Function

• Every house requires certain things to function, such as a bathroom and a kitchen. The number of bathrooms will depend on the number of people who will live in the house. Other spaces that are expected in a house might include a place for a washing machine and clothes dryer as well as a space in which to sleep. The purpose of the house will dictate the number of bedrooms and whether there are any additional rooms needed for the inhabitants to function. If there is a member of the family who needs to work from home, a small home office might be a necessity for that family to function properly.
  
  

Style

• One of the major criteria for designing a house is style. The style criteria will depend on the tastes of the owners. One family may like the modern clean lines of a contemporary home while another homeowner may like the warmth of a craftsman style home. One way to choose a style is to do some research. It is best to look around the neighborhood and see what appeals to you and what does not. It also helps to look at different homes in different areas, especially if you are trying to duplicate or are attracted to a style that is local to a particular region. This will help you see what that style is really like instead of looking at someone's effort to duplicate it.
  
  

Space Relationships

• Space relationship is a criteria that will determine where different spaces will go. It is important to understand the relationship different spaces have to one another. Many times, the space relationships are based on the function of the space and how the family will use it, such as having a bathroom near the bedrooms or having the kitchen near the living room or having more public spaces. One way to start is to list the spaces based on the privacy needed. Bedrooms are more private and will be separate from areas that are more public and shared spaces, like the kitchen and living rooms.