“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Most people know that Living Rooms were known as parlors (parlours in British English) until the 19th century. The term finds its roots in the French parler, which means to talk. In the 13th century, the monasteries would assign a dedicated room for the monks to talk in. This room was referred to as the parlor.

In the 16th century, wealthy Europeans began assigning the outer-most room in the house as a sitting room for visitors, a place where matters of business and transaction would be discussed, much like today’s conference rooms.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, having a parlor in the house accorded automatic status of wealth in the English-speaking world, evidence that one had climbed up the social ladder, and could afford to live in a home with more than the then-usual one or two rooms. It was the face to the world, thus drawing forth one’s exhibitionist tendencies to keep up with putting one’s best foot forward.

This room, meant for formal occasions was one where visitation happened – during life, as well as in death, gaining it some morbid names such as the wake room, the mourning room, or even the death room.

By the mid-19th century, the term ‘living room’ was on the rise, gaining much popularity amongst the womenfolk, who, tired of the formality of the room, had started using the space for relaxation and casual conversation, brightening up the space, replacing the cool, dark colors with warm, vibrant colors, allowing warmth and sunlight to pour into the room.

In the mid-20th century, open floor plans began gaining popularity with more and more women feeling the need to keep an eye on the children while working in the kitchen.

In the 16th century, people would withdraw into the cool parlor room after meals, to relax and to be more comfortable, which soon gave the room the shortened name, ‘the drawing room.’  

In some English-speaking countries, the parlor was and still is also referred to as the lounge room, or simply, the lounge, where the family lounges about to relax and chill.

The room, usually located at the very front of the house, was also commonly referred to as the ‘front room.’

Modern houses with open floor plans often have what is called a great room, or even a family room. All these terms are used interchangeably, especially when there is only this one living space in a house.

Some other terms I have heard, especially in the non-English-speaking world are: hall, day-room, TV room, salon, public room, common room, and reception room.

Fun fact: The living room of the White House is called the Lincoln Sitting Room.