Content creator, artisan baker, jewelry designer – the gig economy in the U.S. is alive and thriving with a record number of Americans freelancing, creating content, selling goods online, and juggling multiple side hustles – all out of their own homes.
Today’s new homes do more than provide a place to live – they support how we work and earn our incomes. A staggering 64 million Americans count themselves as freelancers – spanning business consulting, social media influencing and “solopreneurship.” And don’t forget the other 52% who are hybrid workers and 27% who are exclusively remote. In short, the home is becoming the head office.
Why it matters: With this shift, builders are rethinking how new construction homes can serve this growing segment.
From natural lighting and dual offices to safe-delivery vestibules, here’s a look at how modern home design is evolving to meet the needs of today’s entrepreneurs and gig workers.
1. Natural Lighting
Natural light isn’t just nice to have, it’s a must-have for anyone who films content, takes product photos, or wants to look good on video calls.
Modern builders have put this front-of-mind with large windows in each room, allowing for plenty of natural light. They’re also designing floor plans with strategically placed skylights to maximize exposure to sunlight.
Natural light also improves productivity, focus and mental health – essential for anyone working long hours from home.
2. Delivery-friendly Entryways
When you’re running a business from home, you’re receiving packages on the daily. Think: inventory, ingredients, supplies, equipment.
This is where delivery-friendly entryways are a game-changer. They include:
Mudrooms that act as mini-shipping receiving areas
Parcel lockers parked at the front entrance of your home to deter theft
Built-in parcel boxes that feed deliveries into your home
Covered front porches with secure package drop zones
Builders are incorporating these must-haves seamlessly into home design – sometimes camouflaging parcel boxes and lockers to blend into the home’s décor.
Delivery vestibules are also gaining popularity. This setup features a door paired with a smart doorbell next to the home’s main entryway, where couriers can drop off packages for easy pickup at the homeowner’s convenience.
3. Flexible, Open Work Zones
Report after report has highlighted how much Americans value open-concept spaces in their homes that can shapeshift to their needs.
Whether you’re recipe-testing, capturing content for your blog, or packaging hundreds of orders, you need that flexible space to shift between tasks. One day, the space is a test kitchen, the next it’s a studio for an image library, and the day after that, it’s repurposed for meeting clients.
In response, builders are designing:
Spacious kitchens that lead into dining and living room areas for easy multitasking
Convertible loft spaces that can transform into home offices, craft and tailoring studios, or content creation zones
Movable partitions to carve out designated space with flexibility
4. Ample Built-In Storage
Work-from-home entrepreneurs need more than just a laptop. Shipping materials, crafting and textile supplies, or cooking ingredients and equipment quickly take up plenty of space in the home.
This is why built-in storage is another aspect builders are prioritizing into their blueprints. This often looks like:
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and cabinets built into office spaces
Walk-in kitchen pantries with industrial-size fridges, freezers and appliances
Walk-in closets in primary bedrooms
Hidden storage under stairs, window seats, and mudrooms
Ultimately, it’s about providing space for everything your business needs under one roof.
5. Garage/Basement Conversions and Detached Studios
Some entrepreneurs and gig workers need to separate work from home and prefer not to make their living room their atelier.
With this in mind, builders are creating a clear divide between work and play within the home, upgrading untapped spaces, such as garages, basements, guest houses, and attics.
With some bespoke finishings, these can easily be transformed into:
Photography and art studios
Therapy and wellness spaces for yoga, meditation, or massage therapy
Workshops and shipping centers
Podcast and recording studios
Home gyms and personal training studios
Hairdressing and aesthetics salons
Sewing or fashion design studios
Catering or cooking channel prep kitchens
6. Dual Home Offices
The work-from-home trend isn’t going away – and in many households, it’s not just one person who needs an in-home office. Whether it’s a two-income couple or a parent with teens who need study space, homebuyers often require not just one, but two dedicated workspaces. You can’t record ASMR videos while your spouse takes work calls right next to you all day!
In response, builders are designing floor plans that include:
Two separate offices on different levels or on opposite sides of the home
One formal office and a smaller study nook
Converted walk-in closets repurposed into “cloffices” for focused work or study
Home offices with built-in Murphy beds for a dual-purpose guest room
Sound-proofed office pods that are fully enclosed for deep work
Under-stair workstations for kids’ private study space
7. Soundproofing and Acoustic Design
Whatever your gig, you may need a quiet, soundproof environment – for your sake and your neighbors’s, if you’re pulling all-nighters. Plus, if your side gig involves using a microphone, you’ll want to keep outside noise from seeping in.
Builders are readily including better soundproofing between rooms, especially around home offices, bedrooms, and flex spaces, with features that may include:
Insulated interior walls
Solid-core doors
Acoustic ceiling tiles in basements or garages
Carpeted floors and cork underlayment
These are all measures that can help reduce sound transfer and neutralize background noise. They can make a world of difference for content creators, musicians, and podcasters counting on a quiet workspace.
