Your Guide to House Styles in North America and Beyond
Explore house styles and housing types through history. In this house style guide, you'll find links to facts, photos, diagrams, and building plans for the most popular house styles in North America and other parts of the world.
Colonial homes in New England often had chimneys in the center. Photo @ Jackie Craven
1600s - 1800 When North America was colonized, settlers brought building traditions from many different countries. Architecture from America's colonial period continues to influence the houses we build today.
1780 - 1860 During the founding of the United States, many people felt that ancient Greece expressed the ideals of democracy. Architecture reflected classical ideals of order and symmetry.
1840 - 1900 Mass-production and factory-made building parts made large, elaborate houses more affordable. A variety of Victorian styles emerged, each with its own distinctive features.
1880-1929 The rise of Industrialism brought the period we know as the Gilded Age. Business leaders amassed enormous wealth and built palatial, elaborate homes.
1945-1980 Soldiers returning from World War II brought an enormous need for housing. Real estate developers purchased large tracts of land and constructed homes with an eye on simplicity and affordability.
This early 20th century home is modeled after an old Spanish Mission. Photo: Jupiter Images
1600s - present Spanish settlers in Florida and the American Southwest brought a rich heritage of architectural traditions and combined them with ideas borrowed from Hopi and Pueblo Indians. Modern day "Spanish" style homes tend to be Mediterranean in flavor, incorporating details Italy, Portugal, Africa, Greece, and other countries.
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