Create a Garden Space For Your Granny Pod
Outdoor space is now a priority for people in America. In fact, this is one of the top things people look for when buying a home, and with good reason.
Having an outdoor space gives you room to relax and something for you to cultivate yourself. If you are thinking about renting your ADU in the future, outdoor space will make it more attractive to renters as well.
Of course, your granny pod will have limited space for a developed garden. Luckily, your loved one will also be able to make the most of your garden as well.
However, there are some great ways that you can make the most out of small garden space for your ADU.
For example, you could install a terrace or deck outside the granny pod to give your loved one somewhere to relax in the sun. If they are more green-fingered, then you might want to create a vegetable patch for them to tend to. Rockeries also make great features in small garden spaces and are fairly easy to maintain as you get older.
If your loved one is relocating from their old property, they may already have a garden there. In that case, you can take garden inspiration design from their existing garden to make their new ADU feel more familiar. You could even transfer garden features from one location to the other.
This will ensure that your loved one has the opportunity to enjoy all of the emotional and physical health benefits of spending time outside.
Create a Personalized Kitchen
Cooking encourages people to get creative and switch off from the stresses and strains of daily life. There are also significant health benefits to learning to cook for yourself and it promotes a sense of independence.
If your older relative shares this passion for cooking, put time into creating a kitchen space that facilitates this and works for them.
For example, you might want to devote more space in the kitchen and dining room area to kitchen appliances. You will also need to ensure that there are ample power outlets for these appliances.
When designing your kitchen, it is also a good idea to think about accessibility. Adapting your kitchen counter height means that you can create a kitchen that is easily accessible to someone in a wheelchair.
If your loved one has another type of mobility impairment, this also makes it easier for them to work in a way that is comfortable for them. For example, they can sit while chopping vegetables rather than standing at the kitchen counter.
Create Room For Socializing
Just because an elderly relative is moving in with you does not mean that they will be spending all of their time with you. In fact, it can be extremely liberating to maintain an active social life and have friends over for dinner.
Because of this, it is important to create a great open space for socializing within your granny pod. A lot of granny pod floor plans use open-plan living designs to help make the most of the space and support socializing.
This also means, for example, that your loved one can be cooking in the kitchen and chatting with their friends in the living room at the same time.
Creating a home that supports socializing, and that your loved one feels proud of, will really help to encourage this. They will be excited about inviting people over and showing them their new home.
