By Gary Simmons
So-called “granny pods” are among the hottest trends in home design from 2017. For those not in the know, a granny pod is a small cottage-style dwelling that is specially designed for the comfort and privacy of older adults.
Despite the somewhat silly name, granny pods are a comfortable way for seniors to spend their older years close to family while still maintaining a strong sense of independence and privacy. While family members and adult children report feeling relieved that their family member is close to them and staying safe, seniors love the comfort and design of these unique spaces.
Caring for your elderly parent is among the most significant concerns this generation of adults expresses, and what better way to keep your mother or father close than by building them a custom-designed granny pod of their own.
The tips below will help you design a functional and beautiful space for your family member to reside in comfort in a smaller living space.
Take Advantage of “Dead Space”
While some people look into a small space and see its limitations, others can view the advantages and opportunities that come with this sort of space. After all, small spaces have a surprising ability to hold everything you need and even more.
For instance, even the smallest of granny pods will have some hidden space that is ripe with the opportunity to store rarely used objects. Optimizing to use this type of hidden storage helps your space seem bigger, less cluttered and more open.
One of the most common examples of this is making use of the space underneath the bed. Special storage containers can be purchased specifically for this purpose. Alternatively, store lengthy larger items such as wrapping paper, flat boxes or folded clothes from out of season there.
Use Vertical Storage Space
Another dead space that so many people forget about when designing, decorating or renovating their interior space is the one above our heads. Making use of vertical storage space is another way to optimize your use of a small granny pod.
For example, floor-to-ceiling shelving can create an even larger area for storage of essential items. In the bedroom, this type of storage can be used for storing clothing or shoes. Meanwhile, the same storage type in the kitchen area can store heirloom china or cooking implements, and in other areas could store books, games or other entertainment items.
In a similar vein, few people make use of their top kitchen cupboards optimally. Use this space to store kitchen items that are less used but still important, such as seasonal items or larger pots, pans and bowls.
Buy Everything with a Dual Purpose that You Can
Granny pods are an experiment in micro-living for older adults. It is new for many and designing the pods themselves means you need to have an eye for places where items can be used for more than one purpose without compromising aesthetic design or the functionality of the objects in the living space.
For example, if you have items in the home that are visually pleasing but are also useful, such as plates, then storing them on the wall in an attractive manner means you avoid having to purchase extra items for wall décor as well as saving space.
Make Sure Your Furniture is Optimal for Small Spaces
Something that interior designers know that many others do not is that different furniture dimensions are appropriate for different sizes of room space. For example, an enormous kitchen table is obviously not ideal for a tiny dining space.
However, in the United States, a great deal of furniture is designed with living in large homes in mind. Despite this, people rarely if ever consider the dimensions of the space they are decorating–let alone gather appropriate measurements–before they fall in love with a sofa, a chair or even a bed frame.
For small spaces, you should be looking at smaller pieces that have a design that is sleek. This frees up visual clutter within the room and makes the space seem larger and more visually appealing.
The main pieces of furniture should be solid, with ample storage and strategically placed. Smaller pieces should be modular and have storage facilities in them (and ideally hard to lift or move.)
Think stools and coffee tables with storage space inside. Lamps that could be fixed to and wired into a wall. Even wall storage for papers and magazines instead of a magazine rack is an option. It’s easy to make it stylish for a younger Granny.
This concept also applies to appliances, especially in the kitchen setting. If you have the benefit of building your own granny pod from the ground up, then consider a European-style fridge, freezer, stove and cooktop, all of which are more compact in their design and occupy less square footage than their standard American counterparts.
Let There Be Light
Nothing gives off the illusion of space more than a sense of light. It will also keep your granny topped up with mood-enhancing sunlight.
If you haven’t built your pod yet, look for designs where you can incorporate large windows, skylights and light tunnels. Consider doors, double opening if possible, and a small porch area so the doors can be opened in warm weather, creating more space.
Also, consider the direction the windows will face. Ideally, south-facing windows are best to maximize the light.
If you cannot alter the construction, strategically place mirrors around the room to reflect the light.
Separating Spaces to Keep Things Apart
Many granny pod spaces resemble the dimensions and design of the modern studio apartment.
This means areas for cooking, eating, sleeping and socializing are all shared.
While this compact design is appealing to many, it can be challenging to wrap one’s head around not having divided space in one’s home.
For this reason, many people choose to buy room dividers or separating curtains made from wood, metal or cloth. This allows one to reap the benefits of small space living while also having properly divided spaces. The dividers can be moved if your loved one develops mobility issues and requires additional space to navigate a walker or wheelchair.
Make the Pod a Home
We’ve also found some fabulous touches that will make a house a home such as:
- A bar cart for the occasional brandy
- A pegboard on the back of a cupboard door to store cleaning items.
- Vertical greenery.
Final Thoughts
As the population continues to age, the desire to have aging parents live independently while closer to home will only continue to increase, as likely will the popularity of the granny pod lifestyle. By using these small space hacks, you or your elderly parent can decorate the space and optimize storage to improve livability, comfort and happiness.
Gary Simmons is a Certified Senior Advisor and Case Manager for A Hand to Hold. He strives to make the home care experience a better one for seniors and their families. Gary Lives in Atlanta, GA with his family.
Other Related Posts;
- Granny Pods: Could This Be A Solution For Aging In Place?
- Should Aging In Place Actually Be Called Aging In The Right Place?
- Aging in the Suburbs – Is This Realistic or Risky?
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