Common Styles of Home Designs

The exciting process of building a new home often starts with the selection of a floor plan. There are thousands to choose from, so it’s best to make a list of necessities such as square footage needed, bedrooms required and kitchen size desired. It’s best to use home design plans with photos to help visualize how the finished product will look on the inside. But what about the outside? Let’s look at some of the most popular design options when it comes to architecture.

Traditional

This style is exactly what it sounds like. Houses dubbed "traditional" have triangular rooflines with one or more peaks, a front-facing garage door and evenly spaced windows. Most often they are one story, though there are two-story iterations available. Sometimes the front entry may feature a small porch, but generally the focal point is on a straightforward front door with little adornment. GreatHouseDesign.com has dozens of traditional home design plans with photos.

Craftsman

Reminiscent of homes built between the 1910s and 1930s, the Craftsman style usually includes exposed roof beams, low-slung roofs and distinctive square or tapered pillars supporting a roof over a porch. These homes usually are a single story or a single story with an attic. They often have several rectangular windows that are large in relation to the façade. Garages usually are detached.

Modern

Modern homes often feature nontraditional rooflines and many 90-degree angles. Large, unusually shaped windows are prominent on the front face of modern homes. Some people describe this style as looking like a series of boxes of different sizes stacked on one another.

European

This actually is a group of styles that may include looks that are specific to certain countries, such as a German mountain lodge, a Bavarian chalet, French cottage or English estate. The rooflines vary, and details are key for European homes.

Southwest

This design is what one would imply by using the term "old-world" style. Homes may have low roofs, a stucco exterior and prominent patio. They are often asymmetrical and reflect a Spanish flavor.

Ranch

For people looking specifically for a single-level home, the ranch is a popular way to go. The style stretches long and low, with minimal exterior detail and large expanses of roof. This is one of the most common home designs in the United States, favored for its simplicity and ease of construction.

Mountain

The home design plans with photos of mountain-style homes feature wood or log facades, large central peaks and huge windows for enjoying one’s presumed fantastic view of the great outdoors. Large decks, exposed beams and a two stories are other common features of this style.

Victorian

For people who exult in details, Victorian home styles have those in spades. Almost always two stories, these houses have dramatic rooflines, rounded exterior features such as turrets and large porches. Chimneys and a plethora of small windows also can often be found in this style.

Country

People who love full-length porches, symmetrical facades and lots of dormers, likely will find this style appeal to them. Stonework often is included on the front, sometimes on the porch, and the overall presence is meant to evoke a comfortable, farmhouse look.

For more information : home design plans with photos

John Trinh has been writing for 10+ years. He first delved into the world of writing when he wrote his first article for his university's paper.