With less money in the family budget, people are using their homes for everything from work to play these days, and many are building homes suited specifically for their individual needs.

With a variety of modifiable floor plans, Beechen & Dill Homes offers custom and semi-custom houses to accommodate a myriad of activities. The company has properties in several suburbs and is currently building semi-custom homes in Lockport and Romeoville.

Home offices are common these days, with many people redesigning a den or bedroom to be a work space, according to Bob Williams, director of sales. Many also choose to make a special homework spot for kids, with a built-in desk and Internet connection.

“It’s becoming very common now,” he said.

Beechen & Dill offers in many floor plans a “bonus room,” often used as a loft, for various purposes. Some choose to use the space as a play room, while others make it into a library or media room.

“We’ve set that up a number of different ways,” Williams said.

Many homebuyers use their outdoor spaces to the fullest advantage as well, Williams said. Oversized patios with fire pits and outdoor seating are popular. Some even ask for double-sided fireplaces, with two chimneys back to back, so a family has an indoor fireplace and an outdoor one in the same spot.

The indoors is set up for entertaining too. Since partygoers tend to gather where the food is, large, open kitchens are now flowing directly into family rooms to create a bigger space.

“It’s one of the most asked-for things,” Williams said. “People seem to be entertaining more.”

The basement is another hot spot for families. It may be designated for a play room with built-in storage and dry erase boards for the kids, or even a media room with a home theater system and seating.

Another popular option these days is an “in-law suite,” Williams said. With families tightening their belts, many people have parents or adult children living in the house and sharing expenses, and having a separate space gives each limb of the family tree some breathing room.

Usually located on the first floor – with respect to the older folks who may have trouble with stairs – the suite includes a bedroom with a large closet and connected bathroom. While these spaces don’t typically have separate entrances, they do tend to be secluded from the rest of the house to allow for privacy.