DESIGNING CHRISTIAN PRAYER AREA| RCD ARTICLE

Hello RCD watchers,

I've reconstruct a YouTube article for our readers. Make sure to comment below if this was a informative read and if you'll like more of this kind of content each Friday.

This is a two-part article of Designing an at home prayer area. Because of a special request from a client this article came to light. It’s from an Architect’s point of view which include interior and exterior designing. RC Designs choose to talk about designing prayer areas for five different religions that prevail in Suriname. This article will be for the religion Christianity because that's the article in which I got views for these two months. In my point of view these are the twelve steps to designing a prayer area. If you have any more adding tips about this subject feel free to comment below with tips. 

What is a prayer area?

A prayer area is a spiritual sanctuary where you can go to pray and meditate. This area should reflect both your faith and own spirituality.

The religions that prevail in Suriname

Judaism , Christianity , Islam , Hinduism and Buddhism

The twelve steps to designing your own prayer area

1. Find a perfect space
2. Keep it clean
3. Let’s clarify the use
4. It’s all about the sound
5. Smell the serenity
6. No distractions!
7. Keep it comfortable
8. Make it visual
9. Let there be light
10. Breath in the calming fresh air
11. Color scheme
12. Make it personal

12steps source 

1) Find a perfect space

Checklist for finding a perfect space

• Make a layout
• Tips for choosing your location 
• Write down your religion’s location criteria 
• Write down your own location criteria
• Choose your perfect prayer area

Make a layout

You can make a layout from inside or outside of your home. Make sure to include the current furniture. 

**TIP: Point out the sunrise and sunset in this layout. Also make sure to show the wind direction in this layout.

Tips for choosing your location

• A tucked away corner space that sits apart from the main traffic areas
• A closet or a pantry area
• Across from your bed, desk, sofa or kitchen table (corner of your bedroom)
• A spare room or guest room or convert an attic
• A window seats or in the garden

Write down your religion's location criteria

We as Christians worship not specifically in one kinds worship building (church). So your preference should be included: inside the home (prefers) ,private or public space, open or closed space and family use (big) or personal use (small).

Write down your own location criteria

1. Do you want in space inside or outside?
2. Do you want it a closed area or an open area?
3. Is this for family use or personal use?
4. Do you want it to be a big space or a small space?
5. Which of your religion’s location criteria conflicts with your own location criteria?
6. Do you want it to be noticeable or private?
7. Do you want it multi functional or not?

Choose your perfect prayer area

With the use of your layout and our tips circle out your perfect locations and choose your favorite prayer area.

2) Keep it clean

First by removing all the clutter of the room or space.  If needed, give the walls in your space a fresh base coat of paint. You can also contact your spiritual leader to bless your chosen prayer area. If this is not possible yet you can also burn incense. Cleansing should be repeated periodically after you begin using your sacred space. 

**TIP: I would advise you to bless this space after finishing with the whole interior designing process!!

3) Let’s clarify the use

Only one rule to follow!!

**TIP: It’s important to clarify the use of this room. Because knowing what this room will be used for will decide the further interior designing process.

Religious purpose

Each belief has their own important features for a prayer area. Emphasize what they are and use these to narrow what is needed to achieve this.

Multi functional or Singular purpose

Multi functional purpose

Sometimes making the space entirely private is not possible. So be creative when interior designing your chosen space to create this privacy. 

Singular purpose

This room/area is only used for one purpose. So the interior designing should reflect only that purpose.

4) It’s all about the sound

Religious purpose

Some religious people use instrumental music or make their own gospel music in this space.  So, introduce some instrumental music that defines your religion. You can also use gospel music that you love.

Multi functional purpose

• Make sure to locate in the corner and redesign for privacy to make the acoustics perfect.
• If outside redesign your surrounding landscape to create this acoustic silence.

Singular purpose

Isolate the space for no noise from the rest of the home. By placing doors or acoustically isolating the current walls, floors, and ceilings.

5) Smell the serenity

Every religion* incense is known to be used. The religious use of incense has its origins in antiquity. The burned incense may be intended as a sacrificial offering to various deity or to serve as an aid in prayer. In the Christianity biblical ointment is for some and scented candles can also be used. They do no harm of course and it is not necessary in the praying. 

6) No distractions!!

Tips to achieve this peace:

• If you dislike too much quiet, try adding a small tabletop fountain or putting wind chimes outside the window. 
• You also may benefit from a music system in the room.
• If there is a window in the room that looks out onto a street or another noisy or distracting area, consider adding curtains or light-blocking curtains. 
• Use soundproofing materials 
• Try to keep the space technology free
• Keep this chosen area away from active spaces. Like the front or back entree, the living/family rooms, the hallways, and stairs.
• Make sure that if this is for personal use that you make rules to keep this space private.
•  Keep this chosen area away from the street view and driveway.

7) Keep it comfortable

The most important tips are comfortable chairs and the placing of the chairs.

8) Make it visual

Checklist for appropriate furniture

• Make a list of the needed furniture in your prayer area
• Choose comfortable seating when choosing your furniture
• Make pics of the chosen furniture
• Write down the dimension of the furniture
• Sketch the layout again with the must needed furniture (2D or 3D) *
• Evaluate the chosen furniture in your 2D or 3D design before purchase 

Checklist for ritual items

• altar
• comfortable furniture
• incense
• a bible
• rosary

Altar

Creating an altar can be as simple as draping a small table with a special fabric. You can place a symbol of Maria or Jesus. Anything that brings peace to you and what you feel comfortable with.

Comfortable Furniture 

To set the mood for prayer, place pillows on the floor or find a comfortable chair that supports your back.

A bible

The bible is a Christian prayer book, containing the Christian scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments.

Rosary

The Rosary is a form of prayer used especially in the Catholic Church named for the string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers

9) Let there be light

Choices for lighting up these spaces are natural lighting , artificial lighting and candles

*Use colored bulbs in your lights, or colored shades over your lamps, as well as dimmers, to again modify the light and color of the room

10) Breath in the calming fresh air

Having a window opening in your sacred pace is especially welcome to allow fresh air and sunshine for healing and happiness. If there is no window available, an air purifier is fair substitute. If outside choose a spot that has a perfect wind flow. 

11) Color scheme

Purpose of this room

A spiritual room should be decorated to make it easy for you to become calm and focused, so neutral colors such as creams or pale browns and grays are appropriate.  Pure whites may feel cold, however.

Tips for color scheming the prayer area

In most instances, bright, bold, flashy or trendy colors can be inappropriate for a spiritual room.  Other good colors are soft or pale greens and blues. These colors are reminiscent of nature and the natural world, and many people find them calming colors

Checklist for color scheming the prayer area

◦ Learn what mood different colors may represent. (next slide)

◦ Look at the style of furnishings you are using.

◦ Use colors to enhance or give a mood to your room.

◦ Let in the amount of light you want to complement your mood, and set the tone you are looking for.

 

The following is a general guide to the influence of colors on mood: 

• Black: darkness and simplicity
• Blue: peace and tranquility
• Green: natural yet funky
• Orange: warm and with energy
• Purple: spirituality, transformation, funkiness
• Red: love, danger, or desire
• White: purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace
• Yellow: joy, happiness, optimism, hope, sunshine, space

12) Make it personal

The most important rule about “Making it personal” is giving this room your own personal touch and being unique . So take note of your religion when designing, but keep in mind that your own interior style will make this prayer area amazing.

You can play around with the following :

• Seating choices from other religions can also be your inspiration.
• Ritual objects for praying is for everyone different. So don’t be too firm on the religions rules about ritual objects.
• Color scheming is all about your preference at the end of the day
• Lighting choices are endless. So make use of that and be creative.
• The space you choose can be compromised to fit your needs. Remember that!!
• You have to remember that sounds & smell is also about your preferences.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Comment below! And don't forget to share.