Consider where you plan to build and the aesthetic that will work best there before choosing a design style for your home (or something as simple as an exterior paint colour). Check to see if there is an HOA or any other requirements in the area you plan to build. Your home should ultimately be an expression. You’ll find 17+ different architectural house styles below. Which style speaks to you the most?

1. Farmhouse

Farmhouses are known for their ability to blend stunning beauty with a relaxed, informal vibe. Farmhouse designs are usually two-story, but single-story ranches or farmhouse-style ranches are also popular. They combine the rustic look of a farm with the one-story ease of a rambler.

One—and two-story Farmhouses are usually equipped with a pitched roof and a spacious patio. Porches, wrap-around porches, and lanais are common features of farmhouses. They create a great indoor/outdoor flow and welcoming curb appeal.

Craftsman-style farmhouses are a great way to add a rustic touch. They usually feature wood and stone.

2. Modern Farmhouse

Modern farmhouses have become extremely popular in recent years and with good reason. Modern farmhouses are a polished, contemporary version of traditional farmhouses. They often feature clean lines, vertical siding and a metal roof. Modern farmhouse plans are similar to conventional farmhouse plans, with one or two floors of living space and beautiful outdoor living spaces. They also have a gable-roofed roof. Modern farmhouse designs usually feature an open floorplan, a kitchen with an island, a mudroom that has built-in storage and other modern features.

3. Farmhouse Barndominium

Barndominiums are modern barn-style homes that look and feel like traditional barns. Some of our barn house plans include barndominiums. Plan 120-275 (above) is a metal-framed barndominium, while others, such as plan 92397 (below), are barn-style designs.

Other barn house plans incorporate a gambrel-style roof to give them a Dutch colonial feel, such as this one:

4. Craftsman

Detail is the key to Craftsman-style homes. These homes are known for their use of organic materials like wood, stone, and exposed beams and rafters. They evoke warmth and rustic spice, and, as the name suggests, they’re built with craftsmanship. Craftsman plans typically have one or two floors of living space and are characterized by a front porch with tapered columns.

Bungalows are the most popular sub-style in Craftsman. Craftsman bungalows tend to be smaller and narrower in size than the typical Craftsman house. Bungalows are popular with home builders on a budget or with small lots.

Craftsman-style ranches, with their one-story living area and large footprint, are also popular (see the example below).

Plan 1042-20 shows how Craftsman style can be mixed with contemporary modern architecture. This design combines the rustic details of a Craftsman-style home with large windows and outdoor living spaces that are typically found in a contemporary modern style. Beautiful!

Prairie-style houses are a variation of the Craftsman style that tends to feel more modern. These house designs are characterized by low-slung, hipped roofing, wood or stone accents and geometric shapes. You’ll find a five-bedroom, open-concept Prairie design below.

5. Ranch

Ranch houses, also known as ranchers and ramblers, have a large footprint and a single story. Some ranch designs include a basement. Consider a ranch with a walkout cellar if you are building on a sloped site.

Ranch plans with open concepts are particularly popular because they cleverly combine a traditional exterior design and feel with a modern and airy interior. Here is an example of a rancher with a large open floor plan.

6. Modern

The term “modern” can be used to describe any floor plan with an open layout, modern amenities, and contemporary curb appeal. However, we define modern style as having clean lines, no or minimal ornamentation, monochrome colours, large windows, and a lot of outdoor living with an indoor-outdoor flow.

Modern house plans, like the one shown above, feature slanted or shed roofs. Some contemporary houses have flat roofs.

Ultra-modern is a sub-style. As you would expect, ultra-modern homes are bolder and more striking. An ultra-modern house plan is shown below:

Mid-century modern is another sub-style. Mid-century modern house plans like 48-561 (below) showcase one-story homes, outdoor living and an indoor-outdoor flow.

7. Then, you can also consider

Modern architecture and contemporary style are closely related, but contemporary design rules are more relaxed. Contemporary plans, for example, are not afraid to use bright colours.

Modern plans often pay homage to popular architectural styles. This contemporary design, for example, incorporates exterior wood and stones to pay homage to Craftsman architecture and cabins.

Some plans are called contemporary for their bold presentation of an unusual or unique feature. Look at the modern farmhouse plan 120-268. This design features a silo at the heart of its exterior.

8. Cottage

Cottage-style plans are available in a variety of sizes, but most offer modest square footage with bay windows, nooks, and a woodsy exterior.

Choose an English Cottage, such as this one, if you’re looking for a house that looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale.

9. Cabin

The typical cabin is rustic, simple, and minimalistic. It has many outdoor living spaces to enjoy the natural surroundings. Log cabins like this are common.

10. Colonial

Colonial-style houses are often decorated with bricks, chimneys and symmetrical features. They have a traditional, stately feel. In a colonial home plan, you will likely find formal living areas and a central hall. However, some designs have open floor plans.

Dutch colonial is a sub-style of colonial. It is known for its gambrel roofing, such as this:

11. Country

Both farmhouses and colonial plans have a country style. Cute dormers and porches often characterize these plans. They also have central kitchens, inviting curbs, and a nostalgic feel.

12. Classical

These house plans are perfect for those who love symmetry, proportion, and balance. Classical designs feature large square footage and ornate ornamentation, such as columns and pediments.

13. Victorian

Victorian architecture is all about whimsical ornamentation. Victorian homes will have a wrap-around porch, asymmetrical features, cool nooks and formal living areas, as well as towers and turrets. How much fun would it really be to decorate a Victorian home for Halloween?

14. European

European-style houses vary a lot depending on their influences. However, they are often characterized by complex and asymmetrical roofing. European homes tend to have towers and turrets like Victorians. However, the curb appeal of European designs is more castle-like and majestic than whimsical and fun. You’ll see tile roofs and stucco, as well as stone and balconies.

French country is a sub-style to Europe. French country homes feature hipped roofing, stucco, and an asymmetrical appearance.

15. Adobe / Southwestern

Adobe/Southwestern-style homes are influenced by Native American and Spanish colonial architecture. They are rustic and often feature exposed beams and stucco. Adobe plans are usually designed in hot climates and feature porches or lanais.

Are you looking for a modern design with a Southwestern flair? Below is the Southwestern modern plan!