What is a room in a house used by a family for receiving guest-a sort of 'best room',(Not so common nowadays)?

Answer 1

Are you talking about a foyer? Maybe a parlor? In some homes I believe you would call it a Great room. Probably depends on what part of the counrty you live in and the style of home that you live in too! good luck!

Answer 2

Yes, I've had a few, perhaps every 5 years or so. Rather than write them all out, maybe you'd like to browse through my 'starred questions' file under my avatar. Most recently, about 3 weeks ago, I plainly heard a teapot whistling in a recently vacated apartment over my head. I quickly went to investigate, as I am the property manager when the landlord is away, and the apartment was clean, vacant, and no sign of a teapot. I went downstairs to check with the first-floor tenants, (I'm on the 2nd of three floors), in case I was catching some kind of echo from them, and no one was using a teapot or any hot water. The sound was quite distinct, and a total mystery. The home is 114 years old and not known to be haunted, though I've had experiences in other cities across the U.S. I enjoy paranormal stuff very much, and don't find it the least bit scary. Happy New Year.

Answer 3

A parlor, which pre-dated the living room. (great room predated parlor) A lot of the houses built in the 70s or so had an echo of this, in that they were built with living rooms and family rooms. The living room was usually a fancy room with furnishings chosen to impress, rather than for comfort or practicality. When parlors were used families frequently entertained people who would not see the family's private rooms. In the 70s the lifestyle was more casual, so the family might have visitors all the time and still only use the living room when they had a formal party, at Christmas... times like that.

Answer 4

Many families used to have "formal" living rooms for guests. It was usually reserved for people that the family didn't know very well. In my household growing up in the early 60's, There were still remnints of the attitude of formal and informal aquaintances. For example, the father's boss was received in the living room and entertained there. Visiting preachers, salespeople, etc that were invited in, were received in the formal living room.
As children were we not allowed in this room. The furniture was hardly worn, the carpets still looked new etc. It also gave mom a break, because regardless of the cleanliness of the remainder of the home, this room was always spotless, so judgemental people didn't ever see the remainder of the house (barring a quick cleaning of the guest bathroom) just in case.
By the middle of the 60's, attitudes relaxed among the middle class, (plus the idea having a room hardly used) so the room was taken back into the house as a practical place for everyday use. House became too expensive to dedicate a single room soley for the purpose of entertaining "formal" guests.
Now, IMO, mostly folks with large homes and salaries maintain the tradition.

Answer 5

Growing up, we always lived in a house that had a floor plan specifically set up for this.

There's a common, family, secluded area toward the back of the house. The main room there we called the "recreation" room.

Then, the more formal area for business visitors and stuff we called the "living room."

But, I think probably you could call the common family room the living room, and call the room in the front that is for formal visitors the "receiving room" or something like that.

You should be able to find floor plans where there is some isolation between a public area in the front, and a private area for family in the back.

In the White House, it's easy -- downstairs is business and upstairs is family space. You can just as easily split it front to back.

Answer 6

Nowadays most average homes appear to be less formal. Many don't even have a real entry/foyer nor a formal area. Usually bring business related types straight to the main dining area and we sit down at the table. Our front room is our only actual living room which we keep in good order so will sit new acquaintance types there. Family & friends congregate in the kitchen or back deck. Total stranger - we are fortunate to have a front porch with seating to stage til we become better acquainted. All depends on the house plan and your comfort level.

Answer 7

We used to have a "formal" living room. Basically it just sat there and nobody went in there so it wouldn't get messed up. We had a hard time selling it because buyers wanted a study.
When we bought our new house, we found that formal living rooms have been replaced with studies. I use my study a lot!

Answer 8

I'm not sure if this is a "regional" thing or not--- but all my life here in North Texas--- we have referred to this room as the "Living Room"
as opposed to the "Den" ----the room that is considered the "Family Room" of most homes here !!!
Some people here refer to this room as the Formal Living Room

Answer 9

In my region, it was called the "front room" because it was the front of the house (not dragging a visitor/ stranger through your whole house and you could keep it super clean with best furniture and the rest of the house was "lived in"). Also, I know a lot of people today call that room the "living room" (a misnomer) and the room that they actually do their hanging out with only family the "family room" or the "television room."

You may be seeking the very old fashioned, "parlour," too.

Answer 10

A parlor