A great room merges the roles of multiple spaces into one large space. Typically, the kitchen and living room are included in a great room. A dining area is a common addition as well. However, other combinations can be found as well.
It’s the merging of purposes and roles into one larger room that makes a space a great room. These rooms tend to be placed near the center of the home or are centralized in an area of the home with the most activity. These rooms also tend to have raised ceilings.
Great rooms have been common in U.S. homes since around the early 1990s. Although they continued to gain popularity over the years, some homeowners prefer not to have a traditional great room due to heating and cooling concerns, a desire to use the vertical space, have more rooms, etc. It all depends on the homeowner and what they want in their home.