Over the past few years, plenty of us have clocked in to work from the kitchen table, a corner of the bedroom, or the couch with a laptop propped on a pillow. So it’s no surprise which extra room landed at the top of buyers’ wish lists in Homes.com’s 2026 What New Home Buyers Want report.
The most wanted room for home buyers in 2026
Of the 3,036 recent and prospective new-construction buyers Homes.com surveyed, 74 percent said a home office is important, and the report even calls it “the most critical additional room in the house.” For many households, though, one office isn’t cutting it anymore. Almost half of buyers (49 percent) want a second home office, and that number climbs to 65 percent among ultra-luxury buyers shopping for homes over $2 million. If you’ve ever argued with your partner over who gets the quiet room before a Zoom call, you already understand the struggle.
The other extra rooms on buyers’ wish lists
The home office might have claimed the top spot, but the rest of the list has some fun considerations.
Hobby room (63%): Finally, a home for the craft supplies, the half-finished puzzle, and all the other hobbies you picked up during the pandemic and never quite gave up.
Playroom (60%): This one depends a lot on who you ask. Among Gen Z buyers, 63 percent want a playroom, compared with only 14 percent of baby boomers. That makes sense, since younger buyers are more likely to have little ones running around.
Home package room (58%): A secure room inside the house where your deliveries can wait for you. If you’ve ever had a box disappear off your porch, this might be your top choice.
Community package room (53%): Same idea, but shared with your whole building or neighborhood.
Second washer or dryer (52%): Laundry on two floors means fewer trips up and down the stairs with an overflowing basket.
Infrared sauna or wellness room (49%): Nearly half of buyers want a spa-like room at home, and they won’t need a gym membership to use it.
Why home buyers want rooms with a purpose
Most of these rooms solve an everyday problem, like taking a work call without the dog barking in the background (a real risk, since 75 percent of new-construction buyers have a dog) or keeping the kids’ toys out of the living room. Some buyers also need space for more family under one roof. In fact, 18 percent said they’re motivated by the need for multigenerational living space, whether that means making room for aging parents or college kids moving back home.
So if you’re house hunting (or just daydreaming about a renovation), that spare room might be the best feature on the listing.
Brianna Lapolla is freelance writer. She started her career in e-commerce before moving into editorial for Editorialist and PureWow, and now covers everything from product reviews to roundups to lifestyle content. When she’s not writing, she’s on the hunt for New York’s best dirty martini, doing Pilates, or getting bossed around by her French Bulldog, King Louis.
