Intergenerational living

Home is where the generations come together…  

Homes, like fashion and music, tend to reflect the era they’re built in and the people who live in them. From avocado-green kitchens to minimalist smart lofts, each generation has left its architectural and decorative fingerprint on domestic life.  

Let’s take a stroll through the homes of different generations. Past, present, and the up-and-coming… and discover how our values, gadgets, and even pets have changed what we call “home.” 

(We will only be focussing on people born within the last century. If you are sharing a house with a 150-year-old Victorian…Sorry, né) 

The Silent Generation (Born 1928–1945): The Sturdy Nester 

• House Size: Modest and functional. A three-bedroom home with a well-used formal lounge. 

• Style: Solid, durable, often brick or plastered homes with symmetrical lines and a good old-fashioned stoep. 

• Occupants: A nuclear family, plus the occasional granny in the back flat. 

• Garden: Absolutely. With roses in the front, and fruit trees or runner beans out back. A lemon tree was practically law. 

• Recreation & Entertainment: The living room doubled as the TV room, and the entertainment system was a radio in a walnut cabinet. 

• Bedrooms & Bathrooms: One bathroom, and everyone had to share. Baths, not showers, were standard. Sibling bunk beds were common. Nothing was ensuite. Bedrooms had carpets or wooden floors and windows were small and covered with net curtains and drapes. Even master bedrooms were not massive and the standard bed-size for a couple was double. That is if they shared a bed…Two separate single beds in the master bedroom were also common.  

• Kitchen & Dining: A small galley kitchen leading to a formal dining room with crocheted doilies and porcelain display cabinets. Meals were eaten at the table and the table was formally set for each meal. NO TV dinners! 

• Pets: One dog, usually a Labrador or Alsatian, and it slept outside. Ag shame. 

• Tech: Rotary phones, electric stoves, and possibly a chest freezer if you were “doing well”. 

• Personality of the Home: Sturdy. Practical. Unfussy. A place of post-war stability and predictable routines. 

Baby Boomers (Born 1946–1964): The Expander 

• House Size: Bigger homes, more rooms, and an actual TV lounge. 

• Style: Suburban sprawl—think double garages, decorative gates, and a bar in the lounge. 

• Occupants: Mom, dad, 2.5 kids, and maybe a live-in helper. 

• Garden: Yes, with a braai area, a jungle gym, and a lawnmower permanently on standby. This was the era of the rolling lawn and high maintenance, water intensive garden.  

• Recreation & Entertainment: The TV became central. Think built in wall units to house a boxy TV, VHS tapes, and home karaoke. 

• Bedrooms & Bathrooms: Two bathrooms minimum; ensuite for the master was becoming a thing. Children started wanting their “own space”. We started seeing individualised kids’ rooms and opulent master bedrooms with king sized beds. 

• Kitchen & Dining: Open-plan kitchens made an appearance, and the microwave became king. Double door fridges with water dispensers also became a sign of personal success.  

• Pets: Dogs and cats—and maybe a budgie or hamster. The more, the merrier. 

• Tech: Colour TVs, hi-fi systems, and the start of remote controls. Dishwashers if you were fancy. 

• Personality of the Home: Aspirational. Proud. A symbol of upward mobility and family gatherings. 

Generation X (Born 1965–1980): The Realist 

• House Size: Practical, sometimes smaller as affordability shrank. 

• Style: Tuscan, face-brick, or the experimental townhouse cluster. Lots of tiles, and composite kitchen countertops. Dark laminated wood wall units and built in cupboards everywhere.  

• Occupants: Smaller families, working parents, latchkey kids. 

• Garden: Maybe. A pool if you got a bonus. But often just a strip of lawn in a security complex. Maybe an iceberg rosebush and dessert rose succulents.  

• Recreation & Entertainment: Home theatres became a thing. And if you had a PlayStation? You were cool. 

• Bedrooms & Bathrooms: Ensuites now the norm. Kids’ rooms often decorated with pop star posters and glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars. Inflatable furniture and bean bags everywhere.  

• Kitchen & Dining: Breakfast nooks, bar stools, and double-door fridges. 

• Pets: Cats became more common. Small breeds like Jack Russells or Dachshunds/yorkies ruled. 

• Tech: Home PCs, dial-up internet, cordless phones, and a vast DVD collection. 

• Personality of the Home: Hybrid. Tech meets tradition. Guarded optimism with an eye on resale value. 

Millennials (Born 1981–1996): The Curated Nesters 

• House Size: Smaller or rented. Apartments, townhouses, or fixer-uppers. 

• Style: Industrial chic, minimalist Scandinavian, or eco-conscious boho. 

• Occupants: Couples, singles, pets-as-children. Shared living spaces. 

• Garden: If they’re lucky. Otherwise, succulents in pots and indoor plants galore. 

• Recreation & Entertainment: Netflix nights, gaming lounges, and creative nooks. Think projector walls and yoga corners. 

• Bedrooms & Bathrooms: The more ensuite, the better. Floating shelves and LED strip lights. 

• Kitchen & Dining: Open plan everything, with a coffee station and lots of “air fryer” talk. Flat dinner plates are replaced by bowls and tables are rarely set formally anymore. Meal prep and colourfully aesthetically stocked fridges are key. 

• Pets: Fur babies are real—rescue pets, designer cats, or an Instagram-famous sausage dog. 

• Tech: Smart TVs, Bluetooth speakers, robot vacuums, and a dozen apps to turn on your lights. 

• Personality of the Home: Thoughtful. Curated. Sustainable. A sanctuary in a chaotic world. 

Generation Z (Born 1997–2012): The Plugged-In Creatives 

• House Size: Compact, modular, or even mobile. Van-life isn’t a joke; it’s a lifestyle. 

• Style: Maximalist Gen Z aesthetic or ultra-functional minimalism. Think neon signs and anime art. 

• Occupants: Friends-as-family. Shared rental homes, or with parents (thanks to the economy). 

• Garden: Balcony plants, vertical herb walls, or digital gardens in The Sims. 

• Recreation & Entertainment: TikTok corners, streaming zones, gaming caves, and spaces to shoot content. Each room becomes a content backdrop.  

• Bedrooms & Bathrooms: Customised bedrooms with mood lighting, LED mirrors, and ring lights. 

• Kitchen & Dining: Air fryers, ramen stations, and sustainability everywhere. Minimal cooking, maximal snacking.  

• Pets: Quirky ones—reptiles, rescue rats, or exotic fish. Or virtual pets. 

• Tech: Everything smart. Home assistants, Wi-Fi mesh systems, voice-activated everything. 

• Personality of the Home: Personal. Expressive. Tech-centric. Often more online than offline. 

Generation Alpha (Born 2013–2025): The Future-Dwellers 

• House Size: Likely smaller, modular, and eco-smart. 

• Style: Sustainable, AI-integrated, child-centric but future-forward. 

• Occupants: Parents, siblings, and possibly extended family in multigenerational setups. 

• Garden: Digital-meets-real—outdoor STEM play spaces or edible gardens. 

• Recreation & Entertainment: Augmented reality play, immersive learning pods, and quiet tech-free zones. 

• Bedrooms & Bathrooms: Adaptive and sensory-friendly spaces. 

• Kitchen & Dining: Voice-controlled kitchens with nutrition-monitoring apps. 

• Pets: Real and robotic. AI pets might actually bark. 

• Tech: All-in-one home automation systems, privacy-first tech, and maybe a drone butler. 

• Personality of the Home: Smart. Safe. Sustainable. Designed to raise emotionally intelligent, globally aware digital natives.  

Living Together in Harmony: Building Intergenerational Homes 

As houses evolve with each generation, they reflect our shifting priorities: stability, aspiration, convenience, creativity, and sustainability. But what happens when all these generations need to live together under one roof? 

Understanding generational differences is key to avoiding friction. For example, Boomers may value hierarchy and privacy, while Millennials want flexibility and communal spaces. Gen Zs value individuality and mental health, and Gen Alpha will expect tech-integrated harmony. 

We are leaning back towards multigenerational living. 

In South Africa, multigenerational living is not new—it’s cultural, economic, and often essential. Rising property prices, job insecurity, and the value of family bonds mean that many households include grandparents, parents, and children. This setup fosters shared responsibilities, intergenerational wisdom, and financial resilience—but it can also highlight generational clashes. 

Tips for a Harmonious Multigenerational Home 

• Zoned Living: Create private spaces for each generation—granny flats, loft bedrooms, or backyard studios. 

• Shared Spaces: Open-plan kitchens, outdoor braai areas, or family lounges where everyone feels welcome. 

• Tech Integration: Choose devices and appliances with interfaces suitable for all ages (big buttons for gran, voice commands for Alpha). Steer clear of using an app for everyday features like switching on lights or appliances.  

• Inclusive Design: Low-step/ No-step showers, wide hallways, sensory lighting, and quiet nooks go a long way to allowing all members of the household to have a sense of autonomy and privacy.  

• Communication Corners: Not just for Wi-Fi routers—designate areas for checking in, talking, or just being together. 

The multigenerational home is not a battleground—It’s a Tapestry 

Each generation brings its colour, comfort, and chaos to the home. But with empathy, good design, and the occasional intergenerational dance-off in the lounge, a home can become a beautiful patchwork of values and vibes. 

Because whether you prefer a crystal decanter, a Nespresso machine, or a kombucha tap, one thing remains true: home is where the Wi-Fi connects automatically—and the family still calls you to dinner …even if it’s a video call.