Heard of an Ohana Suite? It Turns Out In-Law Apartments Go by Lots of Different Names
As parents and other relatives get older, it makes sense that you might want to live closer to them. Sometimes this can mean not just sharing the same state or neighborhood, but the same address. Still, no matter how much you love your parents, it’s not always easy being in close quarters for extended amounts of time — especially during a pandemic. Enter the in-law apartment.
An in-law apartment is a separate home from the main living space that allows loved ones to stay close while maintaining personal boundaries within a house. The beauty of the in-law apartment is that it gives everyone a sense of freedom while simultaneously offering the benefits of having family nearby.
In-law apartments have become a staple in multigenerational living. According to Fast Company, 41 percent of Americans considered buying a home that can accommodate elderly parents in 2019. While many homes are being purchased with in-laws and aging parents in mind, these accessory apartments have become known by several other aliases. Here are a few of their nicknames:
- Mother-in-law apartment
- Au pair suite
- Ohana suite
- Mother/daughter home
- Garden cottage
- Granny flat
- Guest house
- Ancillary unit
- Guest house
- Secondary suite
- Casita
Despite these varying names, they all tend to share the same purpose and requirements. In-law apartments typically have a bathroom, bedroom, and cooking area that’s separate from the main property. It’s not uncommon for these to be spaces to be detached from the main house, in the basement, or above the garage.
In-law apartments that exist as detached structures are known as accessory dwelling units. But if an ADU is a bit too impersonal for your taste, the term garden cottage could be more fitting for your family. It might be the preferred term for the in-laws who want to think about their space as a lush secret hideaway instead of as “just the tiny house out back.” In Spanish-speaking homes, that same cottage is known as a casita. Or you could simply call it a guest house, if you prefer.
A freestanding in-law suite may also be called a “granny pod” or granny flat. It might not be a favorite term for grandmothers who identify as more modern, but the name might be a winner with the grandkids excited to have their grandparents so close to home.
Other attached apartments could be dubbed the Hawaiian term “ohana suite.” In Hawaii, the word “ohana” means family. Considering the sometimes complicated relationship between in-laws, the term “ohana suite” alone might serve as an icebreaker as it welcomes your extended family and makes them feel more at home.
Regardless of your need for an in-law suite — or what you choose to call it — you can rest assured knowing that whenever your relatives do move in, they’ll have a place to call their own yet still feel like a wanted part of the family.