People tend to think of their homes as “a personal castle.” Of course, this is a good thing. However, you don’t want your home to be too personal. It should be a safe haven for the whole family, including your pets. Each of them needs their own part of the home.
In order to achieve that, you’ll need to know how to design your home in a way that is functional and works for everyone. Here are some ways to make your home more family-friendly.
1. Start With the Right Layout
The right layout can make all the difference in a family-friendly home. A few elements to consider when you’re starting is the number of bedrooms in your home. Obviously, you need enough rooms for everyone, as well as some extra space, such as a room for guests. If you’re having trouble deciding what the best layout is for you, consider hiring a designer for your home.
If you have a large living room, it might work better to divide it in two rather than to make it an open room. In this way, you can securely separate the living room from the kitchen, which will be the heart of the house. Naturally, it’s best to follow the layout of your home and make the rooms fit in the best way possible.
2. Include Space for Play
The old-fashioned idea of having a separate playroom for kids is still a great idea. However, you don’t need to keep it in the same place throughout your kids’ lives. In the early years, it makes sense to place the playroom near your kids’ bedrooms. Later, when they’re older, you can move them to a different part of the house. For instance, you can have a small room in the basement or a loft area. In this way, as your kids get older, they’ll have their own space.
3. Consider an Open Floor Plan
If you want your home to be a place where your kids are comfortable hanging out, consider an open floor plan. This will allow you to create a large living area for everyone to hang out in. To do this, you’ll need to enlarge the kitchen or dining room so that it’s only three or four steps from the kitchen to the family room.
When your kids are teenagers, you’ll probably start to feel like you need more privacy. That’s why it makes sense to have a dining room, office, or other closed-off space near the kitchen. This way, you can still have a lot of open space for the kids, but you’ll have some privacy when you need it.
4. Make the Kitchen an Inviting Place
You don’t have to have an enormous kitchen to make it a place where everyone wants to hang out. In fact, you can make a small kitchen work if you have the right layout. Of course, it’s important to think about having ample storage in your kitchen. If you’re limited on space, though, you can still have a lot of counter space. You’ll also want to consider having a separate pantry for the family.
You might want to consider the different appliances you need. It’s not necessary to have a lot of them, but you should consider the ones your family will use most. If you have kids, you’ll need a fridge that can handle a lot of snacks, a microwave, and a dishwasher.
5. Consider the Best Lighting
One of the best ways to make a home more family-friendly is to make it a place where all the family can be. That means you want to make it a place where you are able to see each other and interact. Lighting is really important for this. You can make the lighting in your home brighter by using different kinds of light fixtures. For instance, you can add ceiling lights, spotlights, and more.
The key is to have ample light in the living room, as well as in the different rooms of the home. You’ll also want to have enough light in the hallways that connect each room. With the right lighting, you’ll be able to create the right ambiance and make your home a place where your family will want to spend time.
Conclusion
There are countless ways to make your home more family-friendly. A little planning ahead can go a long way towards creating the home that you and your family want. Now that you know how to make your home more family-friendly get out there and build the home of your dreams!
If you want a custom home where you and your family can thrive, Duke Homes Inc. is here to make that dream a reality. As a custom home builder, we’ll work with you closely to build a house that you can actually call home. Contact our Greenwood home builders to schedule an appointment.
