The COVID-19 pandemic sparked an increased interest in newly constructed family compounds. And when we say, “compound,” we’re referring to large-scale homes (e.g. 6,000 square feet and up) intended for large nuclear families or multi-generational living. During the pandemic, compounds became a way for families to stay physically together while simultaneously adhering to the whole “lockdown lifestyle,” but also keeping it more in line with a “resort lifestyle” if you will. 

When you consider what you could do with that kind of space and let us be the first to say that the possibilities are endless, compounds can also be designed to give everyone in your home their privacy while providing plenty of room for, well, everyone. 

Why All This Space?

The rise of family compounds shows just how much space an average family needs these days. For example, it’s much more common for parents to work from home than ever before, which creates the demand for private home offices. Similarly, more and more people now prefer to exercise at home in home gyms. 

Lots of homes can carve room for home offices and private workout spaces, though, right? Of course – but having a larger-scale home provides the ability to create a space that works for you rather than molding your needs to a space. The real value of family compounds emerges when you bring children, pets, and grandparents into the mix. Let’s say you have four kids, all involved in sports programs. That’s a lot of dirty clothes that need to be cleaned on a daily basis. Can you imagine trying to do all this laundry with just a single laundry machine? 

With a family compound, you could have a laundry room and mud room containing two sets of laundry machines as well as a sink and a folding area. You could also install a set of four lockers housing each child’s sportswear. 

This room could be even more valuable if your family has a dog. In the past, parents bathed their dogs in the same bathtub as their children. But what if you have four children, and your bathrooms are constantly occupied, and you certainly didn’t want to deal with dog hair down your shower drain? You could add a dog shower area to your laundry room and mud room, keeping your dog’s sanitary needs separate from your children. 

Oh, the options. 

Keeping Grandparents Close 

Another advantage of family compounds is the ability to live comfortably with aging grandparents. Instead of sharing the same facilities with your older relatives, you could create a private wing for grandparents, complete with a primary suite, en-suite bathrooms, a kitchenette, and their own laundry room. This would allow your relatives to be close enough to help out with kids and other tasks, but where they get to maintain their own space. Great for their privacy and yours. Winning all around.  

On that note, compounds can also feature designated spaces for all members of the family. Whether it’s a kid-friendly game room upstairs, a full-size bar in a living area, or an informal dining area with seating around a large-scale island for more than ten. 

Ready to Build a Family Compound? 

At Debowsky Design Group, we understand the desire to keep families close, but we’re also aware of the myriad interior differences between family compounds and traditional large-scale homes. So, if you’re looking to build your own family compound, get in touch with our team to learn more about how compounds are constructed and determine if it’s the right choice for you and your family.