Have you ever found yourself struggling to describe houses or apartments when speaking or writing in English? Whether you’re a real estate agent, an interior designer, a homeowner, or just someone who enjoys talking about different types of homes, knowing the right combination of words – or ‘collocations’ – can really help make your descriptions vivid and engaging. Don’t you want to paint a mental picture that transports your listeners straight into the living room you’re describing, or onto that comfy patio? Let’s help you do that with some popular English collocations related to houses and apartments!
Get ready to explore 43 commonly used collocations to enhance your descriptions:
1. Semi-detached house: A house attached to another house.
Example: They live in a beautiful semi-detached house.
2. Terraced house: A house that is one of a row of similar houses joined together on both sides.
Example: Our first home was a terraced house with a small garden.
3. High-rise building: A very tall building with many floors.
Example: She lives in a high-rise building in the city center.
4. Studio apartment: A small apartment with a combined living and sleeping area.
Example: He just moved into a cozy studio apartment.
5. Detached house: A house that stands alone.
Example: Their dream was to own a detached house with a spacious yard.
6. Sweeping staircase: A large, wide staircase, often found in grand houses.
Example: The sweeping staircase was the centerpiece of the mansion.
7. Period features: Original elements of older buildings.
Example: The house had many period features such as high ceilings and sash windows.
8. Double glazing: Windows with two layers of glass for insulation and to reduce noise.
Example: The double glazing keeps the apartment warm in winter.
9. Open-plan living: A design where separate rooms are combined into one open space.
Example: They enjoy open-plan living with their kitchen and living room combined.
10. Spiral staircase: A staircase that ascends in a spiral pattern.
Example: The small castle had a tight spiral staircase leading to the top.
11. Master bedroom: The largest bedroom in a house or apartment, usually with an attached bathroom.
Example: The master bedroom has an excellent view of the ocean.
12. En-suite bathroom: A bathroom directly connected to a bedroom.
Example: Their bedroom has an en-suite bathroom.
13. Loft conversion: Transforming the attic into a livable space.
Example: They did a loft conversion to create an extra bedroom.
14. Underfloor heating: A system for heating the floors of a building.
Example: The underfloor heating keeps the house cozy in the cold months.
15. Central heating: A system for warming a building.
Example: The central heating broke, so they relied on space heaters.
16. Granite countertops: Countertops made from the hard, durable stone, granite.
Example: The kitchen boasts beautiful granite countertops.
17. Fitted kitchen: A kitchen with units that are fixed to the walls and floor.
Example: The apartment comes with a fully fitted kitchen.
18. Exposed brickwork: When the brick walls of a building are left uncovered.
Example: The exposed brickwork adds a rustic charm to the loft.
19. Hardwood floors: Floors made of solid wood.
Example: The hardwood floors are one of the main features of this house.
20. Curb appeal: How attractive a house looks from the outside.
Example: They added a colorful garden for curb appeal.
21. Dressing room: A room used to get dressed, often attached to a bedroom.
Example: The master suite has a spacious dressing room.
22. Breathtaking view: An extremely beautiful view.
Example: The penthouse has breathtaking views of the skyline.
23. Split-level: A style of house where different sections have different levels.
Example: Their split-level house had three different living areas.
24. Fixer-upper: A property that needs work and repair.
Example: They bought a fixer-upper and renovated it into their dream home.
25. Rent-controlled apartment: An apartment with a rent set by law, and not increased.
Example: She was lucky to find a rent-controlled apartment in such a pricey area.
26. Gated community: A residential area with controlled access.
Example: They moved to a gated community for increased security.
27. Listed building: A building officially recognized for its historic or architectural interest.
Example: He lives in a listed building, so he can’t make any exterior changes.
28. Fully furnished: Property that comes with all necessary furniture.
Example: The fully furnished apartment was ready to move into.
29. Leafy suburb: A suburban area with lots of trees.
Example: They live in a leafy suburb with lots of parks.
30. Up-and-coming neighborhood: An area becoming increasingly popular or developed.
Example: They invested in property in an up-and-coming neighborhood.
31. State-of-the-art appliances: The most modern and advanced appliances.
Example: The kitchen is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances.
32. Manicured lawn: A lawn that is neatly cut and maintained.
Example: Their house has a large manicured lawn.
33. Swimming pool: A structure filled with water for swimming.
Example: Their backyard features a swimming pool and a grill.
34. Basement garage: A garage located under a building.
Example: The house comes with a basement garage for two cars.
35. Bay window: A window that sticks out from the main wall of a building.
Example: The living room has a large bay window.
36. Private balcony: A balcony for personal use.
Example: Her room has a private balcony overlooking the sea.
37. Wooden deck: A flat surface made of wood, typically outside.
Example: They enjoy summer barbecues on their wooden deck.
38. Patio furniture: Outdoor furniture placed on a patio.
Example: They bought new patio furniture for their garden.
39. Glass sliding doors: Doors made of glass that slide open.
Example: The glass sliding doors lead to the back garden.
40. Garden shed: A small building in the garden used for storing tools.
Example: He keeps his gardening tools in the garden shed.
41. Brick fireplace: A fireplace made from bricks.
Example: The living room features a cozy brick fireplace.
42. French doors: Doors with windows extending for most of their length.
Example: The French doors open to a small patio.
43. Skylight: A window installed in a roof or ceiling.
Example: The skylight floods the room with natural light.
I hope you found this list of 43 collocations related to houses and apartments helpful! By incorporating these phrases into your vocabulary, you can not only boost your language skills but also become more articulate when discussing different types of homes. You see, mastering a language is not just about knowing the words, but how to use them together. So, try them out, play with them, and let the magic of language take your storytelling to new heights.
