The Best House for Your Family

The kitchen in my family home.

When I purchased my house, I knew nothing about what kind of home would work best for my future family’s needs. I had no kids, and did not fully know what a mom would want in a home.

Sure, I knew that my home’s location – on a cul-de-sac and within walking distance of an elementary school – would be great for us once my husband and I had children. I also liked the fact that the park has swings, a slide and a fun sandy play area for children.

But I had no clue about what else a mom would want in a home. We chose a new Colonial house with an open floor plan, one in which the living room opens into a kitchen with an eat-in kitchen area, and the kitchen opens up into a large family room.

I enjoy the open floor plan now, as I can cook in the kitchen while I watch my children play or watch TV, and when we have guests over, the open floor plan is great for entertaining and makes our home feel larger.

But, there are aspects of my home that I would change. My neighbor and I, who both have the same floor plan, often wish that our homes had a separate, closed-off area that could serve as a playroom for our kids — and hide all their mess.  My home does have an unfinished basement, so if I can clear it out and clean it up, I could remedy that problem.

The home also lacks a front-door coat closet or a mudroom, so there is no place to hide the jackets and muddy shoes that can accumulate by the door. I’ve placed a coat rack and a shoe rack by the door, but it would be better if all that stuff could be behind doors.

In futures posts, I will explore what home styles, floor plans and features best suit a family and can make a mom’s life easier. If you have any ideas on what to look for when buying a home for one’s family or how to furnish and organize a family home, please feel to post a reply in the comments.