House forms vary according to landscape and geographical setting. It is customary to build a house "by the landing, by the paddy field, by the temple", which means to build a house near a water source for the convenience of obtaining water supply; near a canal, river, or sea for the convenience of transporting; near a paddy field for the convenience of engaging in agricultural activities; and near the temple for the convenience of making merit.
House doors and windows are usually low and narrow. They are designed to open ineard or open by sliding to prevent the wind from banging when opening or shutting. The sloping roof is designed to withstand the wind and to drain rainwater. The lower part of the roof is extended to shield the house from the sun and rain. The vents are located between the roof and the upper wall-line and between the house floor to and the outer porch floor allow the flowing of the breeze.
A house consists of several such as a bedroom for the for the head of the family and a common room which is used as common bedroom, living, or guest's room. Kitchen and rice storage are in a separate quarters. Certain beliefs dictate house patterns; for example, double-tiered houses are not popular because of the belief that they are inauspicious and inappropriate to sit, sleep, stand in, or walk or a higher level than one's elders. Hinges are built above the kitchen hearth to store dry food and to prevent it from mold, ants, and other insects. The outside porch is used as temporary storage and drying area (for clothes as well as for fish, vegetables, and fruits). The Muslims prefer connecting house due to their large extended families. They do not decorate their houses with human or animal patterns to religious prohibitions, so the decorative patterns are of geometrical, floral, and callingraphies.