Multigenerational living at Malhar - Pursuing interests, together and independently
The toddler with the new-found passion for “Baby Shark” that wears down the most patient of grandmas.
The pet dog whose penchant for footwear is proving to be the nemesis of the teenage son’s sneaker collection.
The dad whose new keto diet is derailed by the grandad’s persistent sweet tooth.
The mom whose book club cannot convene because the toddler and friends have run riot building a lego space station in the middle of the living room.
Every multi-generational household knows this truth. For every intergenerational bonding session (be it gardening or baking or football), there is also a moment in the day where one member of the household is frustrated with the other over hobbies that creep into each other’s spaces.
Living together in multigenerational homes seems to be the Indian’s cup of tea (or coffee). According to one study, nearly 1 in 3 Indian households span two or more generations under one roof - one of the highest rates in the world.
Of course, most Indian families see eye to eye in terms of values and lifestyles, making it easy to live together in a single household. But when it comes to hobbies and passions, each member can go in a wildly different direction and end up needing their own space to spread out and enjoy their interests. And most agree that this is easier said than done.
But, it really is possible to make two unlikely elements come together in a Malhar home, as most of us have realised. Let’s look at how one makes this possible using smart design (and a few smart habits).
Carve out nooks in common spaces
Having your own hobby room may be a lifelong dream, but honestly, not every hobby needs a room - some just need a corner. For instance, the alcove under the stairs can become a child’s reading den with a beanbag and fairy lights. Armed with a small side table and good natural light, a bay window can become grandma's embroidery spot.
The key is definition: a rug, a lamp, or a low shelf signals “this space belongs to someone” without requiring a wall or screen. Make them intentional, flexible,and just the right size to hold one person's world without crowding everyone else's.
Avoid hobby creep
Hobby creep is real: the jigsaw puzzle that colonises the dining table, the fitness equipment that annexes the spare bedroom, the art project that slowly takes over the kitchen counter.
The solution, though, isn't less passion, it's better boundaries. Assign each family member a dedicated storage zone for their hobby gear, however small. Establish a gentle house rule: If it's not in use, it goes back to its spot. Foldable, stackable, and wall-mounted solutions make this easy without demanding too many sacrifices. When everyone's interests have a home, they stop needing to borrow someone else's space, and harmony tends to follow.
Use outdoor spaces effectively
The balcony,the terrace, the verandah, the courtyard - the outdoor spaces in a Malhar home are a vibe unto itself, and carry an outsized emotional weight. They're where morning chai happens, where the family gathers to catch the evening breeze. But with a little intention, they can carry tremendous functional weight as well.
Sometimes, zoning your balcony helps: For instance, you could keep one end for a raised herb garden that seniors and toddlers can tend together, the other for a foldable table that doubles as a weekend puzzle station, chai and conversation hub, or homework corner.
Also, think vertical: planters free up floor space for movement or cubbyholes that house a burgeoning succulent collection. When the outdoors is designed thoughtfully, it becomes the most-used space in the house.
Leverage transitional spaces
Transitional spaces are the unsung heroes of multigenerational living, the in-between zones that absorb activity that would otherwise spill into primary spaces. We’re thinking about the upstairs landing that serves as a workstation for a work-from-home parent. Or the passage between the kitchen and the living room,which hosts a toddler’s art gallery.
The foyer that's wider than it needs to be? It serendipitously offers the space to organise and display your sports gear and trophies. The semi-open alcove? It allows parents to close home and office admin tasks as they wait for dinner to cook.
Last of all, make your bedroom multifunctional.
In a multigenerational home, your bedroom needs to work harder than just aplace to sleep - it becomes your reading room, your hobby corner, yourearly-morning yoga mat space. In short, your bedroom becomes your sanctuaryfrom chaos and your personal studio or lab for creativity and regeneration.
A built-in window seat with a fold-down table and storage beneath can be agreat addition for a multi-functional bedroom, becoming grandad's meditation perch in the morning and his chai nook by evening, or a teenage daughter’s desk during schooldays and where she hangs out her friends during holidays.
Also, consider mindful organisation tactics. Ensure your wardrobes have dedicated shelving for hobby gear like art supplies, knitting baskets, headphones. This keeps passions organised and contained and the entire space peaceful. When your bedroom does more, it gives the rest of the house even more room to do more.
In a multigenerational home, grandfather's LP records might have to share shelf space with the teenager's skateboard. The kitchen might need to host both grandmother's grinding stone and the young adult's espresso machine. The verandah might have to double up as both grandma's meditation space as well as a toddler’s playzone with building blocks scattered about. But, as life, and the functionality of our Malhar homes, have taught us, it is perfectly possible to make two unlikely passions coexist with ease in a multigenerational home. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of love and patience.
