Thirty Architectural House Styles and What Makes Them Unique
Discover the variations amongst the most common home designs, such as Cape Cod, rural French, Colonial, Tudor, and more.
With a plethora of house styles out there, it can be overwhelming to understand what your own home’s style is, which ones are your favourites, and what qualities belong to each. Some of these home types might be unfamiliar to you since they are more common in some parts of the nation than others. To help you differentiate them all, we’ll go through 30 popular house styles and what characteristics give each of them their distinct charm.
Cape Cod House Style
Hardwood flooring, wood siding, multi-pane windows, and a high roofline are characteristics of the Cape Cod architectural style. They usually consist of one narrative, although occasionally there is a second half story. Although it originated in the late 17th century, the 1930s saw a rise in the popularity of Cape Cod house building. Although the original Cape Cod-style homes were somewhat tiny, dormer windows frequently provided more room, light, and ventilation.
French Country House Design
In the United States, country French-style residences have been there since the 18th century. The majority of country French residences are one storey, with a half-timbered structure, stucco walls, steeply pitched roofs (either hipped or side-gabled), and a large number of tiny windows with paired shutters. In addition to having eye-catching driveways and landscaping designs, the curb appeal is noteworthy.
Colonial House Design
Typically, colonial-style homes include two or three floors, brick or wood facades, and fireplaces. The kitchen and family room are located on the first story of a traditional Colonial-style home, while the bedrooms are located on the second floor. A central entryway with symmetrical windows on each side usually marks the center of the house’s main facade. These days, dormer windows and external window shutters are a common feature of these dwellings.
Victorian House Design
Victorian-style homes frequently have cutaway bay windows, patterned shingles, a prominent front-facing gable, and a steeply pitched roof. Victorian-style homes typically have a partial- or full-width front porch with an asymmetrical front.
Victorian architecture encompasses a number of home types, including Queen Anne. This period of time ran from 1837 to 1901. Victorian interior design was romantic, unique, and full of intricate details, from fabric patterns to color schemes and texture selections. Victorian homes of today still have the classic features, but they now incorporate more contemporary materials and hues. In these homes, traditional and modern design elements may coexist together.
Tudor-style home
A steeply pitched roof, noticeable cross gables, ornamental half-timbering, and tall, narrow windows with small windowpanes are typical characteristics of a Tudor-style house. Lighter colored stone walls or stucco, such as cream or light brown, tend to draw attention to dark half-timbering, trim, and brick.
The name of this style alludes to a strong relationship with Tudor-era English architecture from the 16th century. However, the Tudor homes of today are merely contemporary reimaginings that draw inspiration from a range of Late Medieval English models.
Craftsman-style home
The Arts and Crafts style, commonly referred to as the Craftsman bungalow, saw a surge in popularity from 1900 to 1930 and is currently seeing a resurgence. Look at the woodwork if you want to get an idea of what an interior of a house built in the Craftsman style looks like. A characteristic that sets this design apart is the copious quantity of woodwork seen inside, including built-in seats and shelves.
On the outside, Craftsman-style homes frequently include exposed roof rafters, large eave overhangs, low-pitched roofs, ornate beams or braces beneath gables, and porches surrounded by tapering square columns. The attic of Craftsman-style houses is frequently unfinished but functional, providing excellent potential for remodeling.
Cottage Home Design Style
The thatched-roof cottages of medieval England served as an inspiration for the quaint and comfortable cottage-style homes that we are familiar with today. In the United States, the design gained particular popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. Warm, narrative-like qualities, arched doorways, casement windows with small panes, brick, stone, or stucco cladding, steep roof pitches, and cross gables are typical characteristics of cottage-style home designs.
Mediterranean-Style Home
Mediterranean-style homes sometimes have an exterior composed of stucco or adobe, arches, grillwork, and a low-pitched red tile roof. The garden is an extension of the living area in a classic U-shaped Mediterranean floor plan, which is centered around a central courtyard and fountain. Spanish-style homes frequently include rooms that open to the courtyard, allowing fresh air to circulate and provide cooling cross-ventilation.
Conventional Ranch-Style Homes
Conventional ranch-style homes often have practical living areas, connected garages, and straightforward floor designs. Large windows typically run the length of the front of these one-story houses. The design was first used in 1932 and is still in use today. During the postwar suburban home-building boom of the 1950s and 1960s, it was one of the most popular forms.
Modern House Design
There is a lot of glass, open floor layouts, and creative design in many modern homes. Modern houses often have flat or low-pitched roofs, exposed roof beams, and a dynamic combination of contrasting materials and textures on their exteriors, without the need for elaborate ornamentation or superfluous detail.
Italianate Home Design
The overhanging eaves and elaborate embellishments surrounding entrances, windows, porches, and supporting columns are characteristics of Italianate home architecture that are well-known. These two- or three-story residences often have a large chimney and a roof that slopes gently. Despite having a design akin to big, rectangular boxes, the dwellings’ details are incredibly visually appealing. A cupola, or square tower, is frequently seen atop these buildings with Italian architectural influences.
Style of Colonial Revival Homes
The trademarks of the Colonial Revival style include its enormous windows, ornate decoration, and grand entrances. These brick residences, which have columns on the front facade, are frequently seen. The American Colonial-style home served as the model for the more straightforward form, which peaked in popularity in the 1940s.
Style of Georgian House
Every feature of a Georgian house, including the windows, entryway, and roof, is symmetrical. They feature a hip roof, are constructed in square or rectangular shapes, and may include second-story dormers. This type of residence is frequently constructed with multi-paneled windows and walls composed of stone or brick.
Greek Revival Home Design
Greek Revival homes are distinguished by their striking columns and stark white facades. Large floor plans, low-pitched roofs, and front doorways with small-pane windows around them are all characteristics of Greek Revival homes. In the South, where large porches are common, you’ll probably encounter rocking chairs in this design.
Modern House Style of the Midcentury
Large windows, flat roofs, clean lines, and open-concept interiors are characteristics of midcentury modern homes. A split-level home will only have many storeys on the façade, which is typically quite broad. Additionally, a variety of materials are combined, including stone, brick, stucco, and glass. These homes typically have huge glass doors that open directly to the patio, providing easy access to the outdoors. Original mid century homes are typically constructed between 1945 and 1969 and have exterior colors that are warm earth tones like oranges, creams, and browns.
Style of Gothic Revival Homes
Think stained glass windows, towers, spires, and lots of pointed arches to see the significant medieval influences in the architecture of Gothic Revival homes. Typically, this unique house design features bargeboards with exquisite details and a broad one-story porch. These houses typically have very steeply pitched roofs, just like churches and other old structures in the same style.
House Style in Modern Architecture
The sense of modern architecture is sometimes more industrial, which is very different from a Tudor or Colonial-style home. Sharp, clean lines may be found in many modern dwellings, which also frequently incorporate geometric designs. The open-concept rooms receive an abundance of natural light thanks to the tall, big windows. One of the few materials employed in the constructions is glass; several of them also combine metal, wood, and concrete. Often, the roofs of these homes are flat.
Style of Mediterranean Revival Homes
The sense of modern architecture is sometimes more industrial, which is very different from a Tudor or Colonial-style home. Sharp, clean lines may be found in many modern dwellings, which also frequently incorporate geometric designs. The open-concept rooms receive an abundance of natural light thanks to the tall, big windows. One of the few materials employed in the constructions is glass; several of them also combine metal, wood, and concrete. Often, the roofs of these homes are flat.
Style of Mediterranean Revival Homes
Though a little more symmetrical and straightforward, Mediterranean Revival is comparable to Mediterranean style. These houses frequently have bell towers, porches, awnings, and balconies. Typically, the walls have wrought iron fittings and a stark white stucco finish. Spanish and Italian architecture are the main design influences for the low-pitched clay tile roofs.
Prairie House Design
Frank Lloyd Wright, an architect, popularized the prairie house design because he believed that houses should be straightforward and practical. Typically, the residences feature low-pitched roofs, two floors, and a large front. These houses are designed with seamless integration of the outside and inside. It’s common practice to group many smaller windows together to create the illusion of one larger window.
Style of Rowhouse
The sense of modern architecture is sometimes more industrial, which is very different from a Tudor or Colonial-style home. Sharp, clean lines may be found in many modern dwellings, which also frequently incorporate geometric designs. The open-concept rooms receive an abundance of natural light thanks to the tall, big windows. One of the few materials employed in the constructions is glass; several of them also combine metal, wood, and concrete. Often, the roofs of these homes are flat.
Style of Mediterranean Revival Homes
The majority of rowhouse-style homes are found in metropolitan locations where it is difficult to find suitable land for residential construction. The vertical dwellings are constructed in a straight row side by side and are all the same height. Typically constructed of brick, they are occasionally painted a distinct color to set each house out from the others. There are several windows along the front and back of the structure since the side walls of the dwellings are often close to one other.
Style of Antebellum Homes
Southern estates and farms frequently include antebellum-style homes, which are easily recognized by their imposing scale and Greek-style pillars. Large wraparound porches and porticoes are characteristic of the design, and second-story porches are common in the residences. Typically, the home is square-shaped and symmetrical.
Federal House Design
On the East Coast, federal-style homes are common and easily recognizable due to their flat facades and brick exteriors. The houses have symmetrical walls and windows that are rectangular in shape. Compared to Georgian-style residences, federal-style dwellings feature more subtle and elegant detailing.
Contemporary Farmhouse Design
A modern take on the classic American farmhouse is the modern farmhouse style. The updated look is straightforward and useful. Board-and-batten siding and a metal roof are two of its main features. Although white siding with black trim is a classic color combination, there are a ton of modern versions available. Modern farmhouses also frequently include a front porch with exposed wooden beams and many roof peaks.
Brutalist House Style
A dream come true for individuals who enjoy modern, minimalist building is the brutalist architectural style. The geometric use of unpolished concrete, sparse decoration, and floor to ceiling windows are some of the main characteristics of brutalism. With their raw edges and natural materials, the residences are seen as more sculpture than homey.
Saltbox House Design
Named for the ubiquitous wooden salt containers of the era, saltbox buildings are a hallmark of the Colonial era. The houses feature a distinctive one-sided slanted roof with two floors at the front and one at the rear. A brick chimney located in the middle of the roof is another feature common to saltbox homes. Since the original saltbox house was intended to be a more economical housing alternative at the time, it is just decorated and simple.
Style of A-Frame House
As distinctive a home shape as they come is the A-frame. Because of its incredibly steep roof, which begins at the floor and doubles as side walls, the house has a triangular configuration. The A-shaped building frequently features a lot of windows on both the front and rear of the home, along with wooden siding. Not only is this design common in cabins, but it also creates a useful house.
Spanish Colonial Home Design
Spanish Colonial homes, with their white-washed stucco walls and red terra-cotta roofs, are full of references to classic Spanish architecture. This type of residence has few windows, and the ones that it does have are relatively tiny. The arches and wrought iron features are still present in their asymmetrical, less ornate forms, which are typical of residences in the Mediterranean style.
Style of Barndominium House
A hybrid of a conventional barn and a condominium, the barndominium is becoming more and more popular. They are mostly found in rural locations and have sturdy steel walls and roofs. They probably feature a lot of windows and uncovered wooden beams that support a porch overhang. Usually rather big buildings, they provide many of options for interior design.
Style of Cabin House
An American classic, the nostalgic cabin house design frequently makes use of rustic elements including stone, steel, tin, and wood. They typically include high ceilings, exposed beams, porches, and decks. Simple gable roofs or cross-gable roofs with a grand stone chimney on the side of the house are typical roof styles for cabins. These homes might have enormous, spectacular design or be small and intimate.
Shingle-style dwelling
Victorian homes in the Shingle style are less ornate than those in the Queen Anne style. Usually, they have large porches and are asymmetrical and broad. The dwellings’ namesake is referenced on their exterior, which is made of wooden shingles. The roofs are multi-gabled, and chimneys frequently protrude beyond the horizon. Usually, the windows come in different forms and sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which architectural designs will be popular in 2023?
3-D printing, smaller residences (bungalows instead of farmhouses), integrating home designs into the surrounding environment, and employing natural materials like hemp, concrete, and biodegradable items in construction are projected to be the top architectural trends in 2023. Builders of new homes indicate that black and white are popular exterior paint colors, and that colonial and farmhouse floor designs are still in demand.
Which type of home is often the most costly?
Building a Mediterranean house is the most expensive. They have expensive tile roofs, open-air styles with high ceilings that need a lot of insulation, and custom-shaped windows. Because they are closest to the ocean, beach houses are always the most costly to buy.
Which house design is most in vogue in America?
The ranch-style house is the most common type of housing. Although it is frequently observed in all 50 states, areas with lower land costs are where it is most likely to occur. This is because it requires a larger lot than two-story dwellings. Financial considerations play a role in its appeal as well because the straightforward, one-story house is more reasonably priced than most other designs.
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