The Most-Loved Architectural House Styles in the USA

The style of your home can be one of its greatest assets, increasing its value and helping ensure you can sell your house fast when the time comes to move. Here’s some insight into the most popular house styles in the USA and how to recognize them, so you’ll know how to classify your own home when you sell your house privately.

Ranch Homes

Ranch homes are one of the most popular housing styles across the country. Developed in the 1940s through to the 1980s, these homes were part of a huge housing boom that occurred through the suburbs. It’s easy to spot ranch homes with their low rooflines, single-story profile, family-friendly L- or U-shaped floorplans, attached garages and sliding doors.

You can see more examples of ranch architecture here.

Colonial Revival Homes

This architectural style is based on the homes of early American colonists, and have a strong European influence. They are typically symmetrical, rectangular double-story homes with attic rooms, classic columns that create a grand entryway, shutters, chimneys, and shingle, red brick or plaster walls. A beautiful example of this architectural style is the Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, D.C.

Cape Cod Homes

Predominantly found in New England, these gracious cottage homes built in the 1940s are also inspired by colonial architectural elements. Usually single story with dormers and attic rooms, these homes are symmetrical and typically rectangular in shape. They are far less grand and imposing than colonial revival homes, and have a cozy, quaint feel to them. Typically, they have very steep roofs, painted shingle siding, central chimneys and shuttered cottage windows.

Here are some beautiful examples of the Cape Cod architectural style.

Spanish Colonial Homes

Predominantly built in the early 1900s-1940s, these homes are found across Florida, California, Texas and Arizona. This architectural style borrows from Spanish, Mexican, Mission and Italian architecture and is uniquely suited to the climate and lifestyle of warmer states. Typical elements include stucco and red clay tile, white or warm terracotta colors, low-pitch roofs, wrought iron railings, rounded doorways and arches, and rambling multi-level floorplans.

Here are some good examples of this warm and welcoming architectural style.

Queen Anne Homes

Queen Anne homes in the USA are elaborate, whimsical and ornate, with asymmetrical features and a fairytale feel. They typically have elaborate features like intricate gabling, pedimented porches, spindle work, leaded windows, balconies, deep overhanging eaves and dramatic towers. They were popularized in the 1880s and can be found in rural and urban areas in the USA.

One of the most well-known Queen Anne homes in the USA is the Carson Mansion in Eureka, California.

Craftsman Houses

Also called Arts and Crafts, this architectural style became popular in the early 1900s up until the 1930s, and is becoming popular again today. The idea behind this movement was to create very individual, artist-crafted homes rather than creating mass-produced, machine-made products. As a result, they are often quirky with an emphasis on natural materials and their unique characteristics. Typical Craftsman homes have low-pitched roofs, deep eaves, exposed rafters, decorative gables and braces, square tapered columns under wide porches, windows with long vertical panes, and are made from wood, stone or brick.

Here are some great examples of Craftsman style homes.

Eco-Homes

This is a relatively new architectural trend that is currently taking off. The idea isn’t so much to create a new, single architectural style, but to bring in as many eco-friendly and sustainable elements into a home in order to lower the carbon footprint of the house and make it as sustainable and affordable to run as possible. This includes using locally-made products, investing in innovative, high-efficiency technology (solar power, blown-in cellulose insulation, geothermal heat pumps, etc.), high thermal mass architecture with exceptional airtight design, and water recycling features. Eco-homes can be exceptionally modern or quirky and rustic, and can feature additions like sod roofing, vegetable gardens, and smart home tech. Although there are many examples of luxury eco-homes, it’s becoming a big trend in all price ranges as people look for new ways to save on energy costs, care for the environment and support sustainability.

In these examples of friendly homes, you can see just how creative and diverse they can be!

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