Before the late nineteenth century, this space of a house was called a 'parlor'. The term parlor was derived from a French verb 'Parle®' which means 'to speak'. The term was given to the space because it was mainly a place for sitting and talking to various people.
From parlour room to living room
Until the late 19th century, the front parlour was the room in the house used for formal social events, including where the recent deceased were laid out before their funeral.
In the United States, the term “parlor” was eventually replaced by “living room” in the early 20th century.
You can also call a living room a lounge, a sitting room, a front room, or a parlor. It's distinguished from other rooms in a house by what it's used for. There's the dining room for eating, the kitchen for cooking, and the bedroom for sleeping.
Parlor remained the common usage in North America into the early 20th century. In French usage the word salon, previously designating a state room, began to be used for a drawing room in the early part of the 19th century, reflecting the salon social gatherings that had become popular in the preceding decades.
During the Victorian era, the parlor was the front room of every middle and high-class homes and for some, used exclusively to receive and entertain guest and for others, used as an environment for family intimacy.
The main room in an American home, the room where people usually sit and do things together like watch television and entertain visitors, is called a living room.
Actually, we've gone through quite a few different names for the living room since the Middle Ages. In medieval times, the large room in which the well-to-do lived was known as the “hall.” It was the central (and often the only) gathering place for the family. It wasn't furnished in the conventional sense.
A drawing room, on the other hand, serves more as a cosy lounging area for family and dear ones to hang out and carouse together. Hence, the space is also referred to as "informal living rooms."
”It feels that it's time to take a breath. We've been on air for 11 years, 30 [episodes] a year is a lot to produce. So we're going to take a breath…and take next year off.” When pressed on the issue, Keller elaborated: ”It's a network decision.
Even the royal and noble residences had few living rooms in the Middle Ages, and a great hall was a multifunction room. It was used for receiving guests and it was the place where the household would dine together, including the lord of the house, his gentleman attendants and at least some of the servants.
Before the rise of family rooms or dens, living rooms, aka: front rooms, were where people “lived”, where they spent their leisure time, entertained guests, etc.
As it was used for various activities of the house and was more a lively place than a mourning room, it should be called 'the Living Room'. Thus, the use of the term spread in common people. Before the late nineteenth century, this space of a house was called a 'parlor'.
Boudoir is a slightly old-fashioned word for a bedroom. You could invite a friend for a sleepover and say, "You can sleep on the spare bed in my boudoir."
Both "sofa" and "settee" terms came into use in the beginning of the 18th century. Originally the settee defined a smaller sofa, but by the 20th century the distinction was lost. Other terms which can be synonymous with the above definition are divan, davenport, lounge, and canapé.
other word (s) or phrase (s) for “living room” is/are.. ..”sitting room,” and “drawing room.”
Parlor rooms, also known as reception rooms, have existed since the Victorian era. After the early 1800s, parlor rooms became a fixture in middle and upper-class American homes. They are natural gathering places for guests and families to enjoy an entertaining afternoon or evening.
Lounge by a middle aged demographic and living room by a younger one. Sitting room is probably the poshest name.
I have never heard "lounge room" in American English. "Living Room" is common. "Sitting room" is less common, and is more formal and somewhat antiquated - something you'd read in a 19th century book.
habitation. homestead. pad (slang, old-fashioned)
A timeless living room effortlessly combines comfort, function, and style, creating a space that feels both classic and current. By carefully selecting key furniture pieces, you can craft a sophisticated yet welcoming environment that never goes out of style.
A formal living space, which is sometimes called a 'drawing room' is an elegant place to receive guests, while an informal living room is primarily for relaxing with family members. Let's explore how these two spaces differ and why you might choose one or the other.
Sofa is the preferred variant throughout the UK, followed by settee, and finally couch.
In Australia, “lounge room” or more commonly “the lounge” as in “Put it in the lounge.”