10 Most Popular Residential Architectural Styles in the US

Architecture has always been a reflection of the time and culture it was created. From ancient temples to modern skyscrapers, the world of architecture is a fascinating journey through history. Architectural styles, influenced by the artistic, technological, and social contexts of different eras, have evolved and transformed over the centuries.

Throughout the ages, people have also dwelled in various types of homes and residences. With different strategies in mind, individuals from all over the planet also made various conceptions, and some even reinvented what we used to call "Our Home"; They added arts and geometrical rules, or what they named architectural styles, while others settled for just ensuring a safe lodging for themselves and their families.

This blog post will take you on a tour of the most prominent architectural styles of American residential, from the Craftsman to the Coastal, passing by the Victorian. So put on your imaginary hard hat and let's explore the world of architecture and the creative minds of the architects who shaped it.

Why Do We Need an Architect?

For many of us, a home is just a covered four-walled structure built on a solid foundation and a safe refuge from the seasonal bad weather. But for others, it is a place to live and to rest on their lifestyle, running away from the noisy outer world.

Therefore, this location must bring that feeling of well-being and prosperity, and of course, safety for its occupants.

For the previous reason and many others too, comes THE NEED FOR AN ARCHITECT to transform those thoughts into reality; Built not only to fulfil the main functionality of the house but with a nice-looking design that blends all these parameters and brings comfort and enjoyment for the residents.

But here are the main questions:

That is what we will try to enlighten in the next section of this article, and much more.

But first of all, it is good to note that all the styles discussed in this post are related exclusively to the American Architectural Style in general, because of the diversity and variety of its styles, from the old period until actual days. Also to its multiple sources and origins, notably European and Asian countries, which enriched and popularized the American Homes Styles than others, worldwide. For more useful references about other architectural styles, please go to How has Humanity affected Architectural Styles?

So let’s find out which are the most popular styles utilized for homes and demanded from both the sellers and buyers– and to be exact, from the real estate agencies– as well.

World Home Architectural Styles in History

Looking back in history, the popularity of old-world styles came at the top of the list. Remarkably, English, French, Tuscan, and Spanish homes with traditional architectural construction materials are the starting point for all the modern styles of what we consider to be the private housing sector.

🛈 Note: We should not compromise with other housing types, such as condos and condominium residential complexes, that owe their origins to the global Industrial Revolution and its need to solve the overpopulation problem as a consequence of it.

A Big Variation in Home Architectural Styles

Good to note and as previously mentioned, all the samples and models that I’ve been discussing in this article concerning the world home styles mainly concern the American house style and related art in general, and especially the Private Residences, which are considered to have their global dominance in this industry.

Those were just a mixture of overseas sources, mainly French, English, Italian (Tuscan), and Spanish, as cited earlier. So then, what are the various styles of the original houses?

• Each prototype will be featured in a presentation and explanatory image(s) for more assimilation of the related architectural element. (*) The listing isn’t sorted under any specific categorization. Items are randomly chosen.

For your reference, I am sharing with you this related and interesting pin from Pinterest, which summarizes and puts together the most popular architectural styles. Presented within pictures, each class is referred to with a related picture. Check the pin here.

1. The Craftsman

The CRAFTSMAN style emerged at the beginning of the 20th century (the 1900s) and is now back. Features of this style, such as cobblestones, deep eaves, tapered columns, and wide trim, prioritize the handmade look over the mass-produced. (See the following images, Fig.1 and Fig.2)

Exposed roof rafters, sweeping porches, decorative wood trim, and low-pitched gabled roofs are additional features of the Craftsman home layouts. In the case of compromise, the bungalow is somehow a certain category of the Craftsman.

Home plans for bungalows often include columns and pedestals mainly made from natural stone, horizontal wood shingle siding, and a lower gable hanging over the porch. The Craftsman is mainly a style of character, which means that it reveals its identity instantly at first sight without labeling itself.

Additionally, the most well-known characteristics of a Craftsman-style house must include one or more of these:

• A covered front porch with a large veranda.
• Tapered pillars that support the roof are typically more robust and bigger at the bottom, becoming smaller and thinner at the top.
• Exposed crossbeam tails are the pillars that stick out of the house and can be seen under the eaves.

2. Farmhouses

FARMHOUSES or Country Homes are the proper remodel candidates and prototypes for new homes. It features local materials, wood windows, simple floor plans, and warm colors that match nature and earlier times.

Its main characteristics are:

• Often have clapboard siding as wall cladding on the exterior (see Fig.5)
• Usually, it features a wide porch veranda at the entrance of the house.
• Simple roof structure, often with gabled edges.
• Typically built on larger pieces of land.
• Composed of basic shapes to allow for expansion.
• Gable ends, soffits, and porch columns can be simple or highly detailed with ornaments.
• Typically rectangular in floor layout shape.
• Right-angled (90-degree) outer walls and 45-degree roof pitches make them easy to combine and frame.
• Often accompanied by extension buildings, including barns and car garages.

3. The European

Anything derived from the EUROPEAN continent would be categorized under this section of home styles, including Spanish home plans and French Country, Georgian, and Italianate homes.

For instance, Italian windows can host vaulted Norman-French arches. Spanish home plans, on the other hand, often feature lower-pitched clay tile roofs and terracotta ornaments.

4. The Ranch and Split Levels

The Ranch styles and Split Levels built in the 1950s of the last century are perfect for smooth remodeling and fit perfectly with fashionable furniture styles too.

5. The Retro

The RETRO look is fashionable, luxurious, and very elegant.

6. The Cape Cod

The typical CAPE COD style should include a single-story design, with a central chimney, with a sharp roofing slope, which was intended to make life easier during the severe winter weather in New England.

Steep roofs, for instance, allow snow to slide off, reducing the hazard of the home collapsing under heavy snowfall. Today's architects enhance the CAPE COD style with various contemporary additional elements, such as rear garages and dormer windows.

7. The Colonial

In America, the COLONIAL period ranges from the 1600s through the 1800s, but many different home themes also dropped within that period. For instance, you may find homes described as Dutch Colonial, Spanish Colonial, German Colonial, or French Colonial.

Country-specific variations of the Colonial add color to the initial colonial style. Dutch homes, for example, were constructed using brick and stone, so U.S. Dutch Colonials often feature these materials too. On the other hand, Colonial Spanish home plans may feature interior courtyards.

Despite these country-specific variations, all colonial homes share a few basic characteristics, which include an overall rectangular shape, chimneys on both extremities of the house, large square rooms, and barn or gambrel roofs.

The COLONIAL naming may perform the four columns always present on the front covered porch and supporting the terrace on the upper level.

8. Queen Anne Victorian

This is the most famous architectural style ever; America and Britain were captivated by the VICTORIAN style from 1825 to 1900 of the last century.

When you accidentally capture a Victorian house at the corner of the street, you may think of yourself in the presence of a brilliant imaginary dollhouse, or even better, a Disney fictional Castle.

ⓘ Read more about the relation between Filmmaking and architecture in the article here.

Although both are essential Victorian-style homes, Victorian engineering points to a time and not a particular style. That period was when Queen Victoria reigned in England, from 1837 to 1901.

VICTORIAN house plans' most noticeable feature is their ornamentation, including bright exterior painted patterns, corbels, and gable trim. Victorian house plans often feature decorative railing, extensive verandas, and a two-story turret (small tower), as well. Even if the Victorian style officially ended in 1901, it still inspires both younger and older.

Books and References for the Victorian Architectural Styles

Description of the book as it appeared on the AbeBooks.com page:

Hundreds of rare illustrations depict a wide range of design alternatives for prospective homeowners and other customers of the late 19th century. While the collection includes elevations and floor plans for a variety of handsome, private residences and commercial structures, the emphasis is on architectural details - from dormer windows to balconies.

"Add it to your book collection and own it today!"

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9. Prairie School

The Prairie School is not just a style for houses; it is a school of architecture itself, following its rules (mostly American), which respect the environment.

The Prairie School was inspired by the American landscape, and their goal became to capture the essence of the prairie within architecture. In so doing, they hoped to create homes and buildings that would become part of the landscape, perfectly complementing the natural space and not standing apart from it.

Therefore, Prairie School homes are designed to blend in with the surrounding natural environment nature, and the landscape.

Here are a few common characteristics of a home designed with the Prairie School architectural style:

• Low, long lines.
• An indoor/outdoor approach.
• Rows of square windows.
• Little ornamentation; prairie school homes are simple and sleek.
• Overhanging eaves.

10. The Coastal

The beach lifestyle is the power source for coastal home designs. Starting from here comes our final, the COASTAL style.

Features by raised foundations, rows of expansive windows, and wraparound porches are the most common in coastal homes.

Last Thoughts

American Homes borrows styles from across the globe. But we must reveal that certain architectural styles, such as the Cape Cod, Coastal, and Ranch styles, were originally born in the U.S.

Generally speaking, foreign countries have always, and for a long time ago inspired others' styles. Beneath we have the European, the Mediterranean, and the Victorian (related to Queen Anne of England). Therefore, by following this theory, we must believe that America is a mixture of a melting pot of architectural styles. Which is good in the end, isn’t it?

Anyway, whether you're a better fit within a single-level story or in a Craftsman bungalow, home plans are available in a large number of customizable sizes and styles.

By appreciating these stylistic differences, you can select the best home plans that best fit your family. Regardless of whether you choose between the Craftsman home style plans or a more modern design, or just in between, your place will always be what you will call: “Feeling Home”!

References in this article:

• study.com, Learn, Stay, Study. The Online Learning Site.
• Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia.

Photos Source:

• Pinterest
• Getty Images