If you’re preparing to build your own home, one of the most important factors to consider is how many rooms you’ll have, and what purpose they will serve. Modern homes often have space for a home office, a hangout area for kids, a space for hobbies, and a separate living area for an aging parent or other relative. But what about the homes of the future? What rooms will these houses have? Let’s take a look at some of the options these future homes might include.
A Dedicated Delivery Space
A very large number of people shop online today, whether it’s from dedicated online sellers such as Amazon or from local grocery stores that offer food delivery services. However, with all of these packages coming to the home, package theft has increased. These thieves watch for deliveries or drive around neighborhoods looking for boxes on porches. While video doorbells and other surveillance technology have helped curtail this crime, it still happens.
That’s why it’s likely that there will be some form of delivery space in new homes. This may be a small area almost like an attached shed, or it could be a breezeway at the front of the home. Whatever form it takes, it will have an electronic lock on it. You give the lock code to your delivery person, and they put your packages there. These spaces may even include refrigerators or freezers for grocery deliveries.
Flexible Living Spaces
Indoor/outdoor living is already incredibly popular in some areas, and you can expect to see this trend continue in the future. Today, this often means having sliding doors or even an entire wall that can be opened up to connect an indoor space with an outdoor entertainment area. In the future, it’s likely these folding walls will become even more popular. Outdoor kitchens are also likely to be found in more and more homes. When the wall is opened up, people can freely move from the indoor space to the outdoors without any barrier, allowing everyone to feel like they’re in the same space.
The Gaming Room
The traditional game room brings to mind a pool table, darts, and other games that aren’t really found in homes today. However, in the future, you may find more and more houses with gaming rooms. These rooms provide a hangout space for people to play video games, go online with their tablets, and much more. They may include several computers or screens that can be connected to other devices, and you can be sure there will be a good number of electrical outlets or charging stations. You may even be able to plug into surround sound systems or VR systems.
These rooms will be more than just a place for people to sit around engrossed in their own virtual world—they will be a place where everyone can game together and share what they’re doing. The gaming room will become a hub of activity backed by strong wireless connections, the ability to connect to others, and the ability to share and learn.
True Flex Rooms
Today, the idea of a flex room is often something like a home office that can double as a spare room or a dining room that becomes the craft room when needed. However, in the future, you may find true flex rooms that include built-in furniture and fold out stations. Murphy beds may make a return to these spaces, allowing the room to become a bedroom when needed. When it’s not, the Murphy bed folds into the wall, reclaiming that space to use for something else. Fold-out desks and tables are also becoming more and more popular. They fold flat against the wall when not needed.
This means you could use the space for crafting one day, then fold away the table and turn it into your yoga space the next. You’re not simply moving furniture or working around it—you would be truly transforming the space to fit your present needs. We may even see the addition of interior folding walls similar to those exterior walls used to create indoor/outdoor spaces. Need a bigger room? Simply fold in the wall between two spaces. Want some privacy? Fold-out the divider.
These are just a few features of homes in the future. If you’re building a house, you might want to consider adding a space for gaming or look at indoor/outdoor living solutions. You may just be ahead of the trend!