The beauty of homeownership is that you can do whatever you want with the rooms inside. But when it comes to planning future remodels or investing in new furniture, understanding the different types of rooms in a house and their purposes can be invaluable information! Here are the most common residential room types and why they exist:
20 Types of Rooms in a House
1. Foyer
The foyer is the first room or area at the front of a house. Today, foyers are more commonly called entryways.
Not all foyers are distinct rooms of their own. In modern homes, the entryway often leads directly into a hallway or another room. Some home layouts forego a separate foyer entirely and instead lead right into the kitchen, living room, or a similar space.
Taking the time to decorate your home’s foyer can give the space a more elegant, thoughtful appearance. After all, this area sets the stage for what guests can expect from the rest of your personal living space!
2. Mudroom
Think of the mudroom as the “backstage” entrance to your home’s interior. A mudroom is very similar to a foyer but the two rooms serve significantly different purposes!
While foyers are all about welcoming guests into the space with open arms, mudrooms act as a dumping ground for coats, boots, and other outerwear. The tendency for mudrooms to collect mud, snow, and worse is where the name comes from.
Mudrooms are typically located at the back of the house (versus foyers which are situated at the front entrance). If the home features an attached garage, the mudroom will be the first room adjacent to it.
3. Sunroom
Yet another type of room that bridges the gap between the indoors and outdoors is a sunroom. You may also know this room as a solarium, three-season porch, or conservatory.
As the name implies, a sunroom is all about maximal natural light. Most sunrooms feature wall-to-wall windows. Many sunrooms also boast glass ceilings (or generous skylights!).
A sunroom is a wonderful place to grow plants — even when the weather outside is far from ideal. If you live somewhere with harsh winters, however, you may need to seal off the sunroom to conserve heat during the colder months.
4. Living Room
The living room is one of the largest and most used spaces in the average home. But do you know what differentiates this room from any other space with a sofa?
Traditionally, living rooms are formal areas meant for entertaining guests. A formal living room will be filled with only the best furniture — protective covers may even be used when guests are not present — and conversation-worthy decor.
Formal living rooms rarely include TVs or other forms of household media. These items are more common in informal living rooms, also called family rooms.
5. Family Room
Today, the terms “living room” and “family room” are often used interchangeably. And there’s nothing wrong with prioritizing your family’s comfort over creating a formal space for guests!
A family room is much more relaxed than a formal living room. While the types of furniture and decor may be similar, practicality takes precedence over aesthetics.
Compared to a traditional living room, your home’s family room probably contains more personal items. These may include children’s (or pets’) toys, a TV, gaming consoles, and more.
6. Kitchen
This one should be easy! The kitchen is where the majority of the home’s food is stored and prepared for eating.
Kitchens come in all different sizes and styles. While some kitchens include a casual dining area, others are reserved for food preparation only.
The average kitchen includes a refrigerator, sink, oven, stovetop, and more optional appliances. A small kitchen that contains only a sink, a mini-fridge, and one or two compact cooking appliances is called a kitchenette.
7. Butler’s Pantry
Household pantries are most often located in a large cupboard or walk-in closet. A pantry that is its own separate room is typically called a butler’s pantry.
A butler’s pantry isn’t just for storing dry goods. It’s also the perfect place to keep countertop appliances and extra dinnerware. Many butler’s pantries feature sinks and coolers as well.
Historically, the butler’s pantry was located between the kitchen and formal dining room of a house. Today’s butler’s pantries can be anywhere adjacent to the kitchen.
8. Dining Room
A dining room is any room in a house where eating is the main purpose! Dining rooms are generally located next to the kitchen for convenience.
In particularly large or old homes, there may be both a formal and informal dining room. While a formal dining room is entirely independent of any other space, an informal dining room is often built as an extension of the kitchen or living room.
Many homeowners use the informal dining room for everyday use. The formal dining room is reserved for special occasions, holidays, and entertaining guests.
9. Great Room
With high ceilings and tons of versatility, great rooms are one of the most popular spaces in contemporary home design.
Great rooms are almost exclusively seen in homes with open-concept floor plans. This is because a great room is actually an amalgamation of several living spaces — typically the living room, dining room, and/or kitchen.
The concept of a great room is especially popular with large families and those who love to entertain. If you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of privacy, there’s really no better way to make the most of the space.
10. Office
With more and more people working from home, houses with separate offices are becoming more valuable every day!
While some home pans feature designated office spaces, it’s more common for a homeowner to convert a spare bedroom or another room for this purpose.
Home offices can take on many different shapes and styles. For example, an office of someone who telecommutes every day will look quite different from someone who meets clients in their home.
11. Den
Closely related to a home office, a den is another room that can be used for a variety of personal ventures.
In fact, the line between what is an office and what is a den is extremely blurry. In many cases, these two types of rooms are one and the same.
While office work can certainly be done in a den, it’s less likely to be where someone spends their primary working hours. A den may also double as a library, hobby room, or even stereotypical “man cave.”
12. Bathroom
Despite the fact that bathrooms are a relatively modern invention, it’s hard to picture a house without one!
The bare minimum requirements for a residential bathroom are a toilet and a sink. Bathrooms that only include these two elements are called half bathrooms.
A full bathroom is one that contains a toilet, sink, bathtub, and shower — a combination tub and shower is also an option. Meanwhile, a bathroom with only a tub or only a shower would be considered a three-quarter bathroom.
13. Powder Room
A powder room is a half bathroom intended for guests. Powder rooms are almost exclusively found on the main floor so that guests do not have to enter the more private areas of the house.
As a type of half bathroom, a powder room contains little more than a toilet and a sink. This simplicity (and the fact that it’s guest-facing) makes the powder room a great place to experiment with bold bathroom decor.
The average powder room will be free of personal toiletries like toothbrushes or face wash. However, it’s customary for homeowners to set out complimentary items like hand lotion or tampons for guests.
14. Laundry Room
At the top of many prospective homeowners’ wishlists is a laundry room!
If you’re accustomed to storing your washer and dryer in the corner of a basement, the thought of a dedicated laundry room may seem like a waste of space. But there are many benefits to this home setup.
Placing a laundry room on one of the main levels makes it easier to transfer clothing to and from the washer and dryer. A laundry room also offers a comfortable, convenient space to fold and organize clothing before it gets put away.
15. Utility Room
To many homeowners, a laundry room and utility room are the same thing. But one could argue that a laundry room is actually a subtype of the utility room.
In addition to the washer and dryer, a utility room can be used to store cleaning supplies (including appliances like vacuums) and miscellaneous kitchen equipment.
Another common feature of a utility room is the inclusion of water heaters, HVAC equipment, and other stationary appliances. The use of a utility room makes these items easily accessible while keeping them out of sight from the main living area.
16. Bedroom
Did you know that we spend almost half of our lives on average in bed? So it’s easy to see why the bedroom is such an important part of the house!
Though the bedroom’s primary purpose is as a sleeping area, it plays many roles in modern life. Most homeowners use the bedroom to store clothing and other personal items.
For many people, the bedroom doubles as an office, den, or just a private space away from the rest of the home’s residents.
17. Guest Suite
If you enjoy welcoming friends or family into your home on occasion, a guest suite is an invaluable investment.
A guest suite may be nothing more than a spare bedroom. Or it could include basic amenities like a private bathroom or a separate seating area.
Guest suites with full amenities — i.e., a full bathroom, kitchenette, living area, and bedroom — are commonly called in-law suites. An in-law suite is ideal for long-term guests who wish to retain a degree of privacy.
18. Rec Room
A rec room — short for a recreation room — is a multi-purpose area most commonly found in the homes of large families. In some homes, the family room doubles as a rec room.
Rec rooms are primarily used for entertainment. Examples of items you might find inside include pool tables, home theater systems, gaming consoles, and board games.
One of the best qualities of a rec room is its ability to transform with your needs. While the space may start out as a kid’s playroom, it could easily accommodate a media center or foosball table as your family ages.
19. Basement
Technically, a basement is an entire floor — not an individual room. But it’s often used as one.
A basement is fully or partially below ground level of the house. Unfinished basements often include appliances like water heaters, HVAC systems, and washers and dryers. Many homeowners use the basement for long-term storage.
A finished basement is one that includes all of the amenities of the main living space. Finished basements may be split into multiple rooms depending on the household’s needs.
20. Attic
Opposite of the basement is the attic. This is the space between the roof and the top floor of the home.
Attics typically include heavy insulation and, depending on the style of construction, may contain HVAC equipment. Some homeowners use the attic for storage.
Again, many attics can be finished and converted into full-time living areas. A finished attic may be used as a spare bedroom, home office, rec room, or any number of other spaces.
Final Thoughts
Do you need all of these rooms to have a great house? Absolutely not!
In reality, few homes contain all (or even most) of these rooms. But knowing what types of rooms exist can help you create the home of your dreams.
It’s also important to remember that — outside of specialized rooms like the kitchen or bathroom — you can easily turn almost any room into another type. This is great news for those interested in adding a home office or rec room to their home without undergoing construction!
Which rooms do you have in your own home? Are there any lesser-known rooms not mentioned on our list? Let us know in the comments below!
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