Multigenerational households, or homes where multiple families or family members are living together, can experience many different benefits and challenges. Whether adult children move back in with their parents or elderly couples join their grown kids’ family homes, there are some concerns that may arise when combining households. How can you accommodate everyone’s needs and belongings without feeling crowded? Are there ways to maximize the space you currently have? Learn more about thriving in a multigenerational household in this blog.
Challenges Of Multigenerational Living
When grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, and children all live together, your space can quickly feel limited. When combining households or moving an elderly family member into your home, your office or garage may start to turn into a storage unit. Instead of letting these items take over one of the common areas of your home, there are some ways you can protect sentimental belongings without throwing them away.
Decluttering Before Combining Homes
Before combining households, it can be beneficial to go through some of your belongings and the family members’ belongings. Decluttering both homes and getting rid of unnecessary items can limit clutter in the multigenerational home while letting everyone keep sentimental or precious belongings. Going through old clothes, toys, books, or knick-knacks is a great place to start. Move only essential and long-lasting items into the shared home.
Maximize Living Space
Even after decluttering, there may be items you or a family member just can not part with. Utilizing a self-storage unit can help you hold on to different items without them taking up space inside the home. In order to maximize your living space, put seasonal decor, storage chests, or recreational equipment in a storage unit to free up usable living space. While a storage unit can be accessed frequently, it is best to put items that are not needed daily in the unit. Rotating out seasonal clothing and decor is a great way to make daily operations easier and save multigenerational households from clutter.
Easier Home Transitions
Multigenerational households go through a variety of transitional periods, as many people may move out of the home and potentially come back in. College-age children may move out for schooling, but move back in once they graduate. Elderly family members may move into their children’s homes as their health declines. All of these periods can be chaotic, so having a shared storage unit can help you store some items temporarily until everyone is situated.
Large furniture pieces, rugs, or closets may be in the way during moving or could be utilized in a more efficient manner. Putting these items or small belongings in a storage unit can help you reorganize the living space with a fresh mind.
More Cost-Effective
Instead of spending the money to remodel your home or add on extra space, renting a storage unit is more affordable. While you may benefit from the extra space a remodel would bring, living in a construction zone is often not ideal. This alternative provides flexibility while you transition to having more family in one home, while helping you to reorganize and readjust to make space. Especially if you only need to utilize the unit for a month or two, the price is much lower, and your time remains available for other tasks.
Easily Accessible
Some family members may not want to put items in storage. Being away from them can be nerve-racking, especially if it is something sentimental. However, one of the benefits of a storage unit is that it is constantly accessible, usually 24/7. You don’t have to worry about not having a piece of clothing for an upcoming trip, a book you have been wanting to read, or missing a sentimental photo when you want to reminisce.
Those utilizing self-storage can access or retrieve items whenever they need them or swap out stored items for ones in the home they no longer need. With a local storage unit, you will always have your items at your fingertips, even while living in multigenerational households.
How 700 Block Storage Can Help Multigenerational Households
No matter your current life situation or living situation, 700 Block Storage has options to fit your needs. Multigenerational households can benefit from a little wiggle room, which is what our different-sized units can provide. Our modern facility in Salt Lake City, UT, has constant video surveillance and is accessible to renters 24/7. Enjoy convenience and security when you work with our facility.
Our facility offers self-storage units, climate-controlled units, and ground-floor units for all types of belongings. Check out our pricing and pay your bill online for even more flexibility! Contact us for additional questions and upgrade your multigenerational home!
