5 Ground Rules for Building a Blended Family That Lasts (Rule 3)

In the last post, I covered why everything not in the divorce agreement deserves careful negotiation, and why involving your new partner in those conversations is essential for building trust and preventing resentment.

This time, I'm diving into a challenge that often gets overlooked: how the physical space of your home can impact your relationship and your blended family.

Making Space for Everyone: The Blended Family Home

When people get separated, they often find a new place to accommodate their new needs as single parents.

They find a place that is "juuuust right" for them; their number of kids, schedule, and location in proximity to the other parent.  

When a new partner, with their kids, or joint kids join the family, the space might not be suitable anymore. 

Number of bathrooms can become an issue, game closets in the middle of the living room, and pull-up bars that are set up at the entrance to the kitchen might not be everyone's idea of a comfortable living space.   

It is hard to come across a step-parent who does not want a clear degree of separation between their living space and their step-kids' games, friends, and toiletries. 

Maybe you moved into the house your partner shared with their ex, or maybe the ex is still living in a home your partner owns.

Either way, these arrangements carry both practical and symbolic weight.

Having an open and ongoing conversation about the new needs (as well as a future plan) can do wonders for your daily well-being and interactions with all family members.

Even if moving, selling, or renovating right away is not an option, just relocating those game cabinets and taking down the pull-up bars can go a long way. 

Small adjustments to the physical space can ripple out to calmer days, smoother routines, and a home that truly feels like yours together.  

In the next post, I’ll tackle one of the biggest emotional challenges in blended families: raising stepkids. Why it’s often harder than parenting your biological children, and how awareness and intentionality can make a big difference.  

Kate Winkler works with individuals and couples who reside in NJ. Click here to book your first session.