Achieving the perfect home for every member of your family can be a challenge. From adventurous toddlers to working parents, it may feel like it’s impossible to please everyone while staying committed to functionality and safety. With people spending more and more time at home these days, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the multiple roles your home is expected to play.
Fortunately, flexible home design is now easier than ever. No matter if you intend to work with the space you have or to find one that’s better suited for your family’s needs, there are a few easy ways to ensure your space feels like home to everyone in it.
1. Keep an Open Mind
Although open layouts are the golden standard for most homes these days, they present a problem when trying to accommodate multiple family members with distinctly different needs. It’s hard for a working parent to take a business call or conduct a meeting via video chat while the kids complete online schoolwork at the other end of the table.
One way to tackle this problem is to introduce makeshift room dividers into the space. Dividers, such as barn doors or french doors, can make one big room feel like several small offices, helping parents and students achieve the mental separation necessary to stay focused.
2. Change Up the Layout
If you have the ability to do so, alter the layout of your home with a few simple renovations. Whereas it was once commonplace for certain appliances to exist in certain rooms or on specific floors, many homeowners have returned to a more functional interior design.
Simple fixes like moving the washing machine and dryer to the main floor and adding drainage to the mudroom can make it easier to complete household chores, even for younger family members who are just learning how to hep around the home. Adding a full bathroom to the main floor is an added convenience for family and guests alike, making it a common trend in home renovation.
3. Renovate Existing Rooms
Changing the layout of your home can be prohibitively expensive or time-consuming, so what do you do if that isn’t an option? For many, this means getting creative with the available space.
Renovating unfinished basements is a popular alternative to adding a new room or wing to the house. The open floor plan makes it easy to transform a basement into a playroom, gym, or family den.
4. Opt for a New Build
Although changing up the current home is a quick fix, some have come to realize that they’ve simply outgrown their homes. Upgrading can be scary, but knowing what to look for can help you find a house that functions optimally for the whole family.
New construction is more accomodating than older homes, as they incorporate current design trends. New builds are more likely to provide multiple bathrooms, often as ensuites, and to leave enough space for a bar or lounge area in the bedrooms.
5. Make Functional Changes
Sometimes, appeasing everyone is as simple as making sure you have the right flooring for the uses of each room. If you have small kids, for example, it might be wise to invest in tile or hardwood, since those surfaces are easier to clean than carpets, rugs, and other types of upholstery. You may want to look into various finishes for all surfaces, as some prevent or hide stains better than others.
Your home should be welcoming and comforting to everyone in it, but that can be difficult when you’re inhabiting a small, single-purpose space. Making simple changes to the layout and construction can ensure that your home works for all its residents, both big and small.
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