According to a recent housing study, multigenerational living has been on the rise since the pandemic started with more than 26% of Americans living in a household with 3 or more generations. Due to a combination of rising inflation, high mortgage rates, and limited housing inventory on the market, many families are opting for multi-generational living situations.
The concept is to keep the family together, living in the same home or at least on the same property. Every family has their own reason for transitioning into this lifestyle. For example, some older couples would rather age in place with their adult children and grandchildren, rather than living alone or in a retirement home.
Other families value keeping everyone together to help each other out for as long as possible, or maybe someone is unemployed and can’t afford their own house. Things like helping raise a baby, caring for elderly grandparents, and cutting down living expenses are all popular reasons for this shift in the housing market.
Some homeowners have reported wanting to move their parents in, but don’t have enough room in their current living space, or there just isn’t a pre-existing home on the market that fits their family’s unique needs. Whatever your reason may be for needing a house built for several generations, we’re here to guide you every step of the way…
Designing a Family-Friendly Home to Fit Your Needs
Our team understands the unique needs and challenges of designing a multi-family home, and we’re proud to be the premier custom home builder in Illinois. We’ll work closely with you to create a home that you and your family will love for generations to come!
Are you considering renovations and redecorating to accommodate new family members moving in? Interested in building an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) to give your in-laws their own private living quarters on your property? Or maybe everyone is contributing financially to build the perfect home from scratch.
Whatever your goals may be, our team would be honored to bring your vision to life! If you’re curious, read our previous blog about why designing your own home is a better investment than buying an existing home.
Read on to learn more about creating your very own custom multi-generational home…
What is Multigenerational Living?
If you’re not familiar with the term, a multigenerational home is simply a house where different generations of family members live together happily. These households usually have traditional family roles like grandparents, parents, children, and extended families.
Living with extended family can be tough sometimes, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family bonds and build lasting relationships. With so many people in one space, these types of houses require careful planning to accommodate everyone’s needs and desires. Especially if a family member may need wheelchair accessible spaces. Without a properly designed or adapted space, families can feel crowded and older adults can risk injuries.
Every family situation is unique and that’s where building a custom home comes in handy. It’s also worth noting that the number of multi-family households has nearly quadrupled in the last decade! About 7 out of 10 families currently living in multigenerational homes plan on continuing to do so.
Benefits of Building a Custom Multi-Family Home
Clearly this concept seems to work nicely when carried out thoughtfully. The ideal situation is to have a balance of shared common spaces and private spaces, so everyone can choose when to come together and when to retreat on their own.
Building a multigenerational home comes with many advantages. Let’s dive in! A multigenerational home can:
- Lower your cost of living as more family members are able to chip in for bills, groceries, utilities, etc.
- Reduce your workload as more family members can help out with chores, household maintenance, cooking, and errands.
- Help strengthen family bonds with more time spent together.
- Combining households can be environmentally-friendly, lowering the need for new housing, and reducing energy costs,
water usage. and waste - Make finding childcare much more convenient and stress-free.
- Reduce stress on busy working parents knowing that grandma and grandpa are home at all times.
- Everyone has their own space so it doesn’t feel cramped or overcrowded.
- Makes elderly parents feel safer knowing their children are around in case of an injury or emergency.
“Nearly all Americans who live in a multigenerational household (98%) feel their household functions successfully, citing various aspects of home design, family relationships and interactions, and support and services influencing their success.” Generations United
There’s a greater sense of family when multiple generations are living and working together. So, if you’re looking to bring everyone together and create meaningful memories, then consider making the transition to a multi-generational home. Next, let’s talk design!
Creating Your Luxury Multigenerational Home Design
Designing a multigenerational home requires careful consideration of each family member’s needs and preferences. It’s important to strike a perfect balance between comfort, style, and functionality.
Here are a few things to consider when designing your luxury custom home:
- Establish communal living spaces for everyone to gather, share meals, and watch movies. Large common areas like great rooms, open kitchens, and extended outdoor living spaces.
- Create private spaces for separate bedrooms, bathrooms, and study/work areas. Rooms for meditation, working out, or even separate entrances give people more privacy.
- Consider floor plans that make sense for the mobility and access needs of each family member. Does someone use a wheelchair and need accommodations like a front-door ramp, curbless shower, and lower kitchen cabinets?
Other questions to think about:
- How many floors do you want your home to have?
- Are you planning to maximize your basement (with games and a movie theater) or use it as a storage space?
- What floor plan works best for every generation?
- Will family members want custom closets for organization?
- Do you need multiple home offices or study spaces?
- Are there certain amenities that are a must-have, like a home gym, sauna, or playroom?
- Is sustainability important to your family’s values?
- Do you want to spend a lot of time outside in the backyard cooking, swimming, or around the fire pit?
- Have you considered building an ADU (guest house) on your property instead of having everyone in the same house?
Partnering with Tom Len Custom Homes for Your Family-Friendly Home
Clearly there is a lot to plan before we start building! With so many family members to think about and needs to fulfill, it’s no surprise that most existing homes on the market are not going to meet your requirements. That’s why investing in a luxury custom home is your best bet in making everyone happy long-term!
Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to think about decorating and furnishing your new home. Narrow down the vision you have in mind while considering each family member’s style and preferences. Does the majority prefer wood or stone? Marble or tile? Silver or gold? All of these interior design choices and accents will make a big difference in your daily living experience and the mood of your home.
Lastly, remember to have fun with the process! Designing and building your very own beautiful custom home is an exciting adventure that everyone can have a part in. When you partner with an experienced builder like Tom Len, the possibilities are endless. Our Lead Designer, Rachel Gilman, will work with your entire family to truly make this unique living space your own.
The opportunity to keep your family together and build everlasting relationships is priceless. It’s always incredibly rewarding when we get the chance to make a family’s luxury home dreams a reality. If you’d rather work on stunning renovations or a spacious addition, we can do that too! With over two decades of custom home build and interior design experience, Tom Len Custom Homes is the perfect team for your multigenerational home project.
