What's in a Living Room? The English Words for Everyday Objects

This is the last room in our tour of the home. We have already named the everyday objects in the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedroom. Now we sit down in the living room, the place where a family relaxes together, and name the things around us.

Photo: Moc hoa binh / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The seating area

The long, soft seat for several people is the sofa (also called a couch). A seat for just one person, with raised sides to rest your arms on, is an armchair; those padded sides are the armrests. On top of the seats you will find soft cushions to lean against.

Photo: J.Stiegler / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The center of the room

In front of the sofa stands a low coffee table, usually on a rug that covers part of the floor. To protect the table from a hot or wet cup, you put it on a small coaster. And of course there is the television, which you turn on and change with the remote control.

Shelves, plants and light

Against the wall, a bookshelf holds books and ornaments, and many people add a houseplant or two for a touch of green. In the corner, a lamp gives a soft light through its lampshade, the cover that sits over the bulb.

Warmth and power

Under the window, a radiator keeps the room warm in winter. And low on the wall you will find an outlet (UK: socket), where you plug in the lamp, the television and everything else.

Put the words into play

That completes the whole home: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room. These four sets together cover the objects you touch, point at and talk about every single day. Open The Living Room collection above, practice each word in a simple sentence ("Pass me the remote", "Plug it into the outlet"), and your English will finally match the room you are sitting in.