Home Improvements for Multigenerational Households

The American household is truly evolving. Traditional family households with parents and children up to 18 have transformed into a mix of various generations. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the growth of multigenerational households, including adults with boomerang children living at home after college, or aging parents living with them rather than at assisted living facilities.

It’s a growing trend across cultures. One in five Americans lives in a multigenerational household, according to the Pew Research Center, which defines multigenerational living as a home that includes two or more adult generations, or includes grandparents and grandchildren younger than 25.

Consequently, more people are making home-improvement changes that help a home function well for everyone who lives there. Consider these ideas to help improve multigenerational living:

Expand living space

When someone moves in, it’s amazing how what used to feel like ample space can suddenly seem very cramped. Space becomes a premium and with lack of adequate space to read, watch TV or simply sit to rest, home stress levels can rise fast.

That’s why you may want to consider ways to add common spaces, or transform the space you do have to accommodate more people.

Finishing a basement is a smart option if you have financial means. You might also finish attic spaces or add a shed with seating and electricity. Stylish room partitions or curtains can provide privacy if you don’t have money to invest in a larger home-improvement project. Finally, consider refreshing outdoor spaces with seating spots grouped throughout the yard to expand the property’s livable space and to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors.

Add a bathroom without costly demo

When the number of people increases in a home, the bathroom becomes a hot commodity. Whether it’s to put a bathroom closer to an aging parent’s bedroom or simply add a powder room in a nontraditional location to expand resources, consider options such as macerating toilets and drain pumps.

These above-floor plumbing options allow you to add a bathroom where no conventional, below-floor plumbing exists.

Do your research to make sure these options would work for people’s ongoing needs. Saniflo is among companies that offer these products.

Add and enhance entryways

With more people coming and going, entryways can become chaotic places. Consider refining entry points to accommodate increased traffic and contain clutter. You may want to add benches and cubbies for each person’s personal items to help contain messes and prevent tripping hazards.

Proper lighting, stable hooks and grab bars are also useful additions. Although you have a main entryway, you might also have other points of entry. Consider refreshing different entryways for different residents. For example, young adults starting their careers may be coming and going a lot, so the door from the garage could be their main point of entrance.