It might be somewhat challenging to accept, but life changes when your kids are grown and gone, leaving you with a big, empty house filled with cherished memories. Everything starts to feel a little roomier, and a house that was once a home can become a hollow haven.
But here’s the good news. You can downsize. Before you dismiss the idea, know that downsizing doesn’t mean downgrading. With the right custom home-building team on your side, you can downsize without compromising luxury.
In our opinion, for many empty-nesters, it's a golden opportunity. When you work with Dusty Rhodes Homes, you can trade in an upkeep-heavy square footage home for a custom home for ease, comfort, and luxury. In this blog, we’ve detailed empty-nester house plans that we often build as custom builders in Kansas City.
When you downsize, you need to go into it with the mindset that you’re shifting your lifestyle to match what you need and want at this stage of your life.
However, if you’re still on the fence about it, you might change your mind after reading a few of the benefits of downsizing homes in Kansas below:
Less maintenance: There are fewer chores when you have fewer rooms and a smaller floor plan customized to your needs and wants. So, you’ll spend less time cleaning, mowing, and fixing and more time doing what you enjoy.
Reduced costs: One of the biggest pros that come with smaller custom homes in Overland Park, KS, is reduced costs. With a smaller, more energy-efficient empty-nester home, you enjoy reduced utility bills and overall upkeep expenses. That’s more money for travel, hobbies, or a second cup of coffee on the porch.
Better lifestyle fit: As you grow older, your needs change. This is life. However, when you embrace an empty-nester floor plan, you make room for these changes, as downsizing allows you to align your space with how you live now. So you can ask your home builder to install that bar you’ve always wanted, or what about that hot tub you’ve been putting off? These are the types of features you can look at enjoying now.
These are the Best Luxury Custom Empty-Nester House Designs
We know it can be difficult to find luxury custom empty-nester house designs that meet your expectations, but you don’t have to stress too much. Quite a few aging-in-place house plans tend to be empty-nester friendly.
While the styles below vary, the most popular designs tend to share a few key traits: single-story living, open layouts, and flexibility for visiting family. Here are three types of floor plans that check all the right boxes and three Dusty Rhodes Homes plans that are worth a closer look:
Ranch-style homes are ideal for empty-nesters who want everything they need on one floor. With no stairs to navigate and a wide-open flow between the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, this design makes day-to-day living simpler and more enjoyable.
The Grand Laguna from Dusty Rhodes Homes is a standout floor plan that will suit these needs. With a spacious 2,490 sq. ft. main floor (and over 4,500 sq. ft. total), this reverse-style plan gives you a luxurious primary suite, open entertaining areas, and guest rooms that are perfectly placed for privacy. It’s elegant, low-maintenance living with a touch of grandeur.
For couples who want a bit of breathing room – especially when friends or family visit – split-bedroom floor plans are ideal. By separating the primary suite from the secondary bedrooms, these layouts offer a sense of retreat without sacrificing togetherness in shared spaces.
Take a look at The Monaco on our website. This reverse home design puts the owner’s suite on one end of the main level and guest rooms on the lower level, creating a private, peaceful upstairs while still offering room for overnight visitors. With just under 2,000 sq. ft. on the main level, it provides manageable space and thoughtful design.
Life doesn’t stop when the nest empties out – it just shifts. Flexibility in a floor plan is key for retirees who want room for hobbies, a home office, or even a private workout space. A flex-forward design lets you personalize your home to fit your lifestyle for now and later.
The Santa Barbara offers serious flexibility for those who don’t want to downsize in square footage but do want to customize how space is used. With over 3,300 sq. ft. on the main floor and more than 6,000 total, it’s ideal for homeowners who want a show-stopping home that still supports aging-in-place principles like single-floor living, a luxurious owner’s suite, and adaptable room options throughout.
Now that you know about the best home floor plans for empty-nesters, what are a few of the best home features for retirees? For starters, you should consider aging-in-place features like open floor plans, wide doorways, and minimal steps, as you never know what mobility needs you’ll have in the future.
You also shouldn’t underestimate the value of natural lighting, as it does wonders for your mood and helps to make a home feel bright and lived-in while giving the illusion of having more space.
Other top-notch retiree features include:
Zero-entry showers with built-in seating.
Lever-style door handles for easier use.
Laundry rooms near the primary bedroom (because hauling baskets down a hallway isn’t fun at any age).
Add in a cozy covered patio or screen porch, smart home tech, and energy-efficient features, and suddenly, your new home feels like a place worth living in that has been built just for you.
Being armed with the knowledge of the best homes for empty-nesters is all well and good, but you also need to know a few downsizing tips for your custom home journey.
Below, we’ve shared a few downsizing tips to help you feel liberated in the luxury custom home-building process instead of being limited:
Purge with purpose: We know it can be hard, but it's important to get rid of things that don’t serve your current lifestyle. For example, you don't need to keep your children's entire stuffed animal collection or sixth-grade art project… unless they hold so much sentimental value that you can’t bear to part with them. Basically, if you keep items you don’t need, you’re defeating the point of downsizing, so weigh up what you actually need to take with you.
Think in zones: You need to prioritize the spaces you’ll use every day, like your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living area. These zones should offer you the most use when downsizing, and they might deserve more square footage than other areas like the study, guest rooms, or patio.
Design smarter storage solutions: When designing aging-in-place home plans, you must work with your builder to create smart solutions. With empty-nester floor plans, homes are usually smaller, so storage space needs to be incorporated well in advance. We always recommend custom cabinetry and built-ins, as they make a huge difference in keeping your home organized and making your life easier.
It also helps to work with a builder who understands the emotional and practical sides of this transition. With Dusty Rhodes Homes, you’re guaranteed a team that can help you with the above while keeping in mind how big a step this is during this new stage of your life.
The empty nest isn’t an end; it’s a beginning. If you’re ready to explore luxury custom empty-nester homes in KS that suit your lifestyle, comfort, and dreams, Dusty Rhodes Homes has the experience and creativity to make it happen.
Our team can help with aging-in-place ideas, recommend must-have features, and tailor a floor plan to meet your needs. So, why not let us in on designing your forever home? We can promise you won’t be disappointed in our efforts. Contact us today!