# Glossary

When you describe a space to an AI floor plan tool, choosing the more architectural term often produces a more usable result. The list below maps everyday words to the vocabulary used in real plans and listings.

## Rooms and spaces

**Living room**
: Sometimes "lounge", "sitting room" or "family room". The main social space, usually with a sofa facing a focal point such as a fireplace or television.

**Dining area**
: A defined zone with a table for shared meals. Can be a separate room or part of an open-plan layout. "Eat-in kitchen" describes a dining area inside the kitchen.

**Kitchen**
: Self-explanatory, but worth distinguishing between *galley* (two parallel runs of counter), *L-shape* (counters on two adjacent walls), *U-shape* (three walls) and *island* (a free-standing counter in the middle).

**Bedroom**
: A *master bedroom* (or *primary bedroom*) is the largest, usually with an en-suite. A *guest bedroom* is smaller and used occasionally. A *nursery* is a child bedroom usually adjacent to the master.

**Bathroom**
: A *full bathroom* has a bath or shower, a toilet and a sink. A *three-quarter bathroom* has a shower, a toilet and a sink. A *half bathroom* or *powder room* has only a toilet and a sink and is meant for guests.

**Hallway / corridor**
: A circulation space connecting rooms. A *vestibule* is a small entrance corridor with doors at both ends, useful for keeping draughts out.

**Entrance / foyer**
: The first space inside the front door. A *mud room* is a hard-wearing version meant for taking off coats and shoes.

**Utility room / laundry**
: A small room for the washing machine, dryer, ironing board and cleaning supplies.

**Study / home office**
: A room or alcove for desk work. A *den* is a small, informal study or media room.

**Closet**
: American English for a built-in cupboard, usually for clothes. A *walk-in closet* is large enough to walk into.

**Pantry / larder**
: A storage room or tall cupboard for food, adjacent to the kitchen.

## Architectural elements

**Footprint**
: The outline of the building seen from above. "A 100 sqm footprint" describes the area covered by the building on its plot.

**Bay**
: A structural division of a building, typically defined by two beams or two walls. "A three-bay frontage" describes a wall divided into three sections.

**Alcove**
: A recess in a wall, often used for built-in storage or a desk.

**Open-plan**
: A layout where two or more functional zones (such as kitchen, dining and living) share a single room without dividing walls.

**Single-loaded corridor**
: A corridor with rooms on only one side, allowing windows on the other.

**Double-loaded corridor**
: A corridor with rooms on both sides; common in apartment buildings but produces dark, cramped homes.

## Measurements

**Net floor area (NFA)**
: The usable area inside the walls of each room. This is the number that matters for liveability.

**Gross floor area (GFA)**
: The total area including walls, corridors and shared spaces. GFA is typically 10-20 percent larger than NFA.

**Ceiling height**
: Standard residential ceiling heights are 2.4-2.7 metres. Anything below 2.3 metres feels low; anything above 3 metres feels generous.

**Door width**
: Standard internal door width is 70-80 cm. Accessible door width is 90 cm or more.

## Directional shorthand

When prompting, name compass directions explicitly. "The kitchen faces the south garden" is far more reliable than "the kitchen faces outside". If you do not know the orientation, use *front* and *back* relative to the street.