Retirement House Plans: Make the Most of Your Empty Nest (2024)

Thomas B.

As the owner of a custom design-build company, my goal is simple – I want you to love everything about your home. The way it looks, the way it feels, the way it works for your lifestyle and meets the changing needs of your family.

You’ve made it to retirement, and it’s time to start thinking about what comes next. By the time you retire, you’ll probably have no kids living in the house, so you might not need quite as much space. But there’ll always be those occasional times when the whole family and grandkids come over. You might even need a guest room if some of your family wants to spend the night.

In this post, we’re looking at some of the best retirement and empty nester house plans. Be sure to reference this post and the pictures when you’re ready to start house hunting. There are lots of options on the market, and it’s important that you know what you’re looking for before you start looking.

Empty Nester House Plans

Here are some of the most common empty nester house plans and their advantages.

One-Level House

A one-level house is easy. That’s all there is to it. You don’t need to worry about cleaning different floors of the house or going up and downstairs, everything you need is located perfectly in a one-level house. This floor isn’t the best for entertaining because of the limited space, but if you’re able to acquire or remodel a house to have a modern floor plan, you’ll still be able to have your family and grandkids over in the future.

Additionally, if you suffer from joint pain, there’s not enough that can be said about not having to walk up and down the stairs every day. One-level houses also offer great efficiency ratings and are fairly cheap to heat and cool. As a bonus, you can often decorate your backyard as an extra living space to take advantage of. Why not take advantage of the warm summer days and cool evenings if you can!

Things to consider if you’re looking into a one-level house.

• Is there are a yard and outdoor area to enjoy?
• Do you want a detached or attached garage?
• Be sure to find a home with at least one extra bedroom.
• Is the kitchen big enough?
• Will you be able to host your family or friends if you want to?

Modern Home with Room

When we say modern home with room, we’re not talking about anything magnificent. While some retired couples might prefer to live in a large home where they can enjoy all kinds of amenities that they weren’t able to have when they had kids, other couples might not find it easy to maintain a home that large. But, it’s still a great option for retirement.

When you’re looking for a modern home, you’ll be able to look into different options such as a large master bathroom, the kitchen layout you always wanted, and plenty of room for visits from family and friends.

If you’re looking to get into a modern home or add some new features to your current home,here’s a list of what we suggest.

• Try to get a large master bathroom that you can enjoy and relax in.
• Extra bedrooms offer opportunities for guest rooms or an office if you need one.
• The kitchen doesn’t need to be huge, but you’ll want to be able to cook meals for family and host gatherings. Be sure to keep in mind the room that that will require.
• An outdoor space is always a plus!

A Cabin Getaway

There are so many different options when it comes to finding a place for retirement. One that you might not think of right away is the cabin getaway. Now that you’ve retired, it might not be out of the picture to get a cabin on a lake or a river. Most families aren’t able to afford a cabin while they have kids, so finally getting the luxury of living out on the water is something to look forward to.

Cabins will vary greatly in size, so be sure to find something that fits your needs. You can go for a small cabin that’s cozy or something larger, depending on your budget. Either way, cabins tend to hold their value and increase in value really well over time, making this housing choice a great investment!