What You Should Want in Your Forever Home
Life can change significantly over 25 years, and the ideal forever home should have the ability to adapt with you
Rebecca Gross
22 September 2020
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
A lot can happen in 25 or 30 years – people move from one generation to the next, houses become family homes, and family homes become empty nests. So when you’re hunting for the perfect forever home that will see your family through the years, how do you know what what to look for? In addition to choosing an area where you’ll want to live for years to come, here are 12 smart design features that are worth seeking out.
1. Clever zoning
The number of inhabitants in a house is likely to vary, increasing and decreasing at various stages over 25 years. For young families, new children may join the brood and later in life they will eventually move out. For empty-nesters, grown children and their children may come home to visit (or even stay longer).
The number of inhabitants in a house is likely to vary, increasing and decreasing at various stages over 25 years. For young families, new children may join the brood and later in life they will eventually move out. For empty-nesters, grown children and their children may come home to visit (or even stay longer).
A forever home may need to cater for two or even three of these stages at once. Smart zoning will give a house the ability to expand or contract to cater for smaller or larger numbers. Zoning children’s and guest bedrooms in one area of the house can help ensure privacy when the inn is full, or make it easy to close off one area of the house when you have the space all to yourself.
Children’s bedrooms may become guest bedrooms later down the track, or can be converted into a music room, craft room, study, library, gym or something similar.
Children’s bedrooms may become guest bedrooms later down the track, or can be converted into a music room, craft room, study, library, gym or something similar.
2. Room to grow
If your forever home is for a growing family – or for your children’s growing families – then you might consider the potential of the house to expand outwards or upwards. Or think about how easy it would be to reconfigure the interior if more bedrooms or living spaces were required.
Find a home improvement professional in your area
If your forever home is for a growing family – or for your children’s growing families – then you might consider the potential of the house to expand outwards or upwards. Or think about how easy it would be to reconfigure the interior if more bedrooms or living spaces were required.
Find a home improvement professional in your area
This house on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, which is owned by a semi-retired couple, also had a new pavilion added to accommodate a growing family. The new extension makes room for current and future grandchildren, and was designed with a fun, cubby-house feel that adds to its appeal.
Have a stickybeak at this house
Have a stickybeak at this house
3. Flexible living areas
The way you use your living area may change over the years, depending on who else is living in the house. Open spaces and flexible layouts make communal areas easier to adapt for changing needs.
The way you use your living area may change over the years, depending on who else is living in the house. Open spaces and flexible layouts make communal areas easier to adapt for changing needs.
Secondary living spaces can serve a variety of purposes depending on the ages and interests of the residents. They can also be updated and adapted as people move in or out.
In this family home, the space between the two children’s bedrooms has been opened up to create a generous play space, which can easily be adapted and redesigned as the children grow up and their needs change.
In this family home, the space between the two children’s bedrooms has been opened up to create a generous play space, which can easily be adapted and redesigned as the children grow up and their needs change.
Enclosed secondary living spaces can also be adapted to serve a variety of purposes, whether it’s as a rumpus room, an extra bedroom for growing teenagers seeking more privacy, a guest bedroom or an additional space to relax, read or watch television.
4. Multi-purpose spaces
Like flexible spaces, multi-purpose rooms can serve a variety of functions suited to different age groups or needs. A simple desk can serve as a home office, study or place to do homework.
10 Envy-Inducing Indian Home Offices That Make WFH a Breeze
Like flexible spaces, multi-purpose rooms can serve a variety of functions suited to different age groups or needs. A simple desk can serve as a home office, study or place to do homework.
10 Envy-Inducing Indian Home Offices That Make WFH a Breeze
A larger room can serve as a home office, study or guest bedroom when needed.
5. Outdoor space
Alfresco space, whether it’s in the form of a garden, courtyard or balcony, is must-have feature in any forever home. The fresh air and natural light is good for your health and wellbeing, plus access to an outdoor area provides somewhere for children or grandchildren to play, and a spot to indulge in healthy activities such as gardening.
Alfresco space, whether it’s in the form of a garden, courtyard or balcony, is must-have feature in any forever home. The fresh air and natural light is good for your health and wellbeing, plus access to an outdoor area provides somewhere for children or grandchildren to play, and a spot to indulge in healthy activities such as gardening.
6. Ground-floor master suite
If it’s a house where you intend to age in place, then a sufficiently large bedroom and full bathroom on the ground floor will reduce the need to navigate stairs, should mobility become an issue later in life.
Having the master bedroom on the ground floor and other bedrooms in another area of the house can also help with zoning and privacy.
If it’s a house where you intend to age in place, then a sufficiently large bedroom and full bathroom on the ground floor will reduce the need to navigate stairs, should mobility become an issue later in life.
Having the master bedroom on the ground floor and other bedrooms in another area of the house can also help with zoning and privacy.
7. Accessible spaces
If mobility does become an issue, it’s important to be able to access all the spaces you need – including in and out of the house – and safely manoeuvre through living areas, hallways and around the bathroom.
If mobility does become an issue, it’s important to be able to access all the spaces you need – including in and out of the house – and safely manoeuvre through living areas, hallways and around the bathroom.
8. High-quality, low-maintenance finishes
Investing in decent finishes will help ensure they last the distance. Look for high-quality, low-maintenance finishes that are durable and require minimal upkeep.
Investing in decent finishes will help ensure they last the distance. Look for high-quality, low-maintenance finishes that are durable and require minimal upkeep.
9. Timeless finishes
Timeless and neutral materials and finishes will outlast fashion cycles and trends, and like high-quality finishes, will ultimately save you money as you won’t need to constantly change them. Keep larger structural components simple and minimal, and express your decorative style via smaller features or finishes, which can easily be updated as trends and tastes change.
Timeless and neutral materials and finishes will outlast fashion cycles and trends, and like high-quality finishes, will ultimately save you money as you won’t need to constantly change them. Keep larger structural components simple and minimal, and express your decorative style via smaller features or finishes, which can easily be updated as trends and tastes change.
10. Sufficient storage
Inevitably, you’ll gain an increasing amount of stuff over 25 years, particularly if you add children and grandchildren into the mix. A decent amount of built-in storage is a boon as it will minimise clutter and the need to purchase additional storage furniture.
To make the best use of storage space, allocate storage real estate according to how often you use particular items – those you use most regularly should be in the most accessible spots, while those pieces you only use from time to time should be stored in the upper and lower points of cupboards and shelves.
How to live a ‘lagom’ life
Inevitably, you’ll gain an increasing amount of stuff over 25 years, particularly if you add children and grandchildren into the mix. A decent amount of built-in storage is a boon as it will minimise clutter and the need to purchase additional storage furniture.
To make the best use of storage space, allocate storage real estate according to how often you use particular items – those you use most regularly should be in the most accessible spots, while those pieces you only use from time to time should be stored in the upper and lower points of cupboards and shelves.
How to live a ‘lagom’ life
11. Plenty of natural light
Natural light is not only good for the soul, but for the performance and efficiency of a house. Consider the orientation of the house and ensure that the spaces where you spend the majority of your time, such as the living room or kitchen, are the ones that receive the most amount of sun. However, if you live in a tropical climate, you will want the spaces you use less frequently to receive the sun throughout the day in order to keep the house cooler.
Natural light is not only good for the soul, but for the performance and efficiency of a house. Consider the orientation of the house and ensure that the spaces where you spend the majority of your time, such as the living room or kitchen, are the ones that receive the most amount of sun. However, if you live in a tropical climate, you will want the spaces you use less frequently to receive the sun throughout the day in order to keep the house cooler.
12. Energy efficient
In addition to plenty of natural light, consider other passive design solutions that can improve the efficiency and performance of your home: for example, windows for natural ventilation and thermal mass for heating. An energy-efficient home is more sustainable and will reduce the cost of utility bills.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Delhi Home Rises Up For Three GenerationsExpert Speak: How to Have a Clutter-Free, Positivity-Filled Home
Tell us:
What features are you looking for in your forever home? Tell us in the Comments section below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story.
In addition to plenty of natural light, consider other passive design solutions that can improve the efficiency and performance of your home: for example, windows for natural ventilation and thermal mass for heating. An energy-efficient home is more sustainable and will reduce the cost of utility bills.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Delhi Home Rises Up For Three GenerationsExpert Speak: How to Have a Clutter-Free, Positivity-Filled Home
Tell us:
What features are you looking for in your forever home? Tell us in the Comments section below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story.
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Preparing for limited mobility is important when building a long term home for retirement. Single level, wheelchair friendly, easy access showers, grab bars, lack of tripping hazards etc can all be designed in early
Hydronic heating
Polished concrete for thermal mass
Double glazing
Large decking (outdoor room)
Large multipurpose living room
No baths and no shower recess for accessibility
Solar hot water
So ideally this will be a very economical house to run.
"A decent amount of built-in storage is a boon as it will minimise clutter and the need to purchase additional storage furniture."
Yes! Plus you don't need to move so much freestanding furniture when the carpet needs replacing.