Whether you’re an architectural enthusiast or novice, understanding the different styles of homes is helpful if you’re home buying or planning on a home renovation on your existing home. If you’re homebuying, understanding the different types of homes can be beneficial terminology as you navigate the market. And, if you’re renovating a home, being familiar with the intricacies of different architectural styles can guide you in making design choices that reflect the style of the house. Read on to learn about the most common types of architectural home styles.
Cape Cod Home
The Cape Cod home style dates back to Massachusetts in the 1700s. It’s a sturdy home style, with a central door flanked by symmetrical windows, wood siding and shingles. New Cape Cod-style homes have the same silhouette but are built with additional square footage, allowing more windows and doors.
Colonial Home
Colonial homes are known for their central staircase, grand entryway and symmetry. In addition, they have a rectangular silhouette and a formal design style. Many different Colonial homes originate from where they were first built. These different Colonial homes include English, Dutch and Georgian, among others.
Craftsman Home
Craftsman homes, also called Arts and Crafts homes, are known for their horizontal silhouette, hand-carved wood features, superior-quality architecture, and construction. They are sturdy homes filled with built-in elements, such as shelves and seating, hand-made materials, such as hand-laid fireplaces and stained glass, and exterior tapered columns and low-pitched roofs.
Tudor Home
A tudor home’s signature feature is the linear timber lines on the home’s light-hued stucco exterior. Sometimes Tudor homes also have brick accents. This home style originated in England and was brought to the United States in the early 20th century. Tudor homes are built with sturdy construction, making them a solid architectural choice for colder climates.
Victorian Home
Victoria-style homes reflect the era in which they were built, which was the reign of Queen Victoria. Victorian homes are large in size, elaborate in style and filled with ornate details.
Farmhouse Home
While farmhouse-style homes originated in rural areas, many modern farmhouse-style dwellings have been built in recent years. Farmhouse homes are known for having a rectangular shape, long front porches and clapboard singing. In addition, modern farmhouses often have a black-and-white color palette, reflected in the white siding and black windows.
Mid-Century Modern Home
Original mid-century modern homes were most commonly built post World War II, lasting from the mid-1930’s to the mid-1960’s. Mid-century modern is based around clean lines, organic curves and marrying different materials. The minimalist style focused on function over elaborate detailing. Because of mid-century modern, timeless quality, it still has broad appeal.
