Work rooms Some rooms were specially designed to support the work of the household, such as kitchens,
pantries, and
root cellars, all of which were intended for the preparation and storage of food. A home office or
study may be used for household paperwork or external business purposes. Some work rooms are designated by the intended activity: for example, a sewing room is used for
sewing, and the
laundry room is used for washing and ironing laundry. Other rooms are meant to promote comfort and cleanliness, such as the
toilet and
bathroom, which may be combined or which may be in separate rooms. The public equivalent is the
restroom, which usually features a
toilet and handwashing facilities, but not usually a
shower or a bathtub. Showers are only available in athletic or aquatic facilities which feature a
changing room. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, among those who could afford it, these facilities were kept in separate areas. The kitchen was detached from the main part of the house, or later put in the basement, to reduce the risk of fire and keep the heat and smell of cooking away from the main house during the warm months. The toilet, often a simple
pit latrine, was put in an
outhouse or privy, to keep the smell and insects away from the main house.
Social rooms A variety of room types have been distinguished over time, the main purpose of which was socializing with other people. In previous centuries, very large homes often featured a
great hall. This room was so named because it was very large, regardless of any excellence in it. It was originally a public room and most likely seen in the main home of a noble estate. In this room, people who had business with the local landowner or his household could meet. As the largest room, it could also be used as a
dining room for large banquets, or cleared of tables, provided with music, and turned into a
ballroom. Off the side, or in a different part of the house, might be a
drawing room, used as a room with greater privacy, for the owner's family and their friends to talk. A
sitting room, living room, or
parlour is a place for social visits and entertainment. One decorated to appeal to a man might be called a
man cave; in an older style, the
cabinet was used by men who wanted a separate room. Some large homes have special rooms for entertainment; these may include a
library, a
home theater, a
billiard room, a
game room, or a music room.
Sleeping room A
bedroom is the room where a bed is located, and whose primary purpose is sleeping. A
master bedroom may have an
en suite bathroom. A
guest room is a bedroom used primarily by overnight guests. The
nursery is a bedroom for babies or young children. It may be separate from the
playroom, which is a room where the children's toys are kept. Bedrooms may be used for other purposes. A large house might have separate rooms for these other functions, such as a
dressing room for changing clothes (also seen in clothing stores and businesses where people need to change clothes, but do not need to sleep). In Tudor times, a bedroom might have a separate closet, for praying and seeking privacy; this architectural idea lives on in the storage closet. In Ireland, a
return room is a box room added between floors at the turn ("return") of a staircase. Return rooms may be added as extensions, and are sometimes used or converted for other functions such as a kitchen or bathroom. A
sick room is a specialized room, sometimes just large enough to contain a bed, where a family member could be conveniently tended and kept separate from the rest of the household while recuperating from an illness.
Multi-purpose rooms In smaller homes, most rooms were multi-purpose. In a
bedsit,
communal apartment, or
studio apartment, a single main room may serve most functions, except usually the toilet and bath. Types of multi-purpose rooms include the
great room, which removes most walls and doors between the kitchen, dining and living rooms, to create one larger, open area. In some places, a lady's
boudoir was a combination sleeping room and place to entertain small numbers of friends. In others, the boudoir was an
anteroom before her bedroom.
En-suite room An en-suite room is a type of room which includes a private room, private washroom and access to a communal kitchen. The washroom generally includes an en-suite shower, a sink and a toilet. "En-suite" usually indicates a private space, especially if it is student accommodation. En-suite rooms for students are intended to provide study space and a peaceful environment. ==See also==