Home Vocabulary

Home Vocabulary: Types of Houses, Rooms and Objects

Vocabulary related to the home is essential for anyone learning English, as it helps in everyday conversations, understanding household instructions, and describing living spaces accurately.

This page offers a comprehensive list of home vocabulary, including names and descriptions of different rooms and places in a home, types of houses and living spaces, and common household objects.

Home Vocabulary

1. Rooms and Places in the Home

Bedroom

• A room used for sleeping in.

Living Room

• UK also sitting room, Australian English also lounge room
• The room in a house or apartment used for relaxing and entertaining guests, but not usually for eating.

Bathroom

• A room with a bath and/or shower, often including a toilet.

Hall

• The area just inside the main entrance of a house, apartment, or other building that leads to other rooms and usually to the stairs.

Utility Room

• Usually used for a washing machine, freezer, etc.

Shed

• A separate building from the house, usually for storing garden tools.

Loft

• Space in the roof of the house, usually used only for storage.

Attic

• A room in the roof space of a house that could be lived in.

Cellar

• A room below ground level without any windows, used for storage.

Basement

• A room below ground level, with windows, used for living and working.

Landing

• A flat area at the top of a staircase.

Porch

• A covered area before the entrance door.

Pantry or Larder

• A large cupboard, especially in the past, used for storing food.

Terrace or Patio

• A paved area between the house and garden for sitting and eating, etc.

Study

• A room for reading, writing, and studying.

Balcony

• An area with a wall or bars around it, joined to the outside wall of a building on an upper level.

2. Types of Houses / Places Where People Live

House

• A building where people, usually one family, live.

Detached House

• A house that is not connected to any other building.

Semi-Detached House

• A house that is joined to another similar house on only one side.

Apartment (UK usually flat)

• A set of rooms for living in, especially on one floor of a building.

Terraced House

• A house that is joined to the houses on either side of it by shared walls.

Cottage

• A small house, usually in the countryside.

Bungalow

• A house that has only one story/floor.

Bedsit

• A rented room that has a bed, table, chairs, and somewhere to cook in it.

Villa

• A house, usually in the countryside or near the sea, particularly in southern Europe, often one that people can rent for a holiday.

Time Share

• A holiday house or apartment owned by several different people, each of whom can use it for a particular period of the year.

3. Objects of the Home

Remote control	Power point	Plug
Television	Armchair	Chair
Dining table	Door	Door handle
Table mat	Wardrobe	Bed
Bedside table	Mirror	Carpet
Curtain	Drawer	Cupboard
Towel	Bookshelf	Vase

Living Room Objects

• Television
  A device with a screen for receiving television broadcasts.
• Armchair
  A comfortable chair with sides that support your arms.
• Chair
  A piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a back, legs, and sometimes two arms.
• Remote Control
  A device used to operate a machine, especially a television, from a distance.
• Sofa/Couch
  A long, upholstered seat with a back and arms, for two or more people.
• Coffee Table
  A low table typically placed in front of a sofa.
• Bookshelf
  A piece of furniture with horizontal shelves for storing books.
• Floor Lamp
  A tall lamp that stands on the floor and provides lighting.
• Rug
  A piece of thick, heavy fabric that covers a small part of the floor.
• Fireplace
  A structure made of brick, stone, or metal designed to contain a fire.
• Picture Frame
  A decorative edging for a picture, such as a photograph or painting, making it easier to display.

Dining Room Objects

• Dining Table
  A table at which meals are eaten.
• Table Mat
  A small mat used to protect the surface of a table from hot dishes.
• Dining Chair
  A chair designed for use at a dining table.
• Sideboard
  A piece of furniture used in a dining room for storing dishes, glasses, and table linens.
• Chandelier
  A decorative hanging light with branches for several light bulbs or candles.
• Napkin
  A piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments.
• Cutlery
  Utensils used for eating or serving food (forks, knives, spoons).
• China Cabinet
  A cabinet with glass doors and shelves for displaying dishes and glassware.

Bedroom Objects

• Bed
  A piece of furniture for sleep or rest, typically a framework with a mattress.
• Bedside Table
  A small table beside a bed.
• Wardrobe
  A tall cupboard in which you hang your clothes.
• Mirror
  A reflective surface, typically of glass coated with a metal amalgam, that reflects a clear image.
• Dresser
  A piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes.
• Lamp
  A device for giving light, especially one that has a covering or is contained within something.
• Alarm Clock
  A clock with a mechanism to sound an alarm at a set time.
• Blanket
  A large piece of woolen or similar material used as a covering on a bed or elsewhere for warmth.
• Pillow
  A rectangular cloth bag stuffed with soft material, used to support the head when lying down.
• Closet
  A small room or compartment for storing clothes and other personal items.

General Home Objects

• Door
  A movable entrance to a building or room.
• Door Handle
  A handle used to open or close a door.
• Carpet
  A floor covering made from thick woven fabric.
• Curtain
  A piece of cloth that hangs down from above a window and can be used to cover the window.
• Drawer
  A box-shaped storage compartment without a lid, made to slide horizontally in and out of a desk, chest, or other piece of furniture.
• Cupboard
  A piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storing things.
• Towel
  A piece of thick absorbent cloth or paper used for drying oneself or wiping things dry.
• Bookshelf
  A shelf for holding books.
• Vase
  A decorative container, typically made of glass or ceramics, used for holding cut flowers.
• Clock
  A device for measuring and indicating time.
• Painting/Artwork
  Decorative art pieces, often hung on walls.
• Trash Can
  A container for household refuse.
• Umbrella Stand
  A tall, narrow container used to hold umbrellas when they are not in use.
• Coat Rack
  A stand or wall fixture with hooks for hanging coats, hats, etc.
• Shoe Rack
  A piece of furniture designed to hold shoes in an organized manner.

4. Common Home Activities

Cleaning

• Sweeping
• Mopping
• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Wiping surfaces
• Polishing furniture
• Washing windows
• Scrubbing floors
• Cleaning bathrooms
• Emptying trash bins
• Organizing clutter
• Disinfecting surfaces

Cooking

• Preparing meals
• Baking
• Grilling
• Frying
• Boiling
• Roasting
• Steaming
• Simmering
• Chopping ingredients
• Mixing ingredients
• Blending
• Marinating
• Plating dishes
• Setting the table

Laundry

• Washing clothes
• Ironing
• Folding
• Sorting laundry
• Drying clothes
• Hanging clothes
• Storing clothes
• Removing stains
• Mending clothes

Gardening

• Planting
• Weeding
• Watering plants
• Pruning
• Harvesting vegetables
• Raking leaves
• Mowing the lawn
• Fertilizing soil
• Mulching
• Composting
• Trimming hedges
• Seeding grass
• Protecting plants from pests
• Installing garden lights

Home Maintenance

• Fixing leaks
• Painting
• Minor repairs
• Changing light bulbs
• Unclogging drains
• Servicing HVAC systems
• Checking smoke detectors
• Sealing windows and doors
• Cleaning gutters
• Replacing batteries in devices
• Tightening loose screws
• Lubricating hinges
• Patching holes in walls
• Maintaining appliances

5. Home Appliances

• Kitchen Appliances:
  • Refrigerator: A large appliance to keep food and drinks cold.
  • Oven: An appliance used for baking or roasting food.
  • Microwave: A device for quickly heating food.
  • Toaster: A small appliance for toasting bread.
  • Blender: A device for mixing, blending, or pureeing foods.
• Cleaning Appliances:
  • Washing Machine: An appliance for washing clothes.
  • Dryer: An appliance for drying clothes.
  • Vacuum Cleaner: A device for cleaning floors by suction.
  • Dishwasher: An appliance for cleaning dishes.
• Heating and Cooling Appliances:
  • Heater: A device used to warm a room or house.
  • Air Conditioner: A device used to cool a room or house.
  • Fan: A device to create airflow and provide cooling.

6. Home Decor

• Wall Art: Paintings, photographs, or other decorative items hung on walls.
• Rugs: Decorative floor coverings.
• Lamps: Lighting fixtures, including floor lamps, table lamps, and wall sconces.
• Cushions: Decorative pillows used on sofas, chairs, and beds.
• Curtains/Blinds: Window coverings for privacy and light control.

7. Home Safety and Security

• Smoke Detector: A device that senses smoke and warns of a fire.
• Carbon Monoxide Detector: A device that detects carbon monoxide gas and warns of its presence.
• Security System: An alarm system for protecting against intruders.
• Fire Extinguisher: A device for putting out small fires.
• First Aid Kit: A collection of supplies for treating minor injuries.

8. Outdoor Areas

• Garden: An area for growing plants and flowers.
• Garage: A building or part of a building for housing a vehicle.
• Driveway: A private road leading from the street to a house or garage.
• Fence: A barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc.

9. Furniture Styles

• Modern: Clean lines, minimalistic design, and neutral colors.
• Traditional: Classic designs with rich colors and ornate details.
• Contemporary: Current trends with a mix of styles and materials.
• Rustic: Natural materials like wood and stone, often with a country feel.
• Industrial: Raw, unfinished look with metal and wood elements.

10. Home Office Essentials

• Desk: A piece of furniture with a flat top for writing or using a computer.
• Office Chair: A comfortable, often adjustable chair for working at a desk.
• Computer: A device for work, communication, and entertainment.
• Printer: A device for printing documents and photos.
• Filing Cabinet: A piece of office furniture with drawers for storing documents.

11. Smart Home Devices

• Smart Speaker: A speaker with an integrated virtual assistant.
• Smart Thermostat: A thermostat that can be controlled remotely.
• Smart Lights: Lighting that can be controlled via an app or voice commands.
• Smart Locks: Door locks that can be controlled remotely for security.
• Smart Cameras: Surveillance cameras that can be monitored remotely.

Conclusion

The above list of home vocabulary is comprehensive and can be used as a valuable reference for both English learners who want to enhance their language skills and for teachers of English who are looking for a thorough resource to aid in their instruction.

Related Pages:

• Home vocabulary exercise