A Design-Build Guide to Empty Nester Home Designs
As homeowners enter the phase of life where children move out and the nest becomes empty, they often find themselves looking to reimagine their living space. For many, this is the perfect time to focus their attention on building a custom forever home designed to perfectly suit their new empty nester lifestyle. Empty nester home designs are far from one-size-fits-all. While some homeowners fully embrace an empty nest, others find themselves in a “sandwiched generation” scenario, requiring flexible spaces that can comfortably accommodate returning children, aging parents, or both. When building a custom design-build home in this time of life, there are a variety of aspects to consider and incorporate into your house plan, no matter your preferred home style. We’ve compiled a list to guide you along the way – read on for more!
Creating a Wonderful Guest Experience | Empty Nester Home Designs
Many empty nesters desire the flexibility of having guests stay with them, whether it be visiting children and grandchildren, friends, or extended family. Including a comfortable guest suite, guest wing, multiple guest rooms, or a flexible space that can be transitioned into a sleeping space is one of the empty nester home designs that we see most commonly prioritized.
Some couples opt for a separate living area for guests, such as an in-law suite or a detached guesthouse. This setup provides privacy and comfort for both the hosts and their visitors, making it ideal for accommodating long-term guests or aging parents. A guest space can even include a private entrance, kitchenette, and bathroom, allowing guests to feel at home and maintaining a sense of independence.
Aging in Place & Future-Proofing Your Home | Empty Nester Home Designs
Future-proofing your home is a crucial factor when designing a custom forever home, ensuring it remains functional, efficient, and adaptable to your evolving needs over time. Some empty nesters opt for single-level living designs or home elevators that minimize or eliminate cumbersome staircases for long-term ease. Future-proofing your home could also include accessible adaptation options like no threshold showers, wider hallways and doorways, and side opening ovens. Incorporating smart home technologies during the build can significantly increase safety and convenience over time, such as automated lighting and voice activated controls.
Upscale & Low-Maintenance Living | Empty Nester Home Designs
Building an empty nester home is the perfect time to pick out those luxury finishes and appliances that you’ve always dreamed of. Selecting finishes that are both durable and high-quality enable you to enjoy a low-maintenance home that speaks to your personal style. Additionally, many of our clients opt for high-efficiency appliances that may be more of an initial investment, but pay off with reduced energy costs and maintenance over time.
Leaning into Hobbies & Wellness | Empty Nester Home Designs
Having an empty nest is the perfect time to invest energy into hobbies and wellness practices that bring you joy. Incorporating specifically designed areas that facilitate this can make it easier to fully embrace these activities in your forever home. Many of our clients enjoy having an art studio, music room, workshop, or cozy reading nook built into their homes, giving them the perfect place to nurture their passions and creativity. Another feature to consider in empty nester home designs is a wellness space, such as a home gym, golf simulator, yoga room, meditation area, or pool. Having spaces in the comfort of your own home dedicated to health can make maintaining your wellness routine in your empty nest years that much easier.
Enhanced Outdoor Spaces | Empty Nester Home Designs
Having more time to slow down and enjoy life often comes with the desire to spend more time outside, soaking up the seasons. Our team loves creating spaces for homeowners to relax and connect with nature, whether it’s a cozy screened porch for crisp autumn mornings, a spacious and luxurious patio for summer gatherings, a tranquil garden retreat with seating under a pergola, or a tennis court for morning matches. We design outdoor spaces that blend seamlessly with your lifestyle, from functional outdoor kitchens and fire pits to serene pools and shaded lounging areas.
At the end of the day, an empty nester home is extremely custom by nature, and revolves around the lifestyle you desire to maintain. Whether that involves building pickleball courts in the backyard, an elaborate playroom for the grandkids, or the hot tub of your dreams, we love building homes that embody the lives our clients want to live.
If you’re curious about custom empty nester home designs, we’d love to discuss what that would look like for you.