7 Tips to Find a Home For a Growing Family in Minnesota
The beauty of finding your own home is that you can look for details that suit your personal tastes and lifestyle. Since your home is an investment that you will spend years in, it’s important to not only consider your needs now but in the future as well. From kid’s bedroom layouts to backyard landscaping, you can find a luxury home in Minnesota that adapts and grows with your family.
Find a Home That Grows With You
If you’re planning on starting or growing your family, finding a home with children in mind will be an important aspect of your investment. Explore our 7 essential tips for finding a home that your children can grow into.
1. Kitchen Size and Layout
A spacious kitchen with luxury appliances is on most people’s new home wish list. If you want to find a home for growing a family in Minnesota, you’ll also want to make sure you have ample room to prepare and serve food. Consider looking for extra seating at an island or a nook with booth seating for convenient, casual meals outside the formal dining room. Also, take into account the flow and organization of the space — for instance, an island with open shelving might seem convenient, but not when little hands start getting into things.
2. Kids Bedroom Layout: Number and Placement of Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Looking for extra bedrooms and bathrooms in preparation for children may be a given, but size and placement of the kid’s bedroom layouts are important as well. Many new parents look for a nursery with an infant in mind, usually in close proximity to the master suite and rooms sized to accommodate the items your child needs as they grow. For sleepover nights, create a bunk bed space within a bedroom.
Bonus Tip: Need a little inspiration for your child’s room? Check out our blog post, “Kids’ Bedroom Ideas They’ll Love.”
3. Open Floor Plan
If you’re looking to find a home for a growing family, consider open floor plans — also called great rooms — that combine living, dining and kitchen spaces. These floor plans create a bright, open atmosphere with optimal flow and sightlines for living and entertaining. Another perk to an open floor plan is the ability to keep an eye on playing or sleeping children in the living area while you attend to other tasks like unpacking groceries or cooking in the kitchen.
4. Mudroom
Mudrooms are a great addition to homes to keep muddy footprints off of clean floors as well as providing an organized space to corral shoes, jackets and more. If you’re finding a home with children in mind, a larger mudroom with extra cubbies and hooks is wise. Don’t forget to place some cubbies and hooks lower so kids can reach!
Bonus Tip: Design your laundry room directly off your mudroom or on your bedroom level for ultimate convenience.
5. Stairs and Levels
A grand, sweeping staircase might add a touch of drama, but once children come into the picture, it might not be the kind of drama you want. The placement and structure of your stairs is important when you’re designing with children in mind, especially when considering the kid’s bedroom layouts — you don’t want them too close to the stairs. Spiral staircases or open riser stairs could be difficult or even dangerous for children to navigate. Different levels to your flooring, while adding a bit of architectural interest, can also pose trip and fall hazards.
6. Yard Space
When planning your landscaping, even if you have no children yet, keep safety a priority. To find a home for growing a family in Minnesota, you want to make sure your kids can get outside all year round without slipping on ice or coming across hidden obstacles. Natural factors such as nearby water access as well as man-made elements like pools and firepits deserve special attention. Play sets or open space to build them in the future are elements you’ll want to factor into your landscaping decisions.
7. Location
Outside of your home design, possibly the biggest decision will be the location — particularly if children are a factor. You’ll want to make sure you have access to quality school and daycare facilities. Proximity to busy streets, access to parks, and neighborhood demographics (are there other families with children for playdates and carpooling?) are also important factors to consider.
Norton Homes Can Help You Find a Home for a Growing Family
Finding a home with children in mind takes a little extra planning, but our professional and knowledgeable team will work with you to ensure every detail is addressed, so you can find a home for growing a family that adapts to you. Learn more about our design process or if you are ready to get started, schedule a consultation today!