A Quick Guide to Contemporary Home Styles in the US (Images)

Contemporary home styles in the US draw from — and often combine — many influences from our history. These classics include styles from the Colonial, Classical, Victorian, Craftsman, and Modern eras.

Here, we’ll cover the most popular types of homes from various times in the U.S. and why we still love them today

Great American Home Styles: Modern

The modern home is a unique blend of open floor designs, minimalism, and (then) state-of-the-art materials. They featured big windows, clean lines, indoor/outdoor living spaces, and lots of glass and concrete.

The mid-century modern home combines clean lines, spaciousness, and making outdoor space accessible.

The ranch style home rose in the 1920s, then made a come-back in the 1980’s and 90’s. Their appeal lies in single-story, open floor plans and easy access to the garage and front and back yards.

The contemporary home, which often gets confused with “modern,” refers to current and recent trends. it draws from a variety of styles for old-world charm and modern convenience. There’s also an emphasis on modern, environmentally-friendly materials and ease of use.

Great American Home Styles: The Craftsman

Craftsman style homes put the spotlight on good workmanship, with natural materials, a simple layout, and hand-crafted details. They are easy to spot, with their gabled roof and broad, open front porches with squared-off, tapering columns.

The small and friendly cottage style home has been a favorite in fairy tale movies for many years. The cozy feeling of a cottage home is probably due to limited space but still creates a warm environment.

Great American Home Styles: Colonial Homes

Among the most iconic American home styles are the New England, Tidewater, and Spanish colonials from our nation’s early European settlers. They were influenced by architecture from the settlers’ home countries as well as local weather and building materials.

The New England colonial home has been a staple in US history since the early settlers. They have steep roofs to repel rain and snow, and are made out of wood.

The Cape Cod “salt box” house also remains popular among the great American home styles. It has a gabled roof and a large chimney meant for cold Northeastern winters. Their small size and simplicity made them cheap and easy to build … Both for the early New England settlers and modern-day builders.

Tidewater homes prevailed in the colonial-era south. They featured wrap-around porches to cool the interior during the long, hot and humid summers. In addition, they were often raised above the ground to accommodate frequent flooding.

Spanish colonials were prevalent in the southwestern United States and were built to keep homes cool in the dry heat. They used some wood, but mostly adobe, stone, and sometimes crushed shells. The roofs were flat and made of thatch or red clay tiles. The windows were small and often recessed.

Great American Home Styles: Neoclassical

As settlers 13 colonies began to forge their own identities apart from England, they began to embrace classical home styles. For them, the simple, elegance of Greco-Roman architecture symbolized the virtue and fledgling democracy of the new world. Classical homes are stately with columns, porticos, and arches.

Great American Home Styles: Victorians and More

As a rising middle class reveled in its new wealth, the Victorian home valued beauty over functionality.They featured complex architecture, intricate woodwork, large porches, gables, bright colors, and multiple stories. These home styles became prominent between 1830 and 1910 but remain popular today.

The farmhouse style prevails in rural areas and prizes functionality over form. These sprawling homes were designed for large families and a variety of purposes. Large porches provide shade they can use for rest and relaxation. They have clearly defined formal and informal spaces. The farmhouse is still a popular home today. With its utility, charm, and function, it’s still a highly desirable option for many.

Tudor-era home styles grew popular in the 1890s-1930s as European-trained architects brought old-world influence to the US. The style was embraced by the wealthy and featured solid masonry, sloping roofs, and asymmetrical structures. In addition, they include large chimneys, decorative entryways and an exterior made of brick and/or stone.

Contemporary Home Styles Continue to Evolve

Contemporary homes still vary in size and appearance. Most of them now feature indoor and outdoor living spaces that sometimes interconnect to utilize certain climates or weather.

Modern homes focus on energy efficiency, using sustainable materials and incorporating lots of light through large windows. Sometimes, even walls of all windows. They also use recycled non-toxic materials as often as they can.

Architecturally, these are replicated designs from the 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s.

The focus of the modern homes is nature, and this includes bringing natural light inside. Some have roofs or balconies that incorporate plants, trees and other natural plants. These incorporate designs from the mid-century modern to the latest creative designs in the market today.

As people love the feel that modern-day architecture brings, people equally love the different styles which came over the years. If you like big windows, simple lines, very few decorations and a connection to the outdoors, then a modern home might be just for you.