Why is it called a living room? Below will show you the history of the living room, the size of the living room, and other names for living rooms.
The term “living room” came from an issue of the Ladies Home Journal made the suggestion to get past the sadness and hardship of the moment and return to fun and socializing. It was suggested that these areas be utilized and lived in rather than being saved for special occasions.
For more information, keep reading.
Why is It Called a Living Room?
The parlor, or death room, was the location that is now used as the living room. The term parlor is from the French word “Parle,” which means to speak. Because it was a place to sit and chat, it was referred to as a parlor.
Numerous death cases during World War I changed the parlor’s intended use. Funeral customs were carried out in the parlor or death room during the 19th century.
From this room, the family member offered their final tribute to their loved ones. However, after World War I, the situation significantly changed, which reduced the amount of fatalities.
As a result, people did comment that the area was no longer a death room. It was livelier and had no mourning; they named it the “living room.”
The Living Room Sizes
Here are the living room sizes:
Tiny Living Room
It’s a room that can take a maximum of two small two-seater sofas. The couch can only be placed on one side of the room in this arrangement. Due to the limited workspace, the room is best for two to three people.
Small Living Room
The tiny living space is 10 by 13 feet in size. The space can comfortably fit two to four people, but the layout does not allow for multiple sofas.
Medium Living Room
This living room measures roughly 12 x 18 feet. It has an average living room size and can accommodate six to ten people without difficulty. It is perfect for homes that are 1500 square feet. Unquestionably, a larger living room is required for a larger home.
Larger Living Room
Large living rooms are typically 15 by 20 feet in size. or 300-sqft. You are fortunate if your home has a living room larger than 300 square feet.
Excellent space will allow you to furnish the space however you please. You can also pull the sofas away from the walls and add more luxurious sofas and other secondary furniture.
A Living Room by Any Other Name…
Some wonder what the difference is between a living room and a family room, and some homes have both. The family room serves as the place to let your hair down, take a nap anywhere, or play in full force, while the living room is still frequently used for entertaining guests in many homes. Compared to living rooms, family rooms are typically more relaxed. Living rooms are frequently placed closer to the front door of the house because that is where guests enter and form their first impression. The living room is frequently still decorated in a more formal manner as a result. A family room is less formal and located farther away from the main entrance. Family get-togethers can be held in the family room, which is more for practical purposes than for aesthetic purposes.
Some also use the term “TV room,” denoting a room reserved for, well, watching viewing television and spending time with family. The TV room, which can also be referred to as a family room, is less formal than living rooms.
Modern living rooms generally don’t have any strict guidelines for hosting friends and family. It really depends on the homeowner and how they like to gather and entertain. Still today, some homes have separate spaces for entertaining in a more formal setting and unwinding with family in a less formal setting. Some families prefer to use the living room as a family space rather than a formal one, or vice versa, or they use it for both.
The living room is now exactly what every homeowner wants it to be. It doesn’t matter if it’s hosting visitors, spending time with the family, or engaging in all the activities that come with sharing a home. Today’s living rooms are used for gatherings with friends and family, watching TV or movies, playing video games, taking naps in plush furniture, and having family discussions. They have become bright, warm, cozy spaces that have left behind the dark times in their history.
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House Rooms
Here is a list of house rooms:
Reception Area
In the days, the parlor room was used as the reception area. Funerals, births, marriages, and other significant events took place there. However, the majority of people rent space for events, even though the modern living room still serves these purposes.
The living room is still used to welcome guests from far-off places and cultures and to mark important occasions.
Entertainment Room
The first recognizable modern living room version, according to history, was created by Americans in the early 20th century. People at this time decided to incorporate the newest technologies into the living room.
Nowadays, many households have entertainment rooms. It is a perfect place for socializing while playing games and having parties.
The Art Gallery
The parlor possessed the traits of the stateroom and front room from the sixteenth to the first decades of the nineteenth centuries. The best pictures, furniture, and artwork were therefore used by the homeowners to decorate the space.
These items can be found in the majority of living rooms today because they serve as the family’s public face. Decorating the living room takes extra work.
FAQs
Who Calls It a Living Room?
The younger you are, the more likely you are to call it the living room, as two thirds of millennials do. But the older you are, the more likely you are to call it the sitting room. The majority of people who refer to it as the lounge are in their middle years (35–54).
Do British Say Living Room?
The term “living room” refers to the main space in an American home where residents typically gather to do activities such as watch television and host guests. To Americans, the British term for this space, sitting room, sounds rather quaint and archaic.
What’s the Difference Between a Living Room and a Family Room?
For formal entertaining or special occasions, living rooms have been used. Family rooms are comfortable, convenient, and family-friendly spaces created for everyday use. The frequency of use is another way to distinguish a living room from a family room.
Can a Living Room Be Considered a Bedroom?
An attic can make a perfectly acceptable bedroom as long as it meets ceiling height requirements and has an acceptable window. A former living room or den is also often a good candidate for a bedroom, since it likely has methods of egress and other requirements already.
Summary: Why is It Called a Living Room?
It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the phrase “living room” became widely used. The living room used to be referred to as the parlor or death room. One of the crucial areas in any home is the living room.
It serves as the front of the family and a gathering spot for guests, friends, and even family members to chat, watch TV, etc. Consequently, a lot of people concentrate on furnishing and decorating the living room to give it a sophisticated and cozy appearance.
