Questions to Help Design a Home

Location and Site Selectioin

• The first set of questions you must ask involve the home's location including identifying where the sun rises and sets in relation to the house. This is important if you are using a plot of land that is not bound by any regulations associated with a development of neighborhood association. Examples of questions to ask include:

  1. Do you want the front of the house to face the street or be angled to take in another view?

  2. Will you use natural daylight to help illuminate the house? If so, do you prefer the bulk of daily sunshine to come through the front or rear of your house?

  3. Will you have woods or trees surrounding the house? If so, how far away from the house to you want the treeline to extend or stop?

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

• Knowing how the house will be used can be determined by asking a series of questions to gauge what interior space is needed. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms planned should correspond to the number of people living there. Questions to ask include:

  1. What are the minimum number of bedrooms required? Does every person need to have their own bedroom or will children pair up and share space?

  2. Will the number of bathrooms correspond to the number of bedrooms? Will smaller bedrooms share bathrooms in hallways or other common areas?

  3. How many bathrooms, both full and partial, do you want on the non-sleeping levels or areas of the house for guests, occupants and company to use?

  4. Will you require any exterior bedrooms or bathrooms such as pool houses, guest houses or in-law quarters?

Kitchen and Dining

• Cooking, eating and entertaining are important components to consider when designing a home. Keep in mind that kitchens need to be functional and offer ease of access. Questions to include:

  1. Do you want the stove and oven to be freestanding or built into a wall?

  2. Do you need extra counter space? Are you interested in a kitchen island?

  3. Do you want cabinets to be pre-built or custom designed? What type of wood grain do you want?

  4. Do you want a pantry as part of the cabinet arrangement or would you prefer to have a separate, smaller closet style pantry?

  5. Do you require room for eating in the kitchen? Do you want the kitchen closed off from other rooms or open to the dining room?

  6. What size table do you need for your dining room? Will you be housing additional, large pieces of furniture such as curios or hutches in the dining room?

Living Rooms and Recreational Areas

• Gathering spots throughout the inside of a house typically include living rooms, family rooms, dens and even finished basements. Determining the proper design involves ensuring that you understand how you want those areas to function. Ask questions such as:

  1. Do you want a formal family room or den? If so, do you want a more casual gathering area in the house as well?

  2. What type of furniture are you going to be placing in gathering areas? Will these include wrap around couches, coffee tables, bookcases, end tables, recliners or sleeper sofas?

  3. Will you have televisions mounted to the wall or placed inside cabinets or stands?

Outdoor Areas

• Outdoor areas of a house also need to be considered when designing the overall plan for the property. This is especially true for those who use outside areas heavily and view those spots as extra rooms. Questions to ask include:

  1. Do you want a screened in area, such as a porch?

  2. Do you want elevated decks or flat patios? What is the smallest size area you require based on how you plan to use the area?

  3. Do you want a cooking area built outside to house a grill?

  4. What other large, outdoor items do you wish to have such as swing sets, fire pits, in-ground swimming pool, hot tub or fencing?

  5. Do you want to have a shed or pool house on the property?