof, each with its own door. This way, grandparents or adult kids can have their own door and living area while still being close by.
Some families add a granny apartment or an adjoining in-law suite to their home. Some people say that an ADU can be a converted garage, a basement apartment, or a little independent cottage. They say that these provide you privacy and independence while keeping your loved ones close. A two-story layout can also work. Put one generation on the main floor and another on the upper floor.
Also, think about how to keep noise down in each living space. You could put soundproofing between floors or thick carpets under the bedrooms so that naps aren’t disturbed. A separate media room or white noise machines can help keep the main TV level down. These little things make sure that everyone, from a teenager studying to a grandma taking a nap, can find peace when they need it.
Flexible Floor Plans and Extra Living Spaces
In multigenerational design, it’s important to be flexible because family demands change over time. For example, a formal dining room could be a craft or play area now and then a study or fitness room later. Put in big closets or storage spaces in common areas so grownups may hide away toys, games, and other things.
Here are some creative floor-plan options that builders recommend for multigenerational living:
- Dual-Key Home: A home with two different living apartments, each with its own front door. Great for privacy, like having one family upstairs and another downstairs, while living on the same property.
- Attached Second Unit: Think of it like a connected mini-house. It might share a wall but have its own entrance. This is handy for keeping everyone together, yet having completely separate spaces.
- Granny Flat/ADU: A small, separate house on the same lot, maybe above a garage or in the backyard. It can have its own kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, which is great for an older parent or adult child who wants more freedom.
- Two-Story with Separate Wings: You can put bedrooms and sitting places for different generations on each level or in each wing. For instance, the parents’ bedrooms are on one end and the kids’ bedrooms are on the other, with shared living spaces in the middle.
- Casita or In-Law Suite: A private room that is attached to or quite close to the main house. People who work in the building profession even propose adding small living rooms or kitchenettes to these suites so that they are more than just places to sleep.
All of the choices respect a family’s need for both independence and unity, even though each one has its own advantages and cons. 36% of home purchasers said they chose a multigenerational home because it would save them money, and 21% said they needed one because their adult children were moving back home. You may build a home that saves you money and worry in the long term by planning.
Incorporating Smart and Safe Technology
Technology can help a big home run smoothly and safely. A video doorbell or a smart lock are two examples. This permits anyone in or out of the house, even if your phone is out of reach. This is ideal when your hands are full or your memory is bad. Automatic shut-off cooktops lower the risk of fire in kitchens (think about how easy it would be to forget the stove with Grandpa sleeping on the couch). Self-cleaning gadgets and robot vacuums do their duties on time, which gives everyone more free time. Voice-activated assistants can help, too. For example, young kids can ask for help or news updates without having to find their phones, while seniors can do things without using their hands. Think of the most important places, such as the front door, the kitchen, and maybe even a central hub for charging electronics or keeping medicine.
Renovation vs. New Construction
If you already have a house, you can renovate it into a multi-gen layout. Many families install a garage apartment or complete the basement to make it a private suite. Changing attics and basements into living spaces is generally less expensive than building new ones and can help with space problems. A parent who is becoming older might move into a newly built suite on the first floor with its own bathroom. A young adult could also move into a guest cottage that has been updated.
New build multi-generational homes, on the other hand, give you a blank slate. You can start from scratch and add things like bedrooms on the main level, multiple en-suite bedrooms above, an extra kitchen, and even two driveways. Get a skilled custom home builder to help you and tell them what you want early on. That way, nothing is an afterthought, like bigger doors, ramp-ready entry, plumbing for more than one kitchen, and so on. Everything is planned from the ground up. It seems sense to choose generational home builders or architects who have done this kind of work before. They’ll ask the correct questions about how your family lives now and what you need in the future.
No matter what, the most important thing is to plan. Hire designers who know about universal design concepts. This will make the house secure and comfortable for both a 5-year-old and a 95-year-old. Let everyone have a say by using tools like 3D walkthroughs. This is especially important if Aunt Linda needs a roll-in shower or the adolescents want a media area.
Comfort, Convenience, and Community
You want your home to feel like a safe place for people of all ages, not just how it looks. Bright, well-lit rooms are healthy for elderly eyes and make people feel better. Color-coding or simple signs can help you remember things. Kids and adults can both use finishes that are easy to care for, such as laminate floors instead of carpets that need a lot of care. And don’t forget about storage: having a lot of big closets and pantry spaces keeps everyone’s stuff from getting in the way.
It also helps to think beyond the box. A fenced-in yard or patio where kids may play and adults can garden together is a lovely extra. Living close to parks, schools, or community facilities might be helpful (like school for the grandkids or family activities). In other words, plan for life both inside and outside the house.
Build Your Multigenerational Dream Home with Tom Len Custom Homes
When you’re ready to make a multigenerational home a reality, working with professionals who really know how to design for families can make all the difference. The right builder will listen to what each generation wants and needs, come up with a layout that works for everyone, and take care of technical issues like extra electrical circuits, reinforced flooring, and things that will be useful in the future, like an elevator shaft. Professionals who know how to design “dual-key layouts,” “in-law suites,” and “aging in place” can show you real examples of their past work. This will make sure that your home is both a safe place to live and a comfortable place for everyone to share.
That kind of care is what makes everything we build at Tom Len Custom Homes. TLCH builds homes that are beautiful, comfortable, and functional for a long time. They have been working on homes on Chicago’s North Shore for more than 20 years, have a full in-house team, and are known for their attention to detail. We’re here to help you every step of the way if you want to build a bespoke multigenerational house or remodel an existing one. Call (847) 205-9200 now to set up a meeting and start planning a home that will work for everyone in your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
A multigenerational home is simply one where two or more adult generations live under one roof. That could be parents with adult children, or grandparents sharing with grandkids. Sometimes it’s called a “skipped generation” home if grandparents are raising young grandkids. Essentially, it means kids, parents, and often grandparents all call the same house home – and that arrangement needs special design thought.
First, sit down with your family and list everyone’s needs. Does Grandpa need a bedroom on the main floor? Do the kids need a playroom or homework nook? Are quiet home offices needed? Next, consult a custom home designer or generational home builder experienced with large families. They can turn your list into a floor plan. Key steps include: defining private vs shared zones; allocating at least one main-floor bedroom/bath; planning multiple seating/dining areas; and deciding if you want an accessory unit like an ADU or granny flat. Always think long-term: use wide halls, accessible bathrooms, and adaptable rooms (e.g., a playroom that could become a gym later). By tackling these questions early, building a multi-generational home will be much smoother.
Focus on accessibility, privacy, and togetherness. Accessibility features mean no-step entries, wide doorways, lever handles, and a ground-floor bedroom or bathroom for anyone with mobility limits. For privacy, each family unit should have its own suite or wing – ideally with its own bathroom. In terms of togetherness, make shared areas inviting: think a big kitchen island for casual meals, or a spacious living room for movie nights. Other useful features are multiple storage areas (so no tripping over grandkids’ toys!), smart home devices (like video doorbells for safety), and even separate laundry hookups so multiple families can do chores simultaneously.
Look for firms that advertise “aging in place,” “in-law suites,” or “custom family homes.” Check portfolios on their website for projects with multiple living spaces. Good references are builders who have worked on ADUs, dual-key homes, or large custom houses. You can also ask friends for referrals if they’ve built similar. During interviews, use our keywords: ask them how they would design for kids, parents, and grandparents all in one home. The right builder will talk about flexibility and accessibility from day one.
Absolutely. A multigenerational home renovation often means adding or reconfiguring space. Common ideas: finish a basement or attic into a suite, build a bump-out bedroom with a bath, or convert a garage into a living apartment. You might rework an interior wall to widen a hallway or insert a doorway for separate access. Even simple changes like adding grab bars, a stair lift, or a shower seat make the old home more generational-friendly. Of course, if you have space, building an ADU or a small guest house on the property is a major upgrade. Working with an architect or contractor, you can compare costs of renovation vs. new construction of multigenerational homes to decide which fits your budget and timeline best.
Communication is key, but so is the house design! Give each person a space to call their own – a quiet corner, a private bathroom, a small office, or a hobby room. At the same time, create a warm family hub (like an open kitchen/dining area) where everyone can gather without feeling on top of each other. Sound design helps too: place bedrooms away from high-traffic zones, use rugs or padding to dampen noise, and consider outdoor living for parties. Little touches go far: lower kitchen counters for kids or grandkids, window shades that are easy to reach, and plenty of seating everywhere. The goal is flexibility: as one builder put it, design with “future needs in mind” so your home grows and adapts as your family does.
When you break ground on a new home, you have the freedom to bake in all the multigenerational features from the start. This includes things like designing a layout with multiple suites, pre-wiring for future elevator or ramp, and setting up plumbing for extra kitchens or laundry rooms. You can choose zero-step entries and wider hallways from day one (cheaper than retrofitting later). New construction also means better energy efficiency – a big plus when more people share a home. Work with architects who understand these needs, and you can create a home custom-tailored to everyone.
