Designing A House Series: Questions to Consider

I am going to start a series of essays where I work out some thoughts on designing a house. The first essay in the series is going to be a list of questions that have come up during the design process. The answers to these questions can be ranked to help determine what is and what isn’t important. I may add more questions again in a future essay, but I think this is a good place to start.

How many people are going to comfortably live here?

Does everyone get their own bedroom? How about their own bathroom?

Does each bedroom have a window? If so, how many and how large are they?

Do the placements of the windows in the house affect how the furniture is arranged?

Are there quiet spaces both inside and outside for reading and quiet activities?

If I want to have a slow morning, where can I sit and drink coffee?

Does each bedroom have a pretty view? A pretty view is open to interpretation, but what it usually isn’t a busy road or another house

Are there any dead spots in the house besides closets and hallways? A dead spot is a place where there is no activity

Does the backyard have a swimming pool?

Does the backyard have trees?

Does the backyard have a garden?

When a person enters the house through the main entrance, which room do they enter?

Do bedrooms share walls with active rooms (living room, kitchen, bathroom, laundry room)? Hallways and closets can act as buffer zones to reduce sound between rooms

In the kitchen, is there enough space to do all three of these activities at once: prepare food, serve food, and eat food? Usually in these rooms, there is only enough room to prepare food

What is the working triangle in the kitchen?

Should the kitchen be open or closed off into its own room?

Is there a separate dining room?

If there is a separate dining room, how often will it be used? Can it be used for other purposes, or will it act as a dead zone when it isn’t used?

In the laundry room, is there enough space to do all three of these activities at once: store laundry, operate the washer and dryer, and hang up/fold clothes? Usually in these rooms, there is only room to operate the washer and dryer.

Is there a front porch where the occupants can sit? Is it covered? What do they look at?

Is there a back porch where the occupants can sit? Is it covered? What do they look at?

On a rainy day, can someone walk from the front door to the car without getting wet?

Where is the car parked?

When someone enters the house on a rainy day, is there a place for them to deposit wet clothes, shoes, and an umbrella?

What is the living room arrangement centered around? Usually it is centered around a television, a fireplace, a window, a piano, or a central piece of furniture like a sofa.

Does the master bathroom have a separate bathtub and a separate shower?

Are there are walk-in closets? What kind of shelving do they have (wood shelving or closet rod and shelf or a combination of both)?

Is the building one story or two stories?

If two stories, does the staircase or staircases affect the arrangement of the furniture?

If two stories, where is the balcony located?

What is the view from the balcony?

What are the most unique parts of the house?

Do I want a low-pitched roof?

Where do the rain gutters empty out the water after it drains off the roof?

What type of décor do I want to have?

When someone walks into my house, what are the first things I hope they notice about the decorations and design?

It’s important to me that people feel like my home is their home when they visit. Do I think they feel that way?

Does my house look comfortable and inviting?

Does the master bedroom get morning sun or evening sun?

Does the back patio get morning sun or evening sun?

Does including a fireplace make sense given the location I am building? If I include a fireplace, will it affect the arrangement of the furniture of the room?