How one counts rooms depends on the person's perspective.

As an example, appraisers usually comply with Fannie/Freddie definitions. Think living spaces; bathroom closets foyers pantrys do not count.

Bedroom, kitchen, dining, living room, den, office are rooms.

Do you mean my question is a joke? This is a common term in listings in historical houses in the south, I just never knew what counted so thought I'd ask here.

Actual rooms you live in that are what are considered "under air" count. So living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, playroom, office, theater room, etc. Bathrooms, closets, basements, do not.

Got it. Apparently different loan companies base some loans on a room count. So I guess it is put in the listings for people who are trying to prequalify.

I can see why you'd want to list a house as "3 bedroom, 2 bath", but beyond that, why bother with how many rooms?

mspete, the organizations who lend money to purchase a house have definitions.

If one is in a casual conversation, doesn't matter. However, when discussing financing, codes, permits: it does matter.

Bathrooms don't count? Some people do live in the bathroom, just saying.

What about open concept houses where the kitchen runs into the living room and the dining room/dining area?

As noted above, financing requires adherence to uniform standards. These have been developed for appraisals done for Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA and VA and are quite specific and detailed. Interestingly, though there is no (US) national standard on what constitutes a room.

According to an article in the National Appraisal Roster:

In general, a room is a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, a dining room, a family room, an office, a study or a den. Rooms do not have to be divided by walls as long as there is space for the intended function. In many markets, an open concept design or floor plan has been used, which typically encompasses a kitchen, dining room and living room. In such situations, the open area, sometimes referred to as a “Great Room”, would usually be counted as three rooms even though there are no walls to separate those areas. Bathrooms, breakfast nooks, storage rooms, mudrooms, laundry rooms, foyers and closets are not usually considered in the total room counts.*

A 1920s downtown home I rented out had five bedrooms (and the usual for the era single bath). One set of tenants, I discovered, sub-leased out a 6'x12' attic nook with a window as a "bedroom" to a university student.