Multi-generational housing is a growing trend in the GTA and in many ways a return to the way families used to live. When different generations live together everyone benefits: seniors are better able to age in place, parents have some adult company and assistance with childcare, and children get to spend more time with and learn from their grandparents. It can draw everyone closer, especially if you’ve chosen your living arrangements well. Here we’ve rounded up some of the most helpful features to look for in a multi-generational home.
Open Concept Living
Look for a home that has open concept living spaces that are large enough to comfortably accommodate everyone in your household. Having generously sized rooms on the main floor makes day-to-day living easier for everyone. It ensures you’ll have ample space for everyone to gather, eat together, and entertain guests, as well as work, play, and relax. Thankfully Mill House is designed exactly this way, which makes for excellent potential multi-generational homes.
Room For Privacy And Personal Space
The layout of the ideal multi-generational home will allow for opportunities to create some separation. This could be an entirely separate floor, a bright basement, an extra bedroom or a sunny loft. Townhomes with three storeys work exceptionally well for this purpose. You can make any space work, as long as you keep privacy and personal space in mind. While multi-generational living offers lots of togetherness and family time, it’s equally important that every family member also has their own quiet space to retreat to and relax in.
Accessibility
Something no home buyer should overlook is accessibility. This is key to successful aging in place and will give you maximum flexibility now and in the future. Every floor of the home should be equally accessible, so if it’s possible to have a private elevator installed, take advantage of that option. Also think about how your home will be lit; installing night lighting can help you see clearly in the evenings and early hours of the morning, keeping everyone safe as they move through the home. A thoughtfully planned multi-generational home will include at least one bathroom with a curbless shower or a walk-in tub, depending on need, and follow the principles of universal design. You might also plan to install a grab bar, hands-free faucet, and motion-sensor lights.
More Than One Master Bedroom
While having more than one master bedroom is not essential by any means, it’s certainly useful. More than one master means a bit more space for different members of the family. Some use these to create self-contained, mini apartment-style suites, and you can get pretty creative. The loft floor plans for Mill House’s Unionville and Buttonville models are perfect for such use. Of course any room can be made to feel like a master bedroom; smart use of space planning, comfortable furniture, and homey touches are all you need.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about some of the most successful elements of a multi-generational home. Intergenerational living offers so many benefits and marks the start of an exciting chapter in a family’s life. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to follow the Gemterra blog for more great information about our family-friendly communities.