Designing a Home for Multiple Generations
If you’re old enough to remember a popular TV show of the early ‘70s, “The Waltons,” the show’s signature sign-off was the multigeneration family all wishing each other good night. What was an adorable fictional interaction, would be super awkward in real life.
That’s why if you’re planning a new “forever home” that will be accommodating multiple generations under one roof, then it is likely you will want to carefully balance public and private areas within the design of the home, says Barry Ivey, President of Moosehead Cedar Log Homes.
“Multigeneration housing is a concept that is making a comeback,” says Barry. “We are seeing more and more homebuyers seeking to accommodate multiple generations in their new homes.”
The number and share of Americans living in multigenerational households has continued to rise. In 2025, nearly 1 in 4 Americans live in a home with multiple adult generations, driven by rising housing costs, childcare and eldercare needs, and a desire for deeper family connection. Currently, 25% of the U.S. population, lives with multiple generations under one roof. In 1980, that number was 12%.
If you are designing a multigenerational home, the key is to think long-term, 10, 20, or even 30 years or more down the road, and how your family’s needs will change over that time, says Shannon Hersey, Customer Relations Manager at Moosehead Cedar Log Homes.
While we all hope to remain physically robust, one should plan for all eventualities in the design of the home. “These don’t have to be expensive amenities, but they will ultimately save you money in the future, because you won’t have to remodel,” Shannon says.
Embracing universal design principles will go a long way in ensuring the home will meet the abilities of people of all ages and mobility, for decades to come. Increased lighting, wider doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs, eliminating tripping hazards, and making the home easy to navigate and use with a minimum amount of fatigue, are some of the goals of universal design.
“The goal is to make spaces flexible and accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities,” Shannon says.
Shannon recommends ranch designs for those looking for a home that will work for multiple generations. “We get quite a lot of requests for a second primary bedroom on the ground floor to accommodate either both or one parent that will eventually need care,” Shannon says. “A ranch home lends itself perfectly for this and I like to separate the two bedrooms with the common spaces in the center. This allows each to seek solitude or private time with small sitting rooms in each bedroom but share the common spaces.
“The extra primary bedroom can function as a home office when not needed for elderly parents or millennials. This works the best when it’s only one parent that moves in as the room can be smaller while still functional as an en suite,” Shannon says.
Because kitchens and baths are used daily, many universally designed products are being specified for these task-oriented spaces. Curbless showers, cabinetry that opens outward to make interiors more accessible, touchless plumbing fixtures, and micro drawers (instead of a microwave) are increasingly popular.
“I don’t believe life will ever truly return to the old ways where we all go out of the home to offices,” Shannon says. “I believe the home office is here to stay and if we can make it work for multiple functions then all the better. This is why murphy beds have also made a comeback and this is a great way to combine the office and ensuite. These rooms can function as gyms or yoga rooms when not needed as bedrooms.
“I would say lastly that home elevator prices have dropped and are not that far out of reach anymore for most homebuyers,” Shannon says.