Types of House Designs

There are many different types of house designs available in the US, which began in different eras. They reflect different social and economical times as well as technological advancements. Some of the residential architecture is more popular than others, depending on the state and price range, but all homes are built for families to live in whether they are big or small.

Bungalow

The bungalow is a simple yet attractive house design with origins in California. From there the bungalow began appearing across the United States and became very popular in the Midwest. Families liked this style of home design for their welcoming style and economic price tag. The typical style bungalow has gable roofs, 1 to 1 1/2 stories, built-in furniture and built-in cabinets as well as a half enclosed porch supported by columns.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod houses are located all over the United States and are one and a half stores tall. The main living quarters are located on the top level and the stairs leads to a large attic area. Some families extend the attic into another living space by adding dormers, windows and drywall.

Colonial

The Colonial house design became popular during the early 18th century and was so named for that time period. It features several styles such as a combination of European, Dutch, Spanish, French and English styles. This style home is built two rooms deep and is a rectangular shape. It is most often built five rooms over four rooms which gives it its nickname "five over four and a door" from many builders.

Split Level

At a split-level house, one enters at the middle or second floor. Then individuals have a choice to go up or down the stairs, usually two sets of stairs, to get to the main sections of the home. The living room is typically upstairs along with the kitchen and two bedrooms. Down stairs is sometimes another bedroom and a laundry room and a family room or den. This is a popular style home with large families.

Ranch

A ranch style designed house is a one-story home but can take on several different shapes. There is an L-shape, a U-shape or a simple rectangle shape to the ranch houses. The attached garage is a popular part of the ranch house and so are the picture windows. These types of homes are located throughout the US.