So for the NY/NJ area we say- deck for an outdoor space off of the ground (usually wood), patio for an outdoor space level with the ground (lots of options on what it could be made of), porch for area attached to the home with some kind of ceiling (could be front, back or wrap-around), screened in porch when that area is closed with screens, and sun porch when that area is closed with windows. Most importantly, those steps leading to the front door is a “stoop”.
The house we built when had one child and hoped for a second plus inlaws from who visited for extended stays had used/unused areas. Extra bedroom since never got lucky with second child. Three full baths so for inlaws there was one on the first floor. Living room that was farthest from the furnace and colder in winter was underused, plus never furnished it well for use. If I had to do it all over again I would have opted for a bigger kitchen dining area and skipped the formal dining room some 25 years ago. I still like having more than one public area- great rooms give no separation for different people to be talking together or watching TV noise conflicts.
Downsized with single story retirement home in Florida. Ended up with MORE toilets- wanted 2 baths but there’s also a half bath and a pool bath (at least the shower is outdoors so never clean it after rinsing from pool use sometimes). Use the smallest bedroom/study as a guest room and we each have our own room for personal space. The dining room is open and our old kitchen table with leaf that seats six is a nice workspace for spreading out. Open to small foyer and living room. Having both a living room and a family room means H and I can watch different TV shows. Having large enough indoor spaces is wonderful in hot/humid summers. Being retired means being home a lot more often and it is nice to be separate and have different areas. When more than one guest is here we have double high air mattresses that can be put in our computer rooms. I know most people live with families in smaller spaces than our 2600 SF ranch but the luxury of space is great. Plus in order to get some features and be bit more upscale we needed larger than smaller. This house has a great yard and kitchen. Never knew a large kitchen would be so great for just two of us but two cooks at a time now. Plus places to migrate over the course of the day. We rejected several houses because they were too big, one had a kitchen best used by a much more gourmet cook with many to feed.
I grew up in a 1000 or 1100 SF ranch (plus unfinished basement) that had three bedrooms, one bath, kitchen-dinette and living room. The TV could be heard in the bedrooms and I only had my bed to myself- studied there and shared the 10 by 10 space with my sister. No room for a desk. No places to be quiet or alone.
I do not see the need for huge houses with excess bedrooms and single purpose rooms. Empty feeling as our old house felt without more than the two of us. Too many rooms to clean- all gather dust and baths need cleaning even with little use.
Next downsize will occur with far less space as we will be much older- elderly.
The house spaces says a lot about the era built. Separate to open concept, smaller to larger… Needs also change but moving means so much more than just the building. It is neighborhood.
And then there are “courtyards.” The front of our house opens to a large, pavered, walled-and-gated space even with the foundation of the house. The six feet right outside the front door is columned and covered, the rest is open to the air above. The courtyard is formed by the block “U” shape of the garage/house/casita walls. Our back patio is also even with the house foundation, and the first ten feet are also covered. There is a wall of glass opening to the back patio. When the large panes are pushed aside, the patio becomes an extension of the house. We close these walls only in the summer (we don’t have flying bugs).
We spend a ton of time in the outdoor spaces which are furnished. Like @abasket, we love the fresh air, sunshine, and access to passing neighbors. We also love the sound of the courtyard fountain and the glow of the patio fireplace at night. The patio also has an outdoor kitchen, so we do a lot of cooking/grilling and eating out there.
We hibernate in the house in the summer, though. Like right now. We feel caged in the summer. 
Noticed another regional (local?) difference in terminology. What some call a “ranch house” is typically listed by RE agents as a “rambler” here in the PNW. 
And my British relatives called my ranch house a cottage!
We call our front area a courtyard, too. Front entry is covered for a bit, then along one side is the garage wall, across the front and other side is a fence blocking us from the road. All in all probably 20’ deep or so with stamped concrete. We have planters and pots & hanging baskets, a table and chairs, a bench (and a double Bob stroller and a cool kids VW van) plus morning sun in the courtyard.
I am not sure, does a courtyard mean just fully enclosed or does it have to be privacy height fencing. We have a family member place with what we all call a courtyard, but it’s waist high fence and a view, but is across the entire front of the house, probaly 25-30’ wide and 15’ deep.
Courtyard is an area that is surrounded by walls on all sides but is not an indoor space. IMO, based on what local RE listings say.
But how high do those walls need to be to be a courtyard, versus a what? I am not sure what else to call an enclosed yard space like that.
Typically, 3 walls are those of the house or as tall as 8 feet… the last one can be fence height or lower.
It is 10:30 pm, and we are still sitting at the fire table on the deck… we are getting our $$ worth out of that feature.
Three sides of our courtyard are defined by house-height walls. The side facing the street is is a chest-height wall that matches the house with an iron gate. I can see over that wall and through the gate, but the space feels very enclosed. Like @somemom, we have planters (a large one is my herb snipping garden) and tables and chairs that make it an outdoor room, a front extension of the house. When we entertain, we usually set up a bar and appetizers in that space and guests congregate there before coming into the main house for dinner.
Ok…rooms we use…and how often.
Kitchen…every day. And we eat at the table in the adjacent open breakfast room area.
First floor 1/2 bath. Daily.
Family room open to kitchen…daily.
Living room…used by me for reading and such…daily.
Master bedroom and bath…daily.
Hall full bath…at least once weekly as that’s where our washer and dryer are located.
Smallest extra bedroom…daily…it’s also an office space…and has an ironing board in it.
Dining room, a couple of times a week as that’s where my laptop is set up.
Kid 1 bedroom…seldom.
Kid 2 bedroom…used for out of town guests…so maybe once a month or so.
Finished basement…a few times a week but only by DH…he has his “stuff” down there.
We use our living and dining rooms only a few times a year. If I had to build the house again, I’d eliminate the formal dining room and make an enormous kitchen with an area for a sofa and some chairs. The kitchen gets constant use - we have a big island where we eat most of our meals, but also a large stone-topped table with leather chairs that we do use frequently, and which is unfortunately, a place where stuff gets dumped. We actually have two family rooms - one on the main floor, then another on the top floor that overlooks the lower family room with a staircase and high ceiling. The upper family room is much cozier and contains a big TV and comfortable sectional. It gets constant use and the lower family room is mostly a pass through to get upstairs. However, the lower room has a huge fieldstone fireplace, so in the winter, everyone will congregate there if I make a fire. I also have a conservatory attached to the house, which no one uses in the summer, but is very popular in the winter once it’s filled with plants that I winter over in there.
@BunsenBurner @kiddie LA Times has ranch style houses in the Architectural spotlight article today. Expansive windows is one of the characteristics along with an open floor plan,few interior walls, often L or U shaped, single story, level with backyard or patio. Cliff May was a prominent architect who designed many Ca homes in this style.
My house has many of those characteristics. Expansive windows and sliders are very much a key design element in my house. It is basically a U shape with a patio and pool area in the open area. The expansive windows and the views from those windows makes me feel like I’m outside even if I’m not.
I’m really enjoying this thread, @abasket , and learning new things like the term rambler - that’s a new one for me!
@mom60 - those are the features found in MCM ranches. Winderful homes. There are plenty of ugly ramblers/ranches built in the seventies with tiny windows and dark galley kitchens here in my neck of the woods… those houses are runner ups to split level homes in the competition for the ugliest house design.
Your home sounds lovely.
A ranch means different things in different places. A single story house, regardless of the windows, qualifies in Wisconsin. “Expansive windows” are not desired when there is a cold winter, no matter how energy efficient they are they still won’t retain heat like well insulated walls do.
I had heard of a rambler but read it somewhere- not a local term for me. A cottage can be one or more stories from my experience- denotes a smaller house. I think of many summer cottages on a lake somewhere- may or may not be all season.
I know of folks who have the same four-level split we do and who have turned the living/dining room/kitchen main level into a big open space with island, sofas, cushioned chairs, etc. All I can think of is the kitchen grease and grime on the upholstery!
We have an 1800 sq ft, two story on about a half an acre. It has 4 BR, a LR, and an eat in kitchen with a table that extends to hold 10. We also have a laundry room, office, shop, and a spare room we used for a playroom when the children were small but is now an informal LR for them and their friends. Our outdoor space is pretty comfortable. We have 2 decks, but the gardens are a work in progress.
I hadn’t thought about how well we use the space until I read this thread. The children are still in college so the house isn’t empty yet, but we could use the space better. Everyone has a laptop so we’ve been using the office for storing things nobody seems to know what to do with. I think it may be time to repurpose the space. Maybe it will become a dedicated library.