Great room

In the most general sense, great rooms are typically found on the lower level of American multi-story homes built in the second half of the 20th century.

In many houses the great room will also adjoin the kitchen, often separated just by a counter instead of a full wall.

According to builders asked by the Wall Street Journal, this was because homeowners wanted a way to show off wealth in a growing economy and thus The New York Times called the great room "the McMansion's signature space".

[5] By the mid-2000s, however, the Wall Street Journal reported that home buyers were not as enthusiastic about great rooms.

Common complaints included the cost to heat and cool them, that they were difficult to clean and paint due to height and irregular angles, and that they simply were wasted space.