Multigenerational Living: How to Organize Your Home for a Multigenerational Family

Many of us don’t have the luxury of having a place to just ourselves. In fact, today many of us are living in multigenerational households with two or more generations that range in multiple of age groups. That means you, your kids, possibly an aunt or cousin or even your parents or grandparents are all under the same roof. It is not always easy to live like this but I got some tips to help you achieve it!

But first, there are pros and there are cons. Let me break it down for you!

Benefits of Multigenerational Living

Let’s talk about the benefits! Multi-generational living is a great way to save money and bridge the generational gap. When you are able to save money, you will be able to focus your money on things you truly desire such as travelling or a business you want to create. Here are a few other benefits:

• Lower living expenses
• Reduced bills
• Closer bonds between family members of all ages
• Reduced stress associated with everyday expenses
• Affordable, trustworthy adult or childcare from family members or grandparents

Cons of Multigenerational Living

Yes, we are loving the benefits, however, let’s be realistic there are cons as well. Here are a few drawbacks of living in a multigenerational home:

Multigenerational Living: How to Organize Your Home for a Multigenerational Family

Set Household Rules

Alright, family meeting! It is important to take the time to create clear household rules that the whole family can agree on. This will prevent conflicts in the future and keeps everyone on the same page. You might be wondering what you can include on your list of household rules, here are a few things you can discuss:

• Noise levels
• Curfew
• Cleanliness Expectations
• Roles in regard to responsibilities (ex. cleaning, cooking, and contributing financially)
• Set specific roles and expectations that are fair and appropriate for the ages of those living in the home.

Setting mutual expectations makes it easier for everyone in your family to establish a rhythm and routine. Not to mention it will also help with managing stress and avoiding disagreements.

Establish Housekeeping Routines and Chores For Everyone to Follow

Household chores should be shared equitably by everyone in the home. When creating a housekeeping routine, consider the preferences of each family member and make sure it works for everyone. This is especially important when there are young children in the house. It’s important to set boundaries so that when one person is doing a chore, other family members aren’t disrupting them or causing additional work.

Determine which chores need to be done regularly and decide who will do them and/or who will take turns completing them as needed. Establishing a regular routine and assigning chores can lead to greater cohesion within the family. Create a chore list and put it somewhere in your home where everyone can see it. That way there is a clear list of who does what in the home.

By doing this, you are teaching your children the importance of contributing to family upkeep and expressing your appreciation when they help out. As your kids grow or routines change, setting up multigenerational living routines will evolve over time, so be flexible and willing to adjust as needed. Involving everyone in the process removes the stress of having one person doing everything and less friction around sharing tasks.

Meal Prep and Assignments

One thing you may face is having too many (or not enough) cooks in the kitchen. I know that was a struggle in my family. My mom was the one who ended up doing all the cooking until my husband moved in. As you can tell after being at work all day to come home to cook can be a lot for one person.

Having regular family meetings can help ease some of the stress associated with meal planning and preparation. During these meetings, assign responsibilities for shopping, prepping and cooking for the week, taking into account everyone’s dietary preferences.

With the organizational effort put in upfront, your family can come together over a meal that is enjoyed by all. Here is something to get you off on the right foot, utilize a weekly meal planner like this one from Everlywell.

Check out this weekly meal planner from Everlywell.

Keys to Building a Foundation of Respect and Open Communication

Establishing a strong foundation of respect and open communication is key to a successful multigenerational living experience. Here are a few ways to achieve that:

• Everyone should be honest and up-front about expectations, responsibilities, and boundaries from day one.
• When conflicts arise, promote a respectful dialogue to find mutually beneficial solutions.
• Respect each other’s privacy by giving everyone their own space in the home, if space allows.
• Knocking before entering another person’s room.
• Making sure everyone understands that an adult has their own life decisions.
• Showing polite behaviour such as cleaning up after yourself.
• Asking before borrowing an item that is not yours.
• Respecting each other’s family values is key (ex. if a family member says no phones at the table at dinner or no more screen time for the little one. Listen.)
• Create opportunities for caregivers to recharge.

Don’t forget to have regular check-ins to help ensure that everyone is still on the same page with regard to changes in the family dynamic or routines. In my family, we have weekly family meetings to update on what is going to happen for the following week or open up the floor to talk about what is no longer working in our home.

Designate Home Zones for Each Family Member

Establishing home zones for each family member is essential when living in a multigenerational household. If possible, designate a private space for each generation and keep your individual belongings confined to your designated area.

If you have smaller children consider getting the adults a lock for their door or putting a safety door knob cover on to prevent any possible damage. In addition, if family members share a bedroom, create separation whether with furniture or a room divider so there are clear areas dedicated to each person.

This will help avoid any arguments about using shared items, as well as give each person the respect they deserve by being able to have their own things. Make sure everyone has equal access to common areas like the kitchen or living room, too.

It’s also important to clearly communicate boundaries from the start, and make sure everyone is aware of them. If you need more clarity on your boundaries, sit down with all family members and draw up a list of shared items and areas that are open for use as well as private spaces for each member.

This will help ensure that everyone has access to what they need, limits potential disagreements about overuse or lack of respect for one another’s space, and ensures that the living space remains comfortable and organized for everyone.

Zones for Shared Spaces

Unless you create each person a mother-in-law suite, having both communal areas where the whole family can come together, as well as separate spaces that offer privacy and boundaries is key. It is very important that you create zones in shared spaces. When you make it clear what goes where in your home it will make life so much easier to work with. Here are ways you can do this:

• Create zones for items within each shared space so it is clear that this spot is designated for these items only such as a cleaning area, remote controls area, snacks area or pantry area.
• Use bins to break down these zones further into categories. For example, the cleaning area can be broken down into sponges, trash bags, dish soaps and cleaners.
• Use labels to identify where everything needs to go. This will make it easier for anyone to put groceries or items back where it belongs.
• Label your name on your personal snacks or items in shared areas.
• If possible, have a labelled bin or shelf designated to your items for shared areas like your pantry, fridge or bathroom.
• Adding an outdoor patio or family room creates additional spaces to unwind.

Identify Living Expenses That Will Be Shared

Ready to talk about living expenses? When creating a multigenerational household, it’s important to decide who is responsible for what living expenses. Make a list and identify all the utilities that are needed and figure out who will be paying for them. Most likely, some of the bills can be shared by everyone in the home.

If a bill is too costly for one family to cover alone then consider having it divided for members of other generations to chip in. Make sure everyone is comfortable with this arrangement before coming to an agreement. This agreement should include things like:

• Groceries
• Rent
• Internet
• Cable or Streaming Platforms
• Water
• Electricity bills

Taking time to develop a cost-sharing strategy is key to having a successful multigenerational living arrangement. Everyone in your home should feel comfortable with how bills are paid and each person must understand they need to contribute in order for the living situation to be sustainable over time.

Final Thoughts

I hope you took some notes on these tips for your home so that it will be easier to manage your multigenerational living lifestyle. Of course, it will take some time to adjust, however, now that you know how to organize your home for a multigenerational family things will be way easier!