Accessory Dwelling Units and Their Benefit in The Home

Across America, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have become a popular home accessory, or in some cases, a home necessity.

COVID-19 has generated a yearning desire by many to create additional space within their home. This, paired with the changing and flexible government legislation, have made ADUs easier to install on home properties. At an affordable price, ADUs can be converted garages or backyard structures that can serve a multitude of functions. With an eye on affordability and exciting design, we have gathered a list of purposes ADUs can serve within your home.

What are Accessory Dwelling Units?

Legalised in 2017, ADUs (also known as granny flats) allow homeowners to make the most of their underutilized space, without redeveloping their existing property. All you need is a plot of land and/or a garage to convert to create your very own ADU.

Accessory Dwelling Units have been an essential asset to combat the current housing crisis, with California the great frontier in using every inch of space on their property, whilst respecting both communities and the environment around them. Maximizing space in this way instead of expanding is an innovative and cost-effective solution, which is why ADUs are so promising.

1. Home office

42% of the US population are now working remotely, and the figures show no sign of this reducing any time soon. According to Acorde, it's also likely that many Americans who are now working from home for the first time will continue to do so after the pandemic. “Once they’ve done it, they’re going to want to continue,” said Kate Lister, president of consulting firm Global Workplace Analytics. She predicts that 30 percent of people will work from home multiple days per week within a couple of years. Lister added that there has been pent-up demand by employees for greater work-life flexibility, and that the Coronavirus has made their employers see the light, especially as they themselves have had to work from home.

In light of this, additional space within the home is now more important than ever. Creating a workspace that can accommodate various office equipment, mirroring that of their prototypical corporate environment, is essential! This is where ADUs come in handy.

AUDs are effective home office spaces for a number of reasons. Firstly, their detachment from the home to create a dedicated work space allows you to minimise distractions and increase work productivity. Generally measuring between 600 and 1,000 square feet, AUDs also provide ample space to integrate a desk and chair for those who work in an office. If remote work is going to be in place for the foreseeable, then a work environment that comfortably accommodates your business needs is integral. They are also helpful in providing a change of scenery, rather than working from your kitchen or bedroom.

They’re spacious, functional and can be custom outfitted according to your individual interior style, facilitating a comfortable and ergonomic space.

When transforming your AUD into a home office, Zoom Room can facilitate the interior decorating process. Our Zoom-Desks provide a place to use your computer or tablet and all necessary office equipment, with the implementation of a comfortable bed at night - providing multi function purposes for your AUD. Just pull down the front panel and your desk top folds under your comfortable slatted frame Murphy Bed - everything on the desktop stays in place! Brilliant engineering allows for all of this with minimum effort in the least amount of space.

1. Granny flat

How about creating a granny flat?

Designed for one or two persons, a granny flat or in-law suite is a self-contained living area usually located on the grounds of a single-family home. A granny flat can be detached, or it can be attached to the other dwelling. It is sometimes called a granny flat because it is a popular way for families to accommodate aging parents.

A Pew Research Centre survey finds that nearly 79 million adults in the United States live in a “shared household”.

Care homes can be a financial burden for many American families (costing on average around $8,000 per week), making AUDs an increasingly popular alternative.

As more families are choosing to stay together, many are finding that extra little bit of space provides privacy and independence for the ageing parents. Yet, they are close enough to be looked after and cared for by their children. The separate living quarters also helps ease tension amongst family members who may feel cramped and claustrophobic under one singular roof - a factor exacerbated by the burden of lock down restrictions. Consequently, these innovative designs provide a happy medium for both parents and children who want to save money on costly care homes, whilst still having autonomy and a dedicated space of their own. The typical components that fill a granny flat include space to relax, bed, dining facilities etc.

While AUDs provide sufficient space for a variety of purposes, they do require organisation to prevent clutter building up. 1,000 square feet can easily be used to its full capacity with bulky furniture such as beds and bedside units. This is where multi-use furniture can really show its value.

Zoom-Room are industry leaders at providing the perfect space saving solution for a home office or a spare room design. No matter what you’re looking for, Zoom-Room has the expertise to help with smart small-space design solutions.

A space saving Murphy bed is thus a desirable addition to any AUD, given their ability to utilise vertical space and provide additional room to move about in. For example, our Zoom-Room Murphy bed has the design function to float into the room with a push of a button. Housed in an elegant cabinet, the Zoom-bed allows you to utilize space in front for a flat screen TV, bookshelves, art boxes or whatever your interior needs desires. The remote controlled functions are an extremely useful feature for those ageing adults, as no manual lifting is required. Simply touch the remote controlled button and your bed can appear and disappear within seconds.

1. Backyard home

Young adults moving back in with their parents continue to account for the bulk of such households..

A recent survey of college seniors found that 85% expect to move back home after graduation. While many parents welcome them back, the close living quarters can be a strain for both parent and child once the novelty wears off.

Accessory dwelling units provide flexible space for larger families and independent housing for adult children. Within their 1,000 square feet, you can install a kitchenette, bedroom and various appliances that act as a self-contained space, desirable for younger adults who want the freedom they experience during university, at a cost effective price.

Conclusion…

Now, more than ever, people are trying to stretch the space in their home to accommodate families and lifestyle needs. At Zoom-Room, we acknowledge that and want to help you transform your space into a comfortable abode. Call our friendly team today to discuss your requirements!