9 Popular Home Architectural Styles
If you dream of building your perfect home, these are the most popular architectural styles in the world. Get inspired.
An essential part of building your dream home is choosing the right architectural style. From ultra-modern to timeless classics, understanding which styles suit you and your family best will help you create the perfect house.
Explore with us 9 popular architectural styles in home design to guide you in this journey.
Architectural styles in home design
When designing a home, it’s important to choose features and looks that match your taste and personality. Knowing the differences between various architectural styles, along with their unique details, will help you make a better decision when creating your dream home.
When it comes to home design, architectural styles are categories that help describe the distinct features of buildings. Typically, these styles are linked to specific time periods or artistic movements, but this isn’t always the case.
Each architectural style has its own design elements, materials, shapes, and decorations. Often, these details reflect the style’s aesthetic, technological, social, and historical influences. And although many styles are linked to a moment in history, it is not always the case.
For example, it’s entirely possible to design a rustic-style home in the 21st century or choose a minimalist or classical style, regardless of when each style was most popular.
9 Home design styles
When selecting a home style, options are nearly endless. Each style uses different materials, details, and design elements that influence both the interiors and exteriors of a home. From minimalist simplicity to Mediterranean richness, let’s explore nine architectural home styles to inspire your dream home design.
Minimalist style homes
Minimalist homes focus on simplicity, with clean lines, open spaces, and a neutral color palette. This style removes any unnecessary decorations, emphasizing functionality and creating a peaceful, serene atmosphere.
On the outside, minimalist homes often have plain facades with geometric shapes and little decoration. White is common, along with steel or concrete and large glass windows, which create bright, airy interiors.
Mediterranean-style homes
Inspired by traditional homes on the Spanish, Greek, or Italian coasts, the Mediterranean style uses natural materials and bright colors, creating a home that’s warm and cozy with a rustic touch.
White and blue-painted wood gives a fresh feel, while red-tiled roofs, whitewashed walls, arches, and inner courtyards add charm. Compared to other home styles, Mediterranean homes have a warm, inviting feel, with features like wrought-iron balconies and beautiful gardens.
Rustic home designs
The rustic style draws on country life, using natural materials like wood and stone. Rustic homes often feature exposed beams, stone or brick walls, and elements like stone fireplaces and solid wood furniture, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Abundant handcrafted details, such as hand-carved wood, baked clay, and wrought iron, are also common in this style.
Images by Lia Choi and Drew Coffman on Unsplash
Cottage style
Cottage-style homes are associated with small, charming country houses. Based on traditional rural homes, they often have gabled roofs, wood or stone facades, and lush gardens. Interiors are cozy with fireplaces, white window frames, and vintage touches. Small, intimate rooms and rustic materials are common, along with bright, natural light, sometimes even including a small sunroom surrounded by windows.
Industrial-style facades
Inspired by old factories and warehouses, the industrial style has an urban, utilitarian look. Industrial homes often feature high ceilings, brick or exposed concrete walls, and metal elements like pipes and beams. Often including recycled materials, this style has a strong vintage feel. Since industrial-style homes can lack natural light, a common fix is painting brick or concrete walls white, which keeps the raw texture while brightening the space.
Brutalism in home architecture
Brutalist style is characterized by exposed concrete and strong geometric shapes. Brutalist homes have a solid, minimal look, emphasizing structure and materials. For people who want a unique, modern design, this style’s prominent features include reinforced concrete, heavy volumes, and large walls. Though it might seem harsh, brutalist homes offer interiors that can feel surprisingly relaxing and inviting.
Colonial country-style homes
Colonial style, based on European homes from the 17th and 18th centuries, is elegant and classic. Colonial homes often have symmetrical facades, sloped roofs, and decorative details like columns, pediments, and moldings, creating a sophisticated, historical look. Wood, stucco walls, clay tiles, and wrought iron add warmth and a historical feel, making it ideal for the countryside or settings filled with greenery.
Neoclassical inspiration
Inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, the neoclassical style is elegant and timeless. Neoclassical homes typically feature columns, pediments, and symmetrical proportions, with decorative moldings and rosettes. Although it may seem overly elaborate in some contexts, adding classical elements in a balanced way can work extremely well. Classical columns or even stone balustrades combine nicely with other styles like rustic wood or colonial stucco.
Tudor-style architecture
The Tudor style has gabled roofs, exposed timber framing, and elaborate details, inspired by English Tudor architecture. Tudor homes feel warm and welcoming, with interiors full of character and charm. In new homes, this style might feel out of place, but details like using wood and brick or steep gabled roofs can fit well if done tastefully.
Home styles featured in Planner 5D
Planner 5D is a design tool that allows users to create 3D floor plans and visualizations of architectural spaces. With Planner 5D, you can experiment with different layouts, colors, and styles to design your ideal home. Planner 5D’s tools allow users to play with home and facade designs, making it easy to create beautiful projects. Below are some inspiring home design ideas created by Planner 5D users.
Renders created by Olga, Christian Rampen, Dellen, Michel, James Atkinson, Rachel L y MariaCris on Planner 5D.
FAQ
How to design single-story homes?
It's important to plan for open spaces, maximize natural light, and optimize room layouts to achieve the best results. Use design software tools like Planner 5D to create effective home design projects.
What modern house styles should you choose when building a home?
Some of the most popular modern architectural styles for homes are minimalist, contemporary, industrial, or Mediterranean.
What is the best house facade style to build in 2024?
Currently, styles like minimalist and contemporary are especially popular. Consider incorporating sustainable and technological elements to create a more updated space.
