For master-level learners: literary, precise vocabulary for describing domestic architecture, interiors, and the atmosphere of home life in serious prose.
Free Home & Daily Life vocabulary flashcards at the C2 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and use these words precisely, including nuance most learners miss.
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abode
a formal word for the place where a person lives, especially a house.
vestibule
a small entrance hall that connects a building's front door to inner rooms.
inglenook
a cosy recessed space beside a large fireplace, often with built-in seating.
scullery
a small back room next to a kitchen used for washing dishes and dirty work.
larder
a small room next to a kitchen used for storing food in an older-style house.
wainscoting
wooden panelling that covers the lower part of an interior wall.
cornice
a decorative strip of moulding running along the top edge of an interior wall.
balustrade
a row of small posts topped by a rail, found along the edge of a staircase.
cupola
a small dome-shaped structure built on top of a roof.
eaves
the lower edges of a roof that stick out beyond the walls of a building.
edifice
a large and imposing building, often one of historical importance.
warren
a confusing network of narrow interconnected passages inside an old building.
flagstone
a flat piece of stone used to pave the floor of an old house.
patina
a soft sheen that slowly develops on the surface of old wood through age and handling.
hearth
the floor of a fireplace, traditionally seen as the emotional centre of a home.
lintel
a horizontal beam set above a doorway to carry the weight of the wall above it.
reverie
a pleasant state of being lost in your own thoughts, away from your surroundings.
facade
the front exterior wall of a building, especially its main outward appearance.
suffuse
to spread gradually and completely through a space, especially light.
loom
to appear as a large and slightly frightening shape, especially rising up close by.
nestle
to settle into a position that feels sheltered, cosy, and protected.
moulder
to slowly decay and fall apart through age and neglect.
dwell
to live in a particular place as your home.
linger
to stay in a place for longer than expected before finally leaving.
exude
to give off a strong feeling of warmth and comfort.
evoke
to bring a strong memory clearly back into someone's mind.
abut
to be located right next to and touching a neighbouring piece of land.
commodious
relating to a room that is comfortably large and spacious.
cavernous
relating to a space that is very large, empty, and echoing like a cave.
ramshackle
relating to a building that looks poorly built and close to falling apart.
austere
relating to a room that is very plain and simple, with no decoration.
musty
having an unpleasant stale smell caused by dampness and a lack of fresh air.
genteel
relating to a style of home that is formally polite, refined, and slightly old-fashioned.
labyrinthine
relating to a building with corridors that are complicated and easy to get lost in.
sepulchral
relating to a place that feels cold, dark, silent, and rather like a tomb.