A "house" is essentially a container -- for a person, a family, several families or even a large group with shared interests (think of the term "houses of worship.") In the Bible, a "house" is also a container, but for spiritual things rather than natural things. In various uses a "house" can represent part of the mind, the whole mind, a whole person or even a church. The other nuance to the word "house" is that it is generally used in regards to our affections and desires rather than our thoughts and principles. This makes sense; we tend to engage our thoughts and rationality when we are out in the world doing our work, but when we are inside our houses we are driven most by love for our families and the desire to be good to those we love. So "house" tends to represent the things we want and care about -- which are ultimately the things that define us.

3644. All human beings throughout the whole world have a position either in the Grand Man, that is, in heaven, or outside it in hell. They have that position as to their souls, or what amounts to the same, as to the spirit which will continue to live after death of the body. As long as he is living in the world, no one is actually conscious of being there in heaven or in hell, but all the same he is there and is governed from there. All are in heaven insofar as the good of love and consequently the truth of faith exist in them, and all are in hell insofar as the evil of hatred and consequently falsity exist with them.