From 'Parlor' to 'Living Room': The Fascinating Evolution of the American Living Space

The 'Living Room' where we lay back on the sofa to watch Netflix every evening is actually a relatively modern concept. In the past, the center of American homes featured a room with a completely different purpose. Let's trace the fascinating history of how our beloved relaxation space evolved over time.

• The Formal Victorian 'Parlor': At the front of a 19th-century American middle-class home, there was always a reception room called a 'parlor'. This room was not a place for the family to relax comfortably, but a highly formal, heavy space used solely for receiving important guests, hosting weddings, and even holding funerals.

• The Birth of the term 'Living Room': In the late 1890s, prominent magazine editor Edward Bok advocated for creating a vibrant, breathing room where the family could gather—a 'Living Room'—instead of the dreary, unused parlor. This sparked a massive turning point in American residential culture.

• The Spread of TVs and Sectional Sofas: As televisions became widespread in the 1950s, the focal point of the living room shifted from the fireplace to the TV screen. Consequently, U-shaped and L-shaped sectional sofas, where the whole family could sit facing the screen together, exploded in popularity.

 Through centuries of change, today's living room has become a true 'Haven' for complete relaxation within the home. Havenory Living's living room collection provides the coziest sofas and recliners designed for the whole family to gather and share the warmth of everyday life.