What Does Your House Style Say About You?
Are you Contemporary or Cape Cod? Or maybe Tudor’s your type? Here’s how to find out.
Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
There’s a good reason all houses don’t look the same. The style of our homes, both inside and out, reflects our personalities and tastes, our inspirations and aspirations. The houses we live in – or the ones pinned to our “dream home” vision board – say a lot about us, even beyond our aesthetic sense.
Look deeper, and you may find a connection between your preferred house style and your personality. Think of it as an astrological chart, but with real estate!
Across the U.S., research1 shows the most popular house styles are Modern Farmhouse and Mid-Century Modern Ranch. The most commonly found style is the Craftsman, followed closely by the Modern Farmhouse. If you’re living in a French Chateau-style home, you’re in rare company – only 2.6 percent of respondents claimed this as their house style.
Of course, popular house styles vary by region2. In Phoenix, Ranch and Contemporary homes reign supreme, while Victorian and Craftsman houses demand top dollar in Boston. When buying a home, 48.7 percent of Americans agree that architectural style matters a lot.
Click on your favorite house style to learn what it reveals about you!
Let’s look at some common architectural types and the people who love them.
House type: Tudor
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
About Tudor style: Derived from the Tudor Manor homes of 17th and 18th-century England, this style became popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s. You’ll find steeply pitched gable roofs, chimneys, oriel windows, the use of brick accented with timber framing, and prominent gables and tall windows with rectangular or diamond-shaped panes.
Famous Tudor house you may know: Hampton Court Palace, home of England’s King Henry VIII.
If this is the house style you like, you: appreciate European history and stories about royal life behind castle walls. Your design style is traditional, bordering on formal. You enjoy entertaining, especially during the holidays. Your ideal home has a wood-burning fireplace, rounded archways, and stained wood moldings, baseboards, and window sashes.
You can add Tudor touches to your home’s exterior by recreating the iconic look of a half-timbered façade, incorporating an English garden into your landscaping, and installing a flagstone patio. Inside, focus on dark wood finishes and wrought iron or copper accents.
House type: Cape Cod
Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
About Cape Cod style: Considered a hallmark of American style, Cape Cod-style houses were initially built by early English settlers in the 1600s. Since their main purpose was to protect residents from the severe winter weather, you’ll notice a prominent chimney in the center of the home, along with a steep roof to quickly drain rain and snow. You’ll also find two windows on each side of the door, a narrow back staircase, and weathered shingle siding.
Famous Cape Cod house you may know: The Captain Elijah Cobb House in Brewster, Massachusetts
If this is the house style you like, you: prioritize simple, low-maintenance living. You love gathering with loved ones around a warm fire, and you’d rather be comfortable than surrounded by luxurious, impractical decor. You’re welcoming, friendly, and always willing to host an extra guest at the dinner table.
Incorporate the essence of a Cape Cod house by installing shutters around your windows in a contrasting color to create a “pop.” For even more charm, add planters filled with colorful flowers and the quintessential white picket fence. Inside, built-in cabinets blend practicality and style while also creating cozy nooks throughout.
House type: Colonial
Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
About Colonial style: Colonial homes prioritize comfort and functionality, but with a stylish twist reminiscent of the grand residences New World settlers left behind in Europe. Expect to find soaring ceilings, symmetrical design features, and notable detailed finishes. Colonial homes tend to feature classic materials like wood and red brick.
Famous Colonial house you may know: The McCallister house in the movie Home Alone. More specifically, it’s a red-brick Georgian-style Colonial, and a real house in Winnetka, IL, a suburb of Chicago.
If this is the house style you like, you: appreciate the finer things in life and pay attention to details. You believe in the balance of form and function – and you value the timeless over the trendy.
Want to add a Colonial feel to your home? Add eye-catching décor, like transom windows or a covered porch, around your entryway. Indoors, embellish with decorative crown molding and decorate with sturdy furniture in darker woods like mahogany or walnut.
House type: Contemporary
Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
About Contemporary style: Straight lines, clean edges, and modern, unusual building materials are hallmarks of Contemporary style. These homes may feature an open floor plan and large windows to maximize space and natural light. The result? An airy, free-flowing home where one room blends into the other.
Famous Contemporary house you may know: The Samara house in Indiana, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
If this is the house style you like, you: value living in the present and following what’s new and exciting. You appreciate being surrounded by nature – even while inside. You’re not afraid to stand out in a crowd, and you love hosting large parties where you can mingle with your guests.
For a Contemporary-feeling home, refresh your walls and cabinets with light, neutral paint, and add recessed lighting. Consider expanding your windows, especially if you’re lucky enough to have beautiful views. For decor, rein in any visible tchotchkes and choose furniture with a slim profile to reduce visual clutter.
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1 https://www.homes.com/blog/2020/07/most-popular-house-styles/ 2 https://www.redfin.com/blog/what-are-the-most-popular-home-styles/
