The Ultimate Guide to House Types and Architecture Styles

Popularized in the United States in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, ranch-style homes are the architectural answer to a post-WWII desire for laid-back, easy living that was both affordable and functional for growing families. With a sprawling footprint on a single level, ranch-style homes were often long and rectangular or designed with an L-shaped footprint, which allowed for seamless flow between the interior rooms and outdoor spaces.

The interior design was kept streamlined and minimal, with logical floor plans that promoted socialization. Architectural details often took the form of simple molding, mid-century modern shelving, and hardwood floors. Many ranch homes were finished on the exterior with brick, though as the style grew in popularity and technology progressed, exterior finish options expanded to include wood shingles and vinyl siding.

Reminiscent of something straight out of a medieval village, Tudor-style houses have a historical air about them that will thrill any historic-home lover. Inspired by early English architecture, Tudor homes first took a foothold in America in the 1920s and 1940s, where they offered something a bit different than the colonial architecture popular at the time. Tudor style homes are most recognizable by their exterior architecture, which features a facade of pitched gable roofs, often decorated with wood beams set against a white or stucco backdrop. Brick and wood details are also usually mixed in.

Uniquely shaped windows are also a calling card of Tudor architecture, and many are taller and more narrow than their contemporary counterparts. Some even feature era-specific detailing, like stained glass or diamond panes. Inside, Tudor-style homes lean effortlessly into cozy luxury, with rich millwork, massive fireplaces, exposed beams, and sloped ceilings all adding to their undeniable charm.

Craftsman-style houses—also referred to as Craftsman bungalows—are among the most humble examples of American architecture, beloved for their modest footprint, approachable charm, and striking simplicity. Popularized during the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 1900s, a love for Craftsman-style homes spread quickly, thanks to kit homes from companies like Sears, which made the architectural look a cornerstone of their product. Most notably, Craftsman-style homes feature a gabled overhang at the front, which—teamed with exposed roof supports and columns—creates an expansive front porch from which to watch the world go by.

Craftsman-style homes also offered owners a chance to get a bit creative with their color selection. It was not uncommon to see homes finished in shades of sage, rust, mustard, or blue. As the name implies, Craftsman-style homes put a large emphasis on craftsmanship, with interiors that feature plenty of custom millwork (think built-in benches or expansive bookcases), brick fireplaces, and a floor plan that caters to everyday practicality.

When you picture a home by the sea, chances are good that a Cape Cod-style house is what first comes to mind. Full of quintessential New England charm, this enduring architectural style dates all the way back to the late 1600s, taking the lead from the practical (yet impossibly charming) British coastal cottages owned by English settlers. Meant to withstand all manner of harsh New England weather (including the scalding summer sun, salty air, and brutal winters), Cape Cod-style homes were decidedly compact and simple. There’s an emphasis on symmetry and a cedar-shingle exterior that’s weathered to the perfect silver-gray.

Though Cape Cod-style homes were traditionally built as one-story dwellings (often with dormer windows), many have expanded to two stories over the decades as building methods became more reliable and sturdy. Inside, fanciful finishes are eschewed in the name of simplicity, with central fireplaces (in the main living area, as well as the kitchen), minimalist millwork, snug bedrooms, and cozy proportions that all harken back to a sense of traditional simplicity.

Perhaps the most iconic version of American architecture, Colonial-style homes date back to the early 1600s and are easily identifiable, thanks to their balanced exterior facade—which includes a centered front door with windows on each side and a second story with five windows overhead—and a restrained, timeless sense of style. Most Colonial-style homes feature a central hall that acts as the main artery of the home, with formal rooms flanking each side, and bedrooms and private spaces upstairs.

Though there are different iterations of the Colonial vernacular (including Georgian, Dutch, and Spanish), many incorporate similar interior finishes, including several fireplaces, intricate door profiles, interior shutters, and specialty millwork, like wainscoting. Beautiful staircases are also a hallmark of Colonial-style homes, and are often given a place of prominence in the center hall as another way for the home to bridge the gap between function and elegance.

A classic Southern aesthetic, shotgun-style homes emerged in the early 1880s and soared to popularity in places like New Orleans, where they offered an affordable and efficient way to build on narrow urban lots. While features of the architectural style can be attributed to African and Caribbean influences—primarily because of the gabled front roof and colorful exteriors—shotgun style homes are considered quintessentially American.

The homes themselves are modest and narrow, hardly ever exceeding 15 feet wide, with a floor plan that’s arranged in a single straight line from front to back. While privacy in the home is limited (after all, each room opens into the next), shotgun-style homes still boast plenty of charm and efficiency, with expansive windows, humble finishes, and plenty of color and ornate trimwork on the facade.

Victorian-style homes are basically your childhood dollhouse, all grown up (and life-sized!). Victorian architecture, which owes its namesake to Queen Victoria of England, reached its height of popularity between the mid-1800s and early 1900s, when the Industrial Revolution made features like mass-produced millwork more accessible than ever. Homeowners of that time took access to that beauty and ran with it, embracing a “more is more” attitude that manifested itself in intricate gables, sprawling wrap-around porches, fanciful turrets, and plenty of whimsy, including trimwork with charming names such as “gingerbread” trim.

Step inside a Victorian-style home and you’ll find an equally ornate interior, with tall ceilings, oversized windows, plenty of rich woodwork, elaborate finishes (especially where staircases and fireplace mantels are concerned), and a penchant for formal living. Victorian homes favored layouts that allowed for privacy and entertaining, including a formal living room, smoking parlor, formal dining room, and a snuggery (a more private living room retreat), as well as separate quarters and entrances for children and housekeepers.

Compact and charming, bungalow-style homes first emerged in the early 1900s and quickly became the calling card for the American middle class. The bungalow was originally adapted by British colonists in India, inspired by traditional indigenous Bengal huts, called bangla ghar. They boasted large, wide porches, mud walls, and a thatched roof for relief from the sun. The bungalow-style house we know today is humble and welcoming, featuring a one- or one-and-a-half-story structure with a low gable roof, several support columns, and a stucco or clapboard exterior. Unlike other home styles, which primarily exist in certain parts of the country, bungalow-style houses can be found from coast to coast, making them one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous architectural styles in the USA.

Inside, bungalow-style homes hold tight to their livable DNA, with a semi-open floorplan that allows for easy flow through the main living spaces while maintaining privacy throughout the rest of the home. Several charming features—including stained millwork and built-in finishes, like buffets and cabinetry—up the functionality of the space while adding warmth and charm.

Synonymous with warm-weather living, Spanish-style homes are a popular choice for locations with year-round balmy temps, especially in the Southwest, Florida, and California. With an architectural style that’s rooted in the missions and haciendas of colonial Spain, these charming abodes are characterized by their stucco exterior (typically painted white or another earthy neutral) and red clay tile roofs.

Layers of texture and living finishes reign supreme inside Spanish-style homes, where you can often find a mix of materials ranging from terracotta and exposed wood to plaster and wrought iron. Curved doorways and windows soften the overall look, while plenty of indoor-outdoor flow promotes a connection to outdoor living. While many Spanish-style homes are sprawling villas, there are just as many compact, cottage-sized iterations of the architectural style, making them a versatile design for many temperate-weather homeowners.

Japanese-style architecture first took a foothold in the United States in the late 19th century, where it was used to iterate on both the Arts and Crafts and Mid-Century Modernism architecture movements. Now commonly referred to as “Japandi,” this unique style blends the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi (essentially, finding beauty in imperfection) with the clean lines and natural minimalism of Scandinavian design to create a home that blends simply and harmoniously with its surroundings. The exterior of a Japanese-style home often features a thatched or tiled roof with a slight curve at the eaves, as well as wood doors and window casings that combine to form an understated exterior.

Inside, the emphasis on minimalism remains, with natural materials like exposed wood beams and grass screens helping to channel a soothing, serene atmosphere. While some contemporary conveniences may be incorporated indoors, they’re most usually approached through a lens of balance and simplicity. Floor plans are flowing and without frills; finishes are streamlined and never a distraction. This is not an interior where you’ll find a lot of “extras.” Instead, the surrounding landscape and clean lines are allowed to do the talking—or, rather, the whispering.