Welcome to our main living space ideas page, where you can get home living area ideas and access our comprehensive photo galleries for each room type.
Living spaces are rooms for various purposes, whether hosting company, relaxing, reading, working, playing, watching, surfing the Web, pursuing hobbies, etc.
Related: Interior Design Styles | Open Concept vs. Closed Layout | Interior Design Ideas | Fill Empty Spaces in the Living Room | Living Rooms With Dark Wood Floors | Scandinavian-Style Homes – Exterior and Interior | Interior Design for Big Rooms
1. Formal Living Room
Most homes have some form of living room, whether formal or more casual doubling as a family room. Many homes still have a designated formal living room which is typically reserved for company and seldom used.
Interestingly, we have both a large living room and a family room and tend to use the formal living room as our family room because it’s in a much nicer part of the house (with a view and lots of light).
2. Family Room
The family room is a designated casual relaxation space that offers many activities including watching TV, reading, chatting, napping, playing video games, and more.
Usually, it’s a space in addition to a formal living room, but many open-concept homes have one such space that doubles as a living room and family room.
3. Great Room
Lines get blurred between the great room, open-concept living, and living rooms. Historically, the great room was the main area of a castle where everyone congregated, and the location served a variety of purposes.
Some houses still have a large living room that looks like the great rooms of old – huge halls with a living room, dining room , and other spaces that are the center of the house. Below is a great example – you could call it a living room with extensive furniture (sofa, accent chairs, coffee table, area rug, etc.), but it also fits the definition of a great room.
4. Home Library
Many homes may not have a designated library, but it’s common to have rooms with ample bookshelves that can serve as one. A home library is typically a room solely dedicated to books and sometimes even doubles as an office. Check out this stunningly transformed attic that now functions as a gorgeous and practical library and practical library.
5. Sunroom
A sunroom is a living space attached to a home with plenty of glass so that it’s like being outdoors without being in the elements.
Below is a classic example of a sunroom. Not all are all glass like this; some are additions with plenty of windows but a wood frame.
6. Home Bar
Home bars, especially mini-bars, became popular in the 1960s (i.e., the Mad Men era). Some are part of a living room, but these days some houses have full-blown bars built as a room – usually adjacent to a rec room, entertainment room, or similar.
7. Game Room
A game room is a place where there are games to be played – whether billiards, ping pong, foosball, arcade games, cards, etc. It’s another term for an entertainment room.
8. Man Cave
A man cave refers to a “man’s space” in the home – be it in the basement, garage, shed, or otherwise. Usually, it includes a bar, games, sofas, TV, etc. There’s no one type of design or set of features. It’s just a name given for a man’s space in the home. There are “she sheds” that serve the same purpose for women.
9. Craft Room
A craft room can be a fun place for kids or a more serious hobby/sewing place for adults. It’s becoming increasingly popular with the rise in crafting as a hobby.
10. Home Theater
A home theater, in the strict sense of the term, is a media room built to replicate the cinema experience, like the example below. However, with large-screen TVs, many rooms are called “media rooms” and function much like a home theater.
11. Wine Cellar
For wine aficionados, there’s the wine cellar with a requisite tasting area.
12. Home Office
I love having a home office , and many houses have one. The one below is interesting because it’s attached to an open-concept living area.
I prefer a home office that is separate from the rest of the house, but being part of a larger living space has advantages such as being closer to the rest of the household and quick access to a computer.
13. Rec Room
A rec room is typically a basement TV room but can include other features such as a bar, games, and more. It’s a general term for a living space in the basement.
14. Open-Concept Living Space
Open-concept is a type of living space where multiple household functions occur in one large space. Usually, it’s a living room, dining room , and kitchen all together in a large space like the example below.
See all open-concept living spaces
15. Landing
I love landings. They’re bonus spaces that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a reading area, home office , or quiet lounging area like the example image below.
16. Reading Nook
Few houses have a designated reading area, given you can read anywhere, including a living room or family room.
However, avid readers may like to create a small space with comfortable chairs and customized lighting ideal for reading, like the example below, with large windows and pendant lights. A table or floor lamp could also be added to the seating area for more illumination.
17. Home Gym
I prefer commercial gyms, but totally understand the appeal of a workout space in the house. These days, you don’t need much to get in a good workout, given bodyweight exercises, yoga, and video instruction. However, some people invest vast sums of money in weights and/or cardio equipment.
18. Finished Basement
A basement can, in some cases, nearly double floor space. You can gain a rec room, or perhaps a guest bedroom, or turn it into a revenue source with an in-law suite.
19. Outdoor Living Spaces
Porches, patios, decks, gardens, pools, and other areas inside and outside the home can be designed to create a seamless indoor/outdoor living experience.
