House architectural styles not only express someone’s personal taste but also tell a story of resilience, resistance, and reimagination. Some house designs are iconic, revered for shaping the architecture and landscape of future cities and towns. From classic elegance to modern simplicity, we’re diving into the most popular home designs and exploring how they came to be. 

1. Craftsman House Style

The Craftsman style house depicts the quintessential American neighborhood. Swayed by the Arts and Crafts movement, this trend gained momentum in the late 19th century, peaking from 1900 to the 1920s.

The Look

The Craftsman house design includes low-pitched roofs, open floor plans, exposed beams, and open front porches. It's built from natural materials like brick, wood, and stone, with hand-crafted details and fixtures.

Where to Find Craftsman-style Homes

Although “Craftsman home” and “bungalow” are used interchangeably, the bungalow style house is only one type of Craftsman. Others include prairie-style, mission revival, and four-square designs. These styles are in the:

• Pacific Northwest
• Midwest
• California 

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2. Ranch House Style

Inspired by the simple, single-story layout of Western ranches, Americans couldn’t get enough of ranch-style homes from the 1930s to the 1970s. They quickly became a suburban staple—and for good reason! Ranch-style house design is practical, family-friendly, and offers an open, versatile layout that promotes ease and comfort.

The Look

Key characteristics of ranch homes include a single level, low roofline, sliding glass doors, attached garages, and private backyard spaces. While there’s only one floor, the L- or U-shaped footprint maximizes square footage without the need for a second story.

Where to Find Ranch-style Homes

Ranches are particularly popular in:

• Montana
• Wyoming
• Arizona
• Oregon
• Ohio
• California

3. Cape Cod House Style

Rooted in traditional English cottage styles brought to North America in the 17th century, Cape Cod home design began with the early settlers landing on Cape Cod and along the Northeast coastline. However, it wasn’t until the late 1920s that Cape Cod-style houses became more renowned in American home architecture.

The Look

While Cape Cods are described as modest, one-and-a-half-story homes, they pack an architectural punch with beautiful layouts, steep roofs, distinguishing dormer windows, and charming slanted ceilings.

Where to Find Cape Cod-style Homes

Naturally, Cape Cod-style home designs are usually in New England and parts of Atlantic Canada, but they can be found elsewhere, too.

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4. Mediterranean House Style

In the Roaring Twenties, Americans grew obsessed with the lavish and extravagant. This demand for symbols of luxury and wealth gave rise to the Mediterranean home design. Starting in Florida, this warm coastal aesthetic spread in the 1920s, leading to a boom in Mediterranean-style neighborhoods.

The Look

Mediterranean-style homes capture a sunny European vibe, boasting stucco, stone, warm woods, and other natural materials. High ceilings, large windows, and open courtyards help keep the home cool while integrating indoor and outdoor living.

Where to find Mediterranean-style homes

Red clay tile roofs are another hallmark of the Mediterranean home, evoking Italian, Spanish, and Greek elements. Regions with similar climates continue to celebrate the style’s relaxed yet refined qualities, like:

• Florida
• California
• Nevada
• Coastal Mexico

5. Gothic House Style

The medieval Gothic-style house has long been respected as architectural art, but it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that its ornate features could be made affordable. Paying homage to the Gothic and English countryside, the North American Gothic Revival combined classic themes with lighter materials and construction.

The Look

Unlike homes that blend into their surroundings, Gothic architecture provides a stunning contrast. The pointed arches, elaborate bay windows, decorative woodwork, ultra-pitched roofs, and asymmetrical layouts are dramatic, captivating, and romantic.

Where to Find Gothic-style Homes

Gothic homes sweep through:

• Chicago
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• New York
• Toronto
• Montreal.

Some Gothic houses in these areas are even protected historical landmarks!

6. French Provincial House Style

The French provincial design began in the 1600s, when French aristocrats built sprawling country estates outside Paris to escape city life. The French provincial home style surged in the United States in the 1920s, after World War I soldiers brought their affinity for it home with them.

The Look

French provincial homes are striking, with at least two stories, stone, brick, or stucco facades, symmetrical layouts, steeply pitched roofs, and rectangular, small-paned windows. Some homes have grand, rounded towers that add a castle-like elegance.

Where to Find French Provincial-style Homes

You can find French Provincial-style homes in many post-war suburbs and newer high-end communities.

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7. Contemporary House Style

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Americans wanted homes that reflected modernist ideals: innovation, functionality, and clean, efficient design. As a result, the contemporary-style home took form, emphasizing simplicity and sustainability.

The Look

“Contemporary” may sound vague, but this style is characterized by clean lines, minimalist attributes, and asymmetry. It often mixes exposed industrial materials with neutral tones for layered, textured spaces.

Where to Find Contemporary-style Homes

Contemporary home architecture is typical in:

• California
• Hawaii
• Many Midwestern 

8. Tudor House Style

Between 1485 and 1603, Tudor monarchs reshaped England politically, socially, and architecturally. The distinct Tudor home style, marked by brick, stucco, and stone facades with signature half-timber framing, became favored in the United States from the late 1800s to the 1940s.

The Look

Tudor houses showcase steeply pitched roofs, gabled rooflines, and trademark diamond-paned windows, exuding unmistakable charm and compelling appeal. 

Where to Find Tudor-style Homes

Neighborhoods in the American Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast tend to have higher concentrations of Tudor houses. 

9. Mid-Century Modern House Style

After World War II, a spirit of optimism and economic growth swelled in America, laying the foundation for more relaxed living. Thus, the mid-century architectural wave began.

The Look

Mid-century modern homes are heavily influenced by the prairie-style homes of Frank Lloyd Wright. Angular shapes, basic designs, natural materials, open floor plans, and flatter roofs define this style. Oversized windows and sliding glass doors welcome sunlight, bringing the outdoors in.

Where to Find Mid-Century Modern-style Homes

Mid-century modern house styles are prevalent throughout the U.S., especially in Southern California.

10. Adobe House Style 

Adobe-style homes, also known as stucco-style homes, are directly influenced by the Pueblo tribes that inhabited the cliffs of the American Southwest. While the ancient Pueblo dwellings date back to 750 CE, homebuilders have incorporated style elements in their architecture since the 1920s.

The Look

Pueblo-style homes have an earthy appearance, using adobe, stucco, and concrete to create smooth, terra cotta exteriors. Flat roofs, courtyards, heavy wooden doors, and ceiling beams are big standouts.

Where to Find Adobe-style Homes

Modern versions of Adobe-style design are primarily in New Mexico, other desert-rich states, and parts of Mexico.

Exterior Design Meets Interior Design

To enhance the aesthetic of house architectural styles, it’s important that a home’s inside matches the outside. Certain interior design styles, like Denmark design style, Mexico design style, and France design style, pair perfectly with our 10 most popular home architecture styles. Read, “A World of Inspiration: Exploring Home Decor Styles from Around the Globe” to learn more about these interior design styles now!