From the Latin word meaning writing tablet, or written record. In a Roman house, a small room at the far end of the atrium, or between it and the second courtyard. It was used for keeping family records.

The office or study in a domus ( Roman house). This is the room where Christian house churches met for worship.

A central room off the atrium of a Roman house. Used as master bedroom.

a room, usually centrally located along the back wall of an atrium opposite the entrance to a Roman house. Originally the tablinum corresponded to our master bedroom but later functioned as an office, family archive and reception room where the paterfamilias could meet his clientela

In Roman architecture, a tablinum (or tabulinum, from tabula, board, picture) was a room generally situated on one side of the atrium and opposite to the entrance; it opened in the rear on to the peristyle, with either a large window or only an anteroom or curtain. The walls were richly decorated with fresco pictures, and busts of the family were arranged on pedestals on the two sides of the room.