A family-friendly home design looks different for everyone. Take your favourite TV shows for example; Grace and Frankie, Modern Family, The Brady Bunch, Shameless, and This is Us all illustrate vastly different family structures. Designing a family-friendly home goes beyond how many kids you have or how mobile you are. It’s about your lifestyle, location, life stage, and the home that suits you in the future too. Regardless of the size of your home, here’s how you can choose a home design that everyone in the family feels great in.
Smart, family-friendly home design can make life easier for you, safer for your kids, and more fun for the whole family.
When you’re moving into a new home, take time to survey every room and imagine how it will be used. Some spaces might be only for parents; perhaps the master bedroom and master bathroom are no-go zones. But how can you design the rest of your home for safety and security?
Consider an intentional family centre in your home where everyone can gather comfortably. Whether you commit to a regular family dinner to talk about how school was that day, or a weekly game-night where everyone can joke about what a sore loser Dad is, make room for communal space in your home design. If you’re lucky enough to have a big living room, design a space that’s bright, well-lit, and appealing for everyone in the family. A family centre can be shaped around your family’s favourite pastimes; board games, puzzles, a weekly show you watch together, a game of soccer in the yard, or cooking together once a week.
Got a big TV? Make sure your television isn’t a distraction when it’s not being used. If you design your home with furniture facing the television, it’s might be hard to convince the kids to read together; so position your sofa or chairs in a way that a table with books, games, or educational toys is at the centre.
Integrate storage solutions into your home design, from built in features to final design touches. Think of built-in closets with mirrored doors to add light and storage to a room, consider constructing a shed with extra storage, and choose furniture with built-in storage options. A room can go from kid-friendly chaos to a spot for evening cocktails for parents if you have a great system for tucking toys away.
When you’re looking at a home, consider how some rooms might provide multiple storage options. The internet is an abundant source of home organization shows and storage tips, so do your research before you move into your new home and map out each room with potential uses and storage solutions. Each family and lifestyle is unique, so build your storage around your lifestyle; some families have more sporting equipment, some kids have an abundance of art supplies, and others might need a well-designed costume chest for home theatre productions.
Mobility becomes more of a challenge with age. So whether you’re planning to move in an elderly parent or looking to retire and enjoy old age in your new home yourself, make your home senior-friendly with a bit of forethought.
Here are some considerations for senior home design:
Perhaps your beloved little girl has suddenly started wearing black eyeliner, performing mysterious dance routines on TikTok, and doesn’t seem to think you’re cool anymore. Family time with teens is important, and so is creating a space where they’ll want to hang out. Of course we all remember the feelings that being a teenager brings on; a need for personal space, a desire to define your own boundaries, and an ache to find your own place in the world. Keep these family-friendly home design tips in mind when you’re trying to make your home a safe, appealing place for your teen.
Do you have a smaller space? You might be reading through these tips for family-friendly home design and feel limited if you live in an apartment or are buying a smaller home. As the cost of owning a home has gone up, single-family homes are more expensive than ever before. Not to worry! A well designed small space can perform just as well as a bigger home if you get creative.
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This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.
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