Creating the Perfect Family Home

When designing a family home, I give a lot of thought not only to the aesthetic elements, but also the practicalities and functions of everyday life with kids. You want to plan for how a family operates now, but also consider how the needs will evolve as the family grows and changes over time.

So, with all of that in mind, I’ve put together some key ideas that I like to think through when designing a home for a family. Hopefully, some of these will help you with the design of your own cozy abode. After all, a great family home starts with the layout.

If you’ve got the luxury of building a house from scratch, this is where you’ll want to spend the most time. There are three key ingredients to consider when planning the layout of your family home.

Open-Plan Living and Flexible Spaces

Most modern family homes have large, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living areas, and this works well for how families spend time together these days. Gone are the formal dining rooms and lounges of the past. Instead, the liveability of these communal spaces is paramount.

I spend a lot of time thinking about questions like: Will there be plenty of natural light? Where will the light sources come from? Can you see the garden, pool, or other play areas from the most-used parts of the house? Is there enough storage, especially for toys, books, and games? And is it all durable and practical, like avoiding white linen upholstered dining chairs if you have young children with sticky fingers.

Even though you want spaces for the family to be together, you also need areas where people can retreat and have some alone time. This might be a study, den, or ensuring the bedrooms are set up for quiet time. Keeping flexibility top-of-mind when designing spaces for families is key.

A room that starts as a playroom for young kids could later become a den, second living room, or homework space. And a guest room can double as a study. Ask yourself how the spaces can work in different ways to meet the needs of your family now and in the future, providing options for togetherness and solitude.

Organizing the Storage and Circulation

There’s one thing that’s certain about having a family – they come with a lot of stuff! Toys, books, games, sporting equipment, bikes, and balls, to name just a few. If you want your house to remain a friendly space for both kids and adults, you’ll need to ensure all that stuff has a proper place to be stored away.

Try to include as much built-in storage as your space and budget allow. Having good storage options where toys can be packed up at night is also important to help the home transition back to an adult-friendly space when the kids are asleep, without all the clutter sitting around.

When planning, think about where toys will be stored, and whether the kids can independently reach the things they need. Don’t forget about storage for bikes, sports gear, and other bulky items too.

The kitchen is often the heart of a family home, but its needs can change depending on the stage of family life you’re in. When you have young children, you may use it as a hub for them to sit and do homework or have meals. But as they get older, you’ll need to consider the space for multiple adults moving around at once, including hungry teenagers and their friends.

Some key things to think about for the kitchen include:
– Maximizing circulation space between fixed areas like the island and back wall (aim for at least 1100mm if possible)
– Including a dedicated “breakfast cupboard” to keep morning essentials organized
– Incorporating a butler’s pantry or tall cabinets to hide away unsightly appliances
– Determining the best location for the rubbish bin (pull-out options are great for easy access)
– Creating a homework or study nook to keep an eye on kids’ activities
– Designating a snack area with age-appropriate dishes for little hands
– Providing device charging stations to keep cords and clutter off the countertops

Zoning for Privacy and Function

If space allows, a second living area can be a lifesaver in a family home. This can be a space where all the toys and clutter can be contained, allowing you to close the door on those messier days when you don’t have the energy to tidy up.

This space can also evolve as the kids grow, transitioning from a playroom with desk or craft areas for young children to a dedicated homework zone as they get older. Having individual desks or workstations for each child is an even better solution.

Another invaluable space in a family home is the mudroom. This is where you can dump muddy boots, hang up school bags and blazers, and store all the daily essentials. Ideally located near the back door or garage, a mudroom should include features like individual lockers for each child, charging stations, and a spot to sit down and put on shoes.

Carefully considering how you and your family will come and go from the house is also important. Which door do you use most often? Is it set up to handle the influx of school bags, sports gear, and other daily items? And is there a designated spot for keys, wallets, and other bits and bobs to avoid them ending up on the kitchen counter?

A simple console with drawers can be the perfect solution for this, giving everyone their own dedicated space to dump their daily carry-on. Trust me, the husband will appreciate having a place to put his things too (even if he never actually uses it)!

Durable and Family-Friendly Finishes

When designing a family home, the materials and finishes you choose can make a big difference in avoiding constant battles with sticky fingers and muddy feet. Think carefully about:

• Flooring: Polished concrete or tiles are much more forgiving than wood floors when it comes to hiding dirt.
• Cabinetry: Choose materials that can withstand the inevitable chips and damage from active kids.
• Tiles: Make sure any tiles you use have high slip ratings to help prevent falls if spills happen.
• Upholstery: Avoid delicate fabrics and opt for easy-to-clean options like leather or performance fabrics. Rattan and other intricate designs may look amazing, but can be a nightmare to keep clean.
• Corners: If you still have young children, consider the design of your island bench or dining table, and avoid anything with sharp edges.

Laundry and Storage Solutions

In a family home, you’re likely doing a lot of laundry. Kids (and parents) can be incredibly messy, and those whispers of “I’ll wear it again for 5 minutes” usually end up in the wash. To make your laundry as family-friendly as possible, consider combining it with a mudroom to keep the mess contained.

Include a pull-out laundry hamper, ideally with multiple bins for color-sorting (or, let’s be honest, just one for “everything”). And don’t forget to allocate space for your vacuum cleaner and ironing board, so they have a designated home and don’t end up cluttering up other areas.

You could also incorporate a charging station in the laundry or kitchen, depending on where you spend the most time and how many devices your family has.

Keeping an Eye on the Kids

If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, make sure to plan for a clear line of sight from the kitchen, living areas, or wherever you spend the most time. When the kids are young, you’ll obviously never leave them unattended, but as they get older and more confident swimmers, you may be comfortable letting them swim while you keep an eye on them from the house.

Speaking of kids growing up, another thing to consider is that these days, they tend to live at home with their parents for longer. Think about how your spaces can evolve to accommodate this, with furniture pieces that can last while decorative items are updated to match their changing interests and needs.

Embracing the Furry Family Members

Of course, where there’s a family, there’s often also a family pet. So, don’t forget to think about the needs of your four-legged friends too. Instead of having their food and water bowls sitting out in the open, consider incorporating their spaces and storage into the design of your home.

Where will they eat? Sleep? And where will their toys, leads, and other essentials be kept? You might even want to think about how they can come and go from the house independently if you’re not always there.

Putting the “Home” in Family Home

As you can probably tell, there are so many things to consider when designing a family home. But the most important thing is to think through all the aspects of your daily life and try to account for them in the way you design the function of your space.

The more a home can be functional and organized, the more smoothly your family life will run. That agonizing morning routine? It’ll become a little bit easier because everyone will know where their things are. And when the kids get home from school, they’ll have a designated spot to put everything away.

Overall, it’s crucial that your home is designed in a way that works for your family now and as it grows and changes over time. If you nail the functionality, you’ll be well on your way to creating a cozy abode that truly feels like a home.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go design my dream family home (with a separate wing just for the dog’s stuff, of course). Happy decorating!