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My boss send me an email about an article of Marcus de Guzman Jr. titled “Designing a House with a Soul.”  It is about how the design of the house can affect the relationships between family members?  Upon reading, it tackles about a basic home, a simple life and discipline.  It quotes “While it is true that the basic function of a house is shelter, proper design can actually bring family ties closer and enhance relationships.  The size of the house is not important as its functionality.”  Below is a summarize considerations on how to achieve this:

1.  Living Room

• Mainly the family room, the place wherein the members can stay, play or even pray together.
• In designer houses, it is not fashionable to have a TV set in the living room.  However, in the average house, this is the entertainment center.  Just ensure that the TV set is not the sole focal point of the room and that other activities can take place simultaneously.

2. Dining Room

• Must be situated in the most comfortable space in the house.
• Do not put TV sets in this area.  Mealtime is the beast opportunity to hold family discussions, so keep this family time focused.
• Try to include a place for breakfast area where oven toasters, microwave ovens, coffee maker and water dispensers can be stored near the dining area.  This will reach the children to help themselves, instead of relying on other persons to do things for them.

3. Kitchen

• Must be properly planned for time and motion efficiency.
• If planned well, this may be the best area in the house where the kids can learn how to organize.
• A neat and functional kitchen may arouse the children in interest in cooking.
• It is advisable to have a double bowl kitchen sink that two people can us simultaneously and with two faucets.  This type of sink will enable siblings to share the responsibility f washing dishes, which could make the task more enjoyable.

4. Bedroom

• Do not put TV sets on the bedroom.  This will allow the couple more time to talk to each other and more time for intimacy.
• It is advisable not to have workstations in the bedroom.  Preferably put it in a separate room or put it in a corner where it will not distinctively remind you of daily activities and problems, thus affecting your sleep or your attention to your spouse. However it is alright to have a small writing desk for your journal and short reminders.
• It is advisable not to put refrigerator inside a bedroom.  It is better to share meals with the other members of the family rather than eating by yourself.  Having food so close can be to much temptation.
• It is nice to have positive mental attitude triggering mechanism inside your room.  It could be in the form of photos, or pleasant souvenirs from your trips, or it could be a picture of religious devotion or holy icon.
• It is not necessary to give your children his own room.  It is important, however, to give each one of them his own space.  Siblings of the same gender could share one big room with their own area defined, with a divider of some sorts for a little privacy.  This enables them to interact even while keeping their own space.  On the other hand, giving them their own rooms would create too much individualism and will rob them of the opportunity to mingle and communicate.
• A bigger room allows a better ventilation and can be more economical to cool.
• Make sure lighting is designed well, such that each person can got as much or as little as he needs.

5. Bathroom

• Make room in front of the mirror for the couple to use it simultaneously.  You do not need two wash basins, one will do, as long as there is sufficient space for the second person.  This translates to approximately an additional 15 minutes of available time for spouses to communicate, which is vital if the spouses are always in a hurry every morning.

6. Common Space

• If possible, it is better to have a common study that is comfortable and free of distractions, meaning no TV and no game consoles.  A computer may be placed but strict guidelines when it comes to games and entertainment is impost.
• It is ideal to have one TV set per home.  This ensures that the family members can watch shows together.  It allows the family to learn the art of negotiation and reciprocity.  Later in life, this kill could be useful, especially if they decide to go into business together.
• Have a space to store books and reading materials with well-lit corners to sit and read.  This is one activity that must be encourage in kids early on.  Children’s books must be placed within children’s reach, while adult materials to be placed on higher shelves.

These are just some tips to be considered when family togetherness is the main objective in mind.  Hope these helps…