Family room
Encyclopedia
A family room is an informal, all-purpose room in a house
similar to a living room
. The family room is designed to be a place where family
and guests gather for group recreation like talking, reading, watching TV, and other family activities. Often, the family room is located adjacent to the kitchen
, and at times, flows into it with no visual breaks. A family room often has doors leading to the back yard and specific outdoor living areas such as a deck
, garden
, or terrace
.
The distinction between a family room, a living room, and a recreation room may be fluid. In homes with more than one, the living room is usually the more formal room, often reserved for guests, special occasions, and the display of items such as antiques or artwork. The recreation room
is typically in the basement and used for games and playtime. In homes with only one, the terms are generally synonymous. It is not uncommon for someone who grew up calling such a room by only one term to have no idea of the distinction between the two. In floorplans, a "great room
" is where the living room and family room are combined into one high-ceilinged room adjacent to the kitchen.
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
similar to a living room
Living room
A living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
. The family room is designed to be a place where family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
and guests gather for group recreation like talking, reading, watching TV, and other family activities. Often, the family room is located adjacent to the kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
, and at times, flows into it with no visual breaks. A family room often has doors leading to the back yard and specific outdoor living areas such as a deck
Deck (building)
In architecture, a deck is a flat surface capable of supporting weight, similar to a floor, but typically constructed outdoors, often elevated from the ground, and usually connected to a building...
, garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
, or terrace
Terrace (gardening)
In gardening, a terrace is an element where a raised flat paved or gravelled section overlooks a prospect. A raised terrace keeps a house dry and provides a transition between the hard materials of the architecture and softer ones of the garden.-History:...
.
The distinction between a family room, a living room, and a recreation room may be fluid. In homes with more than one, the living room is usually the more formal room, often reserved for guests, special occasions, and the display of items such as antiques or artwork. The recreation room
Recreation room
A recreation room is a room used for a variety of purposes, such as parties, games and other everyday or casual use. The term is common in the United States and Canada, but is less common in the United Kingdom where the preferred term is games room...
is typically in the basement and used for games and playtime. In homes with only one, the terms are generally synonymous. It is not uncommon for someone who grew up calling such a room by only one term to have no idea of the distinction between the two. In floorplans, a "great room
Great room
thumb|A great roomThe term great room denotes a room space within an abode which combines the specific functions of several of the more traditional room spaces into a singular unified space...
" is where the living room and family room are combined into one high-ceilinged room adjacent to the kitchen.