Living with extended family members is one of the most rewarding experiences. Not only will you be able to build solid and lasting relationships, but you will also get to enjoy all the benefits that come from living in a supportive environment. But it’s not always easy—you must put in some effort and ensure everyone understands what’s expected of them. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of living with your extended family.
Invest in Private Spaces
Having private spaces within your home is essential for maintaining harmony when living with extended family members. Everyone needs their own space to relax, take a break, or be alone without feeling like they are intruding on someone else’s personal space.
You can achieve this by creating separate rooms for each family member or setting aside quiet corners where people can watch television or read a book without being disturbed. It’s also essential to ensure that everyone respects each other’s privacy. It’s also best to have a designated “family room”—where everyone can come together and hang out as a family. This way, no one feels excluded or left out.
If you’re unsure how to create such a space in your home, then enlist the help of an interior designer who can advise you on how to make the most of your living space.
Prioritize Safety
In every household, safety should be the number one priority. But it’s more crucial when living with extended family members.
Make sure there are safety measures for young children and elderly relatives who may need extra attention, such as installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors throughout the house or setting up specific areas where kids can play safely without worry. Additionally, consider adding extra locks on windows and doors and making sure everyone knows where emergency exits are located in an emergency evacuation situation.
Prioritizing safety in your home will ensure that everyone is secure and protected from potential hazards. This way, you can all enjoy living together.
Incorporate Mobility Additions
Suppose you have elderly relatives living with you. In that case, it is crucial to invest in mobility additions that will help them maintain their independence while allowing them to move around comfortably within the home.
Consider adding quality stair lifts inside the house so they can easily access different rooms without using the stairs. You can also invest in armchairs that allow them to stand up without assistance whenever they need to move around the house quickly or reach something higher up on a shelf. Another vital addition is guardrails, which can be installed along walls and other areas to provide extra support when the elderly person needs it.
These types of mobility additions will not only make it easier for the elderly to move around, but they will also provide a feeling of security and peace of mind.
Set Schedules
Living with extended family members means there will likely be more people using shared spaces at any given time—which is why it’s important to set schedules for everyone. Hence, everyone knows who uses what, when, and how long they should stay for each activity.
This ensures that no one feels left out or left behind and helps household harmony by limiting arguments over whose turn it is next when using shared items like televisions or game consoles. Especially in large families, it’s wise to devise a weekly schedule for everyone so you can plan meals and activities accordingly.
Following a set schedule makes it easier for everyone to know when and how to use the home resources. This can help avoid conflicts and make living in an extended family much more peaceful and enjoyable.
Talk About Household Responsibilities
When living with extended family members, it’s easy to be faced with multiple tasks at once—which is why it’s essential to talk about which household responsibilities each person will take on. Hence, no one feels overwhelmed by too much work being piled onto their plate.
Establishing responsible roles early on will make daily managing tasks easier for everyone involved since they know exactly what needs doing. They can split duties accordingly instead of relying on just one person doing everything all at once.
Discussing household responsibilities allows everyone in the family to feel like they are contributing, which can help strengthen the bond between family members. In doing so, the group can work toward keeping the house neat and organized.
The above steps can help make living with extended family a more pleasant experience. When all members of the household are safe, mobile, organized, and responsible, life in the home will be much more comfortable and enjoyable. So, what are you waiting for? Put these tips into practice and make the most out of living with your extended family.
