Whether it’s gran rolling into town for a weekend here and there or both of your in-laws decamping to your place for the entire winter, a grandparent suite can be both a luxury and a necessity. If you’re wondering how to outfit a grandparent suite, but aren’t sure where to start, we have you covered. Mine our tips below to design a gorgeous suite that appeals to both sides of the age gap!
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Don’t Pander to Granny Vibes
Just because gran will be shacking up with you sometimes doesn’t mean you need to design a room exactly as she would. Pass on the doilies and the Thomas Kinkaid prints, and curate a grandparent suite that feels in sync with the rest of your house — even if that means going ultra-modern. If your parents’ or grandparents’ style differs greatly from yours, try incorporating some of their favorite colors or fabrics.
Make it an All-in-One Hub
Considering that old timers make for early risers, a suite that’s equipped so that they don’t have to make a public appearance they’re craving coffee or an evening news fix can be a wise way to keep everyone’s routines running autonomously. Approach your grandparent suite much like an ultra-efficient Airbnb. Equipping your suite with a Nespresso machine, microwave, writing desk or pedestal table, lounge chair, and even an antique armoire filled with laundry supplies (think: steamer, laundry pods, stain sticks), ensures that grandparents have everything they need without needing to infringe on your space, if they don’t want.
Cater to Comfort
The golden years are filled with joys — Grandkids! Gardening! Off-Season RVing! — but making do with less-than-comfortable furniture is not one of them. When choosing furniture to adorn your grandparents’ suite, select body-bolstering chairs with an accompanying ottoman as well as desks and dressers with easy-open drawers. And while you can always opt for a mail-order mattress, take it from gramps: some things are worth doing the old fashioned way. If your grandparents will be spending significant time in their suite, consider heading to the mattress store with them to test drive a few. (Just like they used to do when they were kids.)
