Designing a Home that Works for You

Part 1: Working From Home, Self-Employment & Modern Ways of Earning

working at home

Not so long ago, a “good home” was judged by how it looked when you came back to it at the end of the day.

Now?

For many of us, home is where the day happens.

Across Scotland, and very much so here in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, working from home is no longer a temporary arrangement or a perk. It’s part of everyday life. Hybrid roles, portfolio careers, self-employment, consultancy, creative work, online businesses… all of it has quietly reshaped what people need from their homes.

And once you notice that shift, it’s very hard to unsee it.

Homes Are Now Places of Work (Whether We Planned It or Not)

For a growing number of households, the home isn’t something you leave behind at 7 or 8am. It’s where income is generated, ideas are developed, meetings are taken and businesses are built.

That changes the brief.

A spare bedroom with a desk in the corner often isn’t enough anymore. People are increasingly looking for:

• Two flexible workspaces, not one

• Natural light that supports energy and focus

• Proper separation between work and family life

• Reliable connectivity, planned in from the start

• Spaces that can adapt as working patterns change

• Convenient spaces that support self employment and entrepreneur activities

When work happens at home several days a week, or every day, design has a direct impact on wellbeing, productivity and even relationships.

A well-thought-out workspace doesn’t just support work. It protects the rest of your life from being taken over by it.

Why Fixed Layouts Are Starting to Feel Outdated

One of the quiet frustrations with many standard new-build homes is that they’re designed around assumptions that no longer hold true.

They often assume:

• one main income

• work happens elsewhere

• home life follows a neat, predictable rhythm

Real life is rarely that tidy.

Custom home design allows layouts to respond to how people actually live and earn. That might mean:

• a dedicated office away from busy family areas

• a flexible room that shifts between workspace and guest room

• a garden-facing studio that works for creative or client-based work

• separate “zones” so two people can work simultaneously without clashing

The key difference is this: the layout adapts to your working life, not the other way around.

Psychology Matters More Than We Think

Where and how we work has a real psychological impact.

Natural daylight boosts concentration and mood. Acoustic separation helps focus and reduces tension. Clear boundaries between work and rest prevent burnout.

Good design doesn’t shout about itself. It quietly removes friction.

When workspaces are thoughtfully positioned, with views, light, privacy and flow, working from home becomes calmer, more sustainable and far less draining.

And that benefit ripples outward into the rest of the household.

Energy Efficiency Isn’t a “Nice to Have” Anymore

When you’re home more often, you feel how a house performs.

Cold spots, overheating, draughts and rising energy bills quickly move from background annoyance to daily stress. That’s why energy efficiency has become a deciding factor, not a bonus.

People working from home increasingly prioritise:

• consistent temperatures

• good ventilation and air quality

• high levels of insulation

• homes designed to accommodate renewables and EV charging

Comfort, affordability and long-term running costs matter just as much as how a space looks, especially when you’re spending most of your week inside it.

Space Has Regained Its Value

Post-pandemic, space is no longer seen as indulgent, it’s practical.

In the North East especially, buyers are looking for:

• room for proper workspaces

• storage for equipment or hobbies

• gardens that offer breathing space between calls

• parking and charging infrastructure

When your home doubles as your workplace, space supports sanity.

Why Custom Design Makes Sense Here

Interestingly, people aren’t asking for more work when it comes to building a home. They’re asking for more say.

The appeal of custom build lies in that middle ground:

• more flexibility than standard new builds

• far less risk and stress than full DIY self-build

It allows working households to influence layout, performance and flow, without taking on project management themselves.

For self-employed professionals, business owners and anyone whose working life is evolving, that balance is increasingly attractive.

Designing for the Way You Earn - Now and Later

The biggest shift of all? People are thinking long-term.

They’re asking:

• Will this home still work if my work changes?

• Can this space adapt if one income becomes two?

• Will I still want to work here in ten years?

Homes designed with flexibility in mind reduce anxiety about the future, because the house is ready for change.

A Thoughtful Starting Point

When homes are designed around how people actually live and work, everything feels easier.

At Strawberry Grange, this understanding sits at the heart of the custom-build approach. Plots offer the space and freedom to design homes that support modern working lives, from quiet, focused offices to flexible rooms that evolve as careers do.

This isn’t about trends. It’s about creating homes that quietly support the way people earn, think and live, today and in the years ahead.

Coming Next in the Series

Part 2: Designing a Home That Grows With You - Future-Proofing for Life’s Next Chapters

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Because the best homes don’t just look good.They work hard, quietly, in the background of real lives.