Multigenerational living has become a significant trend in the U.S., and it’s probably going to be for decades to come.
An estimated 60.6 million people—or nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population—now live in homes that include two or more adult generations. Clearly, this type of living offers a variety of benefits, such as lower housing costs and simplified child care. But if you’re anticipating some long-term visitors, you might be wondering how to best accommodate the extra family members—a question that we get all the time.
Perks of a Multigenerational Floor Plan
As you explore options for your next home, it’s important to keep in mind how your family might grow and change over the years. If you think you might have aging parents, grown children, or grandchildren coming to stay for an extended period of time, you’ll want to ensure that your home is actually large enough and has a floor plan that can keep everyone comfortable and happy.
Here are just a few reasons a multigenerational floor plan would be the perfect fit for your family:
The option for greater independence. There’s no doubt that switching to a multigenerational home can be stressful. That’s why many homebuyers want to ensure that their family members feel like they truly have their own space and the independence that comes with it.
For example, we carefully designed our 512 Suite to ensure that elderly parents or adult children would have plenty of privacy but still be connected to the main home. The comfortable private-entry suite has a spacious bedroom plus its own living space, kitchenette, and laundry room, with an adjoining door to the main home for convenience. The 512 Suite can be added to most of our floor plans.
Both privacy and comfort. The best homes for multigenerational living have plenty of common space but also prioritize privacy and comfort. This will give you a chance to spend time with your family members, whether in the living room, game room, or home theater, cooking in your gourmet kitchen or on your large covered porch. But when people need a bit of space, a multigenerational floor plan also lets everyone head off to their own private areas to relax and recharge. This can be especially helpful in a home with aging parents and very young children, where a little quiet goes a long way.
That’s one reason why many customers love our Mt. Rainier floor plan: With a huge great room, a den, and an upstairs bonus room, everyone will feel like they have plenty of elbow room. And the four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms provide plenty of privacy.
Room for growth. It’s not uncommon for adult children to move home when their own kids are young, especially when Grandma and Grandpa can act as built-in babysitters. For these multigenerational homes, a larger two-story floor plan with a second master bedroom can be ideal, because it creates the feeling of a separate yet connected living space.
For example, The Ashland has a spacious master suite on the main floor, as well as a second master suite, three bedrooms, and a huge bonus room on the second level. This type of floor plan ensures family members have plenty of space and privacy in their own bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a wide-open living area of their own.
Find Your Ideal Floor Plan
If you’re in need of a larger, multigenerational home, take the opportunity to consider building custom. Our multigenerational floor plans can be customized to fit your unique family, whether you require a bigger kitchen, want to move a wall or two, or need to incorporate a second master suite.
Interested in learning more? Read our guide 7 Things You Should Know Before Building a Custom Home.
