Learn about the most popular home building styles.

What drew you to your dream home? Is it form or function? The style of home that suits you may reflect aspects of your personality that make you who you are. Check out the six most popular home styles in the United States to see what's right for you.

Victorian age

Well, don't we love it! If you choose Victorian architecture, it's safe to say you have nothing subtle about it. You are a true romantic with a keen eye for complex beauty.

These ornate home designs date back to the days of Queen Anne and Victoria and are often reminiscent of frilly dollhouses or multi-tiered wedding cakes. Victorian houses were tall and proud, usually two or three storeys high. They have steep roofs, octagonal towers, or towers with pointed roofs. They also feature bay Windows and a mix of different finish textures and finishes. Many rooms have wraparound porches and stained-glass Windows at the entrance. On top of that, they are usually painted in a variety of muted shades to highlight each decorating technique.

The interiors of these homes often feature high ceilings, ornate staircases, and more intricate wooden finishes. You may often find floor plans with corner areas, such as the butler's kitchen and window seating.

If you are inclined towards Victorian style, we will curtsy to your refined taste.

Craftsman

Practical and down to earth, you enjoy a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes the beauty of simplicity. The American artisan movement evolved from the British Arts and Crafts architectural style of the turn of the 20th century, embodying a sense of strength and longevity. This clever design essentially knows you'll love a built-in bookcase filled with items next to the fireplace.

The artisan movement is credited to furniture maker Gustav Stickley, who emphasized the simplicity of form, the use of natural materials, and the honesty of construction. His magazine, The Craftsman, published house plans in the early 20th century advocating "excellence in design for the common man".

Artisan bungalows have continued to be popular for more than a century because of their comfortable, practical, intelligent and livable characteristics. The overextended eaves of Craftsman's low triangular roof keep moisture out of the house and fit into a large front porch with chunky tapered columns, adding a fresh and inviting outdoor living area. Usually made of wood, you will also find many with stucco trim. These homes are usually just one or one-and-a-half stories, compact but full of charm.

The interior features chunky plain wood trim around doors and Windows, boxed ceiling beams and fireplaces flanked by bookcases with Windows above. The original artisan homes were designed to be small with intimate living Spaces, so the open floor plan of a new home in this style may lose some of its natural authenticity.

Like a worn pair of jeans, artisan home lovers feel comfortable and at home the moment they step in.

traditional

You're a classic. You know your style, and you're not going to give it up. Why deviate from what looks good to you?

Everyone has a slightly different definition of a traditional home. Tradition is usually the style you grew up in as a child. People often think of a two-story colonial-style home with an entrance foyer that might extend to the back of the house with a living room on either side and a dining room on the other. There are also Cape Cod, rural, Federalist, and Dutch colonial designs, but traditional designs generally follow a more historic attention to detail.

While newer homes may look traditional when they offer an open concept inside, true traditional homes often include formal living and separate dining rooms, hardwood floors, and traditional staircases that lead from the foyer to the upper floor. You'll find classic styling and wainscoting throughout. Bedrooms are usually located on the second floor.

The traditional exterior is usually brick or siding, with double-hung Windows and entrance doors with side Windows and beams. They may also have toothed molding and traditional shutters.

Like a simple string of pearls paired with a little black dress, traditional architecture always looks glamorous and never loses its charm.

Peasant family

You don't mind getting your hands dirty, as long as you can clean them in the classic deep farmhouse sink. You like to be in the kitchen with everyone gathered around the island chopping vegetables and drinking wine. This is a combination of practicality and beauty, clean and simple, but also casual fun.

The great revival of farmhouse style originated in the country houses of the Midwest. Typically, farmhouses are miles from bustling towns and claim to be built to house farmers and their families. But today, these homes can be found in busy neighborhoods and have lots of open interiors, with wide floors and wide Windows to watch the crops or just the kids in the backyard. The decor usually includes lots of white walls, rough-hewn beams, reclaimed wood open shelves and lapping panels.

Steep roof lines can feature gables and tiger Windows, and are usually made of metal. The houses have sides in wood or vinyl - sometimes with vertical panels - and many large Windows with dark trim. A porch or wraparound balcony may have wooden floors, and the porch ceiling is usually painted a soft sky blue. Simply add a porch swing or sofabed for a glass of lemonade before a lazy afternoon nap.

Your farming skills may only involve a few POTS of geraniums or herbs planted on your kitchen window, but your style appreciates the welcome feeling of happy growth.

latter-day

You have a taste for fashion and sophistication. Clean lines, striking backgrounds, chrome touch and large areas of glass make you feel right at home. You have no patience for clutter or fancy things.

The definition of modern house is broad, from medieval modern to specific industrial atmosphere to simple Cubism. Siding can be made from almost any wood, rock, concrete, or stone, but Windows are almost always the largest surface. They make the most of the outdoor environment, and at night, they give off a chic glow that gives people a glimpse of the interior. Entrance doors and garage doors usually feature rectangular glass panels with little extra decoration.

Inside, popular colors can offset the use of pure white and black. The lack of decor in the building allowed furniture and artwork to take center stage. The simplicity of casement or sliding doors and Windows makes everything clearly visible.

As a modern enthusiast, you appreciate cutting-edge technology and have a flair for the dramatic. You love the wonderful "Ta-Da!" Moments full of entertainment and excitement.

southwest

You tend to be exotic and have an earthy appreciation for the natural environment and the warmth of the sun. No wonder you like to be surrounded by a style that embodies both natural warmth and old-world character.

Southwestern home architecture includes Mediterranean, Spanish Mission and Adob e designs. Some key features include the use of stucco, stone and wood inside and outside the house. Distinctive red tile or flat roofs, wrought iron balustrades and gates, arches and flower-filled courtyards link these houses to the natural landscape.

Inside, you'll find rough beams, terracotta tile floors, a large fireplace and an open living area. The simple design and natural textures are suitable for use with brightly colored woven rugs and oversized furniture. A hinged patio door opens into a deep porch that extends the living and entertaining Spaces outside. The Southwestern style is characterized by barefoot elegance, in a way that is both relaxed and sophisticated.