Parents, grandparents and children all living happily together under one roof — it’s an iconic American image you may associate with “the good old days.” In reality, more Americans are now living in multi-generational households than at any time in the past 75 years, according to Pew Research Center. The growing number of multi-generational households means homeowners, remodelers and builders are rethinking what it takes to make a home livable for multiple generations. While some home builders have begun offering models designed specifically to facilitate multi-generational living, the reality is most people who decide to share a living space with extended family members will need to stay put and remodel their current homes. But it’s no longer good enough to simply convert an attic room, garage or basement into an extra bedroom to accommodate the extra occupants. Modern multi-generational dwellers want privacy when they need it, the ability to be together in shared living spaces, and the cost-savings of sharing expenses among multiple generations of adults. Families may find it difficult to achieve those objectives with a traditional mother-in-law suite, or by putting grandma in the guest bedroom or adult children in a converted garage or basement.
Practical remodeling tips for modern multi-generational families
