The tablinum, which was open on two sides was located between the atrium and the peristylium. This room served as an office for the paterfamilias or head of the household to receive guests formally. The two sides of the room could be closed with curtains or folding doors. When open, a visitor could look from one end of the house to the other unobstructed. This open vista made an impressive view for the visitors.
The matrona or Roman woman would have used this space in conjunction with her husband's business dealings and/or for the formal reception of her guests. Many times the tablinum also held the ancestral busts of the family, as well as being decorated with wall paintings, richly woven fabrics and marble or mosaic floors.