WASHINGTON - PRESIDENT Barack Obama loves living 'above the store' in the White House - though was once forced to ask for directions to navigate the historic mansion, his spokesman said on Thursday.

'At the end of the first night, he had to ask somebody where he was supposed to go next,' said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. 'It's a pretty big house.'

After grinding months of separation on the campaign trail, Mr Obama was also enjoying having wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia close at hand, Mr Gibbs added.

'I do think he enjoys, to use a phrase, living above the company store.

'Yesterday he, between two events, went upstairs to have dinner with (his family) and I think that obviously means a lot to him as a father.'

At the end of his frenetic second day in the White House on Thursday, Mr Obama also took a few minutes to turn on the charm for the White House press, visiting reporters in their cramped quarters in the mansion's briefing room.

'We will try to have a relationship that is respectful,' Mr Obama said, thanking reporters for not 'ripping' into White House press secretary Robert Gibbs during his debut briefing earlier in the day.

'We were all watching on TV with anticipation of some flop sweat, but he handled it, and I am very proud of him,' Mr Obama said.

One reporter tried to prod Mr Obama on lobbyist reforms he introduced on his first day in office on Wednesday, but he demurred.

'We will be having a press conference, at which time you can feel free to ask your questions,' he said.

'Right now, I just want to say hello.' Mr Obama also revealed that he had not yet shot any hoops on a basketball court in the White House grounds, saying the weather was too cold.

But he said he had already worked out in the White House gym, on the third floor of the presidential residence.