Moving mum or dad in?
3 things to consider when adapting your home for an elderly family member.
We’re often approached by clients looking to alter or extend their home to welcome an elderly family member. It’s one of our favourite kinds of projects—not just because of the design challenge, but because it brings together the heart and the logic of good architecture.
Bringing a parent into your home is a big, often emotional transition. It calls for a sensitive design response and clever space planning. That’s where we come in.
Our approach
As always, we start with a fact-finding mission. We want to understand how you and your family live—and how you want to live. We also take time to get to know your new housemate. It’s about balancing needs and wishes so that everyone feels comfortable, respected, and at home.
When it’s done thoughtfully, this kind of adaptation can lead to a genuinely positive new chapter for the whole family. Here are three key things to think about if you’re planning this change:
1. Downstairs is best
It’s an obvious one, but it matters: ideally, accommodation for an elderly family member should be on the ground floor. That includes a bedroom, bathroom, and if possible, some form of living space.
We often aim to create a self-contained “mini suite” that allows for privacy and independence—think small sitting room, kitchenette, ensuite, and even a separate entrance where space allows. If a full suite isn’t possible, even careful zoning and smart circulation can go a long way in creating a sense of personal space within a shared home.
2. Blend private and shared spaces
If you’ve ever moved back in with your parents as an adult, you’ll know how tricky multi-generational living can be! That’s why we design with balance in mind—creating opportunities for connection and retreat.
We look to include communal areas for mealtimes, games, or watching a film together, while also ensuring that everyone has access to their own space when they need a breather. This kind of thoughtful layout can do wonders for family harmony.
3. Plan for the future
When you’re in the middle of a life change, it’s natural to focus on the immediate needs. But part of our job is to zoom out. We’ll think about how your home might need to evolve over the next five or ten years—and how we can design with flexibility in mind.
Whether that’s futureproofing for mobility, allowing for a live-in carer down the line, or ensuring any changes now don’t limit you later—we’re here to help you see the bigger picture.
If this is something you're considering, we’d love to help you explore what’s possible in your space. Conversations are always free—and we’re just as happy talking about the human side of architecture as we are about plans and layouts.