Multi-Gen Living: Create a Serene Space Just for You

Daily life in a hectic household with multiple generations living under one roof can often be stressful and overwhelming. A thoughtfully designed retreat all your own is a must for keeping sane and serene.

To help you create a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the house, we’ve curated a collection of must-have elements and essential to-dos.  

Declutter & Simplify

Clutter can wreak havoc on your body, mind, and spirit. Having too much stuff filling any room, but especially the bedroom, is burdensome at best. Take inventory of your possessions to determine their value, both functionally and emotionally. Then purge the items of lower value you can live without, while allowing the ones you truly care about to surround you.

Store & Stash

Once you’ve taken time to pair down and simplify, you’ll want to stash and store away some of the items you did keep.

• Rearrange your closet so you can easily get to all your daily items.
• Hang or toss clothes in the hamper and tuck shoes away every evening to keep your space clutter-free.
• Fold and bag off-season clothes, like winter sweaters, and store under the bed or in a pretty color tub in the closet.
• Clear out items you’ve collected on the bedside table and keep handy in nearby drawers.

Infuse with Favorite Scents

While scents are a highly personal element, there are ones that lend themselves to relaxation and promote healthy sleep patterns.

Sleep expert and author Dr. Michael J. Breus says he recommends seven essential oils to his patients to help improve their sleep, relieve stress, lift moods, and boost performance.

• Lavender is the most popular essential oil for sleep and relaxation.
• Vanilla appeals to many people and has a long history of stress relief and relaxation.
• Geranium & Rose are floral based essential oils proven to reduce anxiety and stress.
• Jasmine is promoted for its serious sleep-inducing qualities, and it also decreases episodes of restless sleep.
• Sandalwood has an earthy, woody scent used since ancient times for relaxation and anxiety relief.
• Bergamot, a type of orange, has been shown to provide anxiety relief and promote sleep.

Calm with Soft Hues

Whispery pale colors in blue, grey, white, cream, ivory, pink, lavender, and other soft hues imbue a sense of calm and serenity into your bedroom.

When looking to repaint or redecorate, seek out color palettes that make you feel peaceful when viewing them.

If you have a favorite bright color that makes you happy, add it to a softer color palette in pops. These pops of color can come from accent pillows, a multicolor rug, a piece of art, or a ceramic pot or vase.

Layer with Luxurious Textiles

Silk, velvet, cashmere, faux fur, and crisp cotton will give your bedroom a sense of both tactile and visual luxury. Layer the textiles on the bed, lounge chair, small settee, or windows.  

Crisp, high thread count cotton sheets with a silk duvet and cashmere throw will give your oasis a boutique hotel feel. A silk rug will provide soft sensuality underfoot. And a velvet settee or lounge chair will feel decadent and self-indulgent.

Soften with Lighting

Both natural and artificial lighting can soothe or invigorate, depending on the brightness and direction. Natural light filtering in through a window during the day can bring warmth and a sense of well-being.

Soft lighting from a bedside table lamp can create a relaxed mood in the evening and at nighttime. Get decorative plug-in nightlights to place strategically to light the way to the bedroom door or bathroom.

Control the Climate

If possible, have a separate thermostat installed in your bedroom so you can set it to your comfort level. If a personal thermostat is not an option, a ceiling fan or box fan will provide extra cooling, while a space heater will offer extra warmth.

Blackout lining on the window blinds or drapery panels will block the light to keep it cool during the day. It also blocks morning sunlight until you are ready to rise.

Soothe with Silence

One of the biggest challenges in living in a multi-gen house is the noise. How do you block or reduce noise without spending a ton of money on professional soundproofing?

To block the sound coming from the rest of the house, you can install a solid-core bedroom door. Additionally, you’ll want the seal around the door and at the bottom to be airtight.

To absorb sound, furnish with plush upholstered furniture, lay a thick rug underfoot, use multiple pillows and plump bedding on the bed, and hang thick drapery panels at the windows.

An oscillating fan set on high or a white noise app downloaded to your tablet or phone provides a soothing sound while blocking unwanted noises.

Bathe & Shower in Spa-Like Surroundings

A spa-like bathroom provides an opportunity for peaceful morning and evening rituals. A well-lit vanity with drawers and caddies offers an easy and carefree way to prepare for the day. While furnishing your bathtub with candles, bath salts and oils, super soft bathmat and body towels provide the ultimate unwind in the evening. A pure white bathroom with touches of greenery and bamboo wood accents offers a pleasurable bit of Zen.

Keep a Well-Stocked Beverage & Snack Cart

Whether you enjoy a cup of tea or a nighttime cocktail, you’ll want to stock your room with mugs, glasses, utensils, favorite beverages, and snacks. Keeping all close at hand allows for self-indulgence without having to sneak out to the communal kitchen.

Rejuvenate & Refresh

Taking time to rejuvenate and refresh is a must. Even a little me-time helps you better care for others in your busy multi-gen household. No matter whether you are living with adult children or an older parent, you will look forward to escaping to a serene sanctuary all your own.