With many young adults living at home for longer, an increasingly ageing population, and the rising costs of real estate, multi-generational family homes have become the ideal solution for comfortably accommodating a large family group without compromising on privacy or comfort. With floorplans that offer separate spaces for different generations, everyone can live together under one roof without feeling cramped or uncomfortable. At Metronest Homes, we are the custom home builders Melbourne trusts to create well-designed, high-quality elegant bespoke homes on time and on budget. Read on to learn more about multi-generational home designs, as well as a few hints and tips to ensure your home meets your needs perfectly.
What Defines a Multi-generational Home?
Any home with children already has more than one generation present and living in the home. However, multi-generational homes are designed to accommodate a second set of adults living in the home and occupying their own separate space. These homes aren’t just ideal for housing aging parents, they are also perfect for families with live-in nannies or home help, for families with special needs members, or for anyone looking to live a little bit closer to family.
Things to Consider
When planning your new, custom multi-generational home, there’s many important things to consider.
- Would you prefer separate homes on the same block (such as duplex)? or one larger home with separate living zones?
- Single or double storey? Whilst double storey dwellings create more definition between zones, accessibility may become an issue for older people.
- Open plan living or more defined, separate living areas so everyone can have their own private space to relax in?
- Do you need separate entries to the home?
- How many cars will require garaging?
- Do you want separate outdoor spaces or one big communal backyard?
Whatever your requirements, building a custom home offers you the flexibility to come up with a suitable solution that will work perfectly for the whole family.
Design Tips for A Multi-Generational Home
When considering home designs, it’s always important to think about the needs of every family member now, and in the future. A carefully thought-out design which incorporates clover zoning and flexible spaces will futureproof your floorplan. Every multi-generational household is different, and whilst you need to take the needs of every family member into account, there are a few design principles you should also apply.
Zoning – Configure your floorplan so that each generation has a zone to call their own. That could be a rumpus room for the kids, a master suite with a parents retreat, or a wing with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and sperate entrance for the grandparents.
Accessibility – A multi-storey design will offer the separation needed to maintain a comfortable multigenerational household, however, access is a key consideration if your household includes older relatives. It’s important to think long term, while older family members may not have trouble with stairs now, they may in future. If you really want to go multi-storey, ensure there’s a ground-level bedroom and ensuite away from the noise of the main kitchen and living zone.
Flexible spaces – While your floorplan will be set in stone, the purpose for each room can be easily changed so it’s important to design with dual purpose in mind. Perhaps a guest bedroom could be repurposed as a home office down the track so keep future uses flexible by carefully planning internal framing and utilities.
Thinking of Building a Home for Extended Family?
One in five Australians currently live in multi-generational households, and that figure is expected to climb as more extended families will choose to live together for a variety of different reasons. Building a multi-generational house from the ground up makes it easier to factor in everyone’s privacy, space and independence into the design and can be a far more cost-effective alternative to undertaking difficult and expensive modifications to an established home.
Metronest Homes can help you design and build a bespoke family home that is perfectly suited to your needs and budget. From affordable first homes to spacious split-level designs for large family units, get in touch with us today to see how we can bring your vision to life. Call 1300 510 733 or contact us online.
