I used to let Henry have free roam but he would on occasion be too lazy to hold his pee pee and go on my couch. So now, depending on if I'm gone a couple hours or several hours he either is confined to the kitchen and dining area or in his crate. If there is a rug he may go ahead and use it if he gets the urge. Therefore he doesn't get the whole house any longer and I leave the rug so I know if he's had an accident.
Winnie stays in her crate when we're gone. She's only a year old and I don't quite trust her not to pee on the floor or not to eat stuff she shouldn't. My prior 3 bullies were allowed free roam of the house by the time they were a year old, but I can't quite trust Winnie yet!
Monty goes in the utility room with a baby gate. He has full view of the living room, kitchen, breakfast area but I think he is snoring on his bed before I am out the door! He also sleeps in there at night. I just don't quite trust him not to chew on something (like a chair rung, it's the perfect height!) when we are gone.
Bella has free roam of the kitchen and living room. I keep a few boxes in between the door to my bedroom and have been in place since I got her as a baby. She knows she is not allowed to jump over those boxes and has never done so while I have been gone. I have to leave the door open due to not wanting to keep my cat locked up all day. The old lady of the house ( My cat is 10 years old) tolerates Bella without any major problems.
If I'm gone all day, we put him in his crate. If I'm just gone a few hours- I close the bedroom doors and he stays out. Doesn't matter much he rarely moves off his pillow on the couch