Uncover 92+ Striking 1950s Foursquare House Design For Every Budget

(24 reviews)

The 1950s-era is considered the golden age of architecture, and that spirit of creativity is undeniable in the foursquare house design. With an enduring classic look, foursquare designs have become a popular style of house for many people. Whether you're looking for timeless elegance or nostalgic charm, foursquare houses offer something for everyone. This article takes a look at the best 1950s foursquare house design options available. From traditional wooden facades to contemporary renovations, these homes encompass history and style in equal measures.

Modern Ranch House Designization

The Modern Ranch House Design, also known as the California Ranch style, is often associated with Art Deco design. These low profile, single-story houses were developed in the State of California in the 1920s, and the style rapidly spread across the country through the 1940s and 50s. The Modern Ranch is characterized by its horizontal lines, open interior floor plans, and prominently featured roofline. It was designed with a focus on simplicity, functionality, and minimalism. A classic example of a Modern Ranch variable is the Palmer House designed byFrank Lloyd Wright.

The Modern Ranch Art Deco style house incorporates designs such as French doors, tightly cropped hedges, pitched rooflines, and exposed timber beams. Windows are typically fitted with translucent panes, and there is an emphasis on maximum natural light. Patterns on walls and doors are another characteristic feature, ranging from chevron patterns to geometric designs. The overall effect of this type of house is contemporary and elegant.

Modern Ranch House Designization

Cape Cod-Style House Design

TheCape Cod-Style House Design is an American classic that has been around since the 1600s. This style of house is known for its iconic steep, sloping roofs, which resemble the bow of a ship and lends this architectural style its name. The classic Cape Cod originated on Martha’s Vineyard and has evolved over the years to incorporate features from other styles, including the Colonial Revival and Art Deco. The Cape Cod exteriors are typically white with shuttered windows and feature a raised entrance doorway.

The Art Deco version of the Cape Cod-style house is characterized by a few distinctive features, the most popular of which is a band of colored tiles around the roofline. The windows are typically cut with a curved top edge and feature slender window panes. Inside, the walls, ceilings, and floors of the home are covered with wood, which helps to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Similarly, wallpaper and upholstery in soft pastel colors offer a touch of Art Deco glamour.

Cape Cod-Style House Design

Colonial Revival House Design

The Colonial Revival House Design is based on the aesthetic of the early colonists’ homes, with influences from French and British styles. Its center staircase, asymmetrical floor plans, and relative formality have made it a popular choice for many homeowners over the years. While the standard Colonial Revival was designed primarily as a two-story home, the Art Deco variant of this style usually consists of a single story with pitched rooflines, and large windows. A typical Art Deco Colonial Revival house also has a three-bay front facade, with the end bays recessed and the center bay providing the entrance.

The vibrant colors and stylized decorations that typify Art Deco colonization of the Colonial Revival home is evident in the carefully coordinated paint colors on the doors, windows, shutters, trim, and accents. Inside, the main feature of the home is usually in the form of an elegant staircase, with grand details such as intricate spindles, elegant balustrades, and decorative railings. There is also an emphasis on rooms with a lot of natural light.

Colonial Revival House Design

Bungalow House Design

The Bungalow House Design is typically a single-story home with a sloping roof and walls of shingles or clapboard siding. This style of house is extremely popular in the United States and is considered one of the main trademarks of the Art Deco movement. The Art Deco bungalow stands out due to its symmetrical exterior design, featuring steeply pitched roofs, and its exaggerated, over-embellished doorways. The walls are often decorated with colorful geometric patterns, tiles, or stucco, while the windows feature slender panes and a curved top edge.

Inside, the Art Deco bungalow emphasizes the use of wood, with walls typically furnished with darker woods, stained glass, and sleek finishes to create an ambiance that is warm and inviting. Fabrics in bold, colorful prints, motifs, and patterns are a feature throughout, as are accents such as ceramic tiles, brass fixtures, and detailed fireplace mantels.

Bungalow House Design

Split-Level House Design

The Split-Level House Design is a style of house that was popularized in the 1950s. It has a unique layout, with the house split into two or more than two levels. It was a particularly popular style during the Art Deco period, as it allowed homeowners to create spacious homes with an open-plan living area and the possibility of having a separate dining room, kitchen, and laundry area, on different levels.

The exterior of these houses typically incorporate Art Deco features such as a low-slung roofline, exaggerated doorways and windows, and an emphasis on geometric shapes. Inside, the houses are usually decorated in a mid-century modern style, featuring colors such as muted greens, oranges, and blues. The interior design also includes antiques and vintage furniture, polychrome wallpapers, and chrome fixtures.

Split-Level House Design

Foursquare House Design

The Foursquare House Design is an instantly recognizable style of the American home. This single-story square-shaped house is usually two stories high, and is typically symmetrical in structure. This style of house was particularly popular in the 1910s and 1920s, and the Art Deco period saw an influx of new foursquare designs incorporating many of the fashionable features of the time.

The exterior of a foursquare house is usually embellished with decorative geometrical shapes and decorative trim. Bricks, stone and tiles are popular materials used for the façade. Inside, the house typically features a spacious center hall, with four large rooms at each corner. Floors are typically covered with tile or hardwood, and wallpapers are painted in bold hues. Unique lighting fixtures, such as art deco-style floor lamps, adds a touch of drama to this classic home.

Foursquare House Design

Ranch House Design

The Ranch House Design is a single-floor house that was popular in the United States in the 1950s. The style was inspired by the Spanish Colonial Revival and Mexican architectural traditions, and the low profile of the home lends it an elegant and welcoming feel. An Art Deco ranch house typically features a prominent roofline with wide eaves and ideally, terracotta tiling.

The exteriors of these houses comprise mostly of stucco walls, large windows, and intricate masonry. Inside, an Art Deco ranch house usually has a spacious open plan with rooms that connect to the exterior. Mid-century modern furniture sits comfortably alongside Art Deco details, such as furniture with contrasting colors and brass fixtures. Flooring is typically wood, with brightly colored throw rugs adding a touch of vibrancy.

Ranch House Design

Mediterranean Revival House Design

The Mediterranean Revival House Design is a style of house that was popularized in the early 1920s. This style is characterized by its symmetrical layout, terracotta tiled roofs, and its elaborately sculpted walls. The addition of Art Deco elements to the Mediterranean Revival house has increased its popularity considerably, making it a classic example of Art Deco style housing. A typical Mediterranean Revival house has a flat roof with an overhang at the top, while the interior is typically characterized by a large, open floor plan with a central courtyard.

In an Art Deco version of the Mediterranean Revival, one might find windows of colored glass, iron work that is elaborately detailed, and a mix of vivid paints and patterns. Interiors of these homes are usually decorated with stucco walls, marble floors, and detailed tiles. Furniture is typically made of wood, with furniture in soft pastels or muted colors playing the role of accent pieces.

Mediterranean Revival House Design

French Eclectic House Design

The French Eclectic House Design is an architectural style that takes its inspiration from traditional French chateau designs. This style of house is typically characterized by steeply pitched roofs, symmetrical layouts, and large windows. An Art Deco variant of this house style includes the addition of Art Deco design elements such as metalwork, colored glass, and detailed door surrounds.

The French Eclectic house is typically adorned with stucco walls, terracotta tiled floors, and intricately detailed tiles. Inside the home, one can find a central pie staircase, decorative moldings, detailed window treatments, and elegant furniture. The rooms of this house are filled with subtle shades of yellow, blue, and green, with bold accents of gold, brass, and bronze adding an Art Deco feel.

French Eclectic House Design

Tudor Revival House Design

The Tudor Revival House Design is often associated with the Art Deco period and was first popularized in the United States in the 1920s. This style of home typically takes its cue from medieval design, regularly featuring windows with diamond-paned glass, multi-pitched roofs, and prominent chimneys. An Art Deco version of the Tudor Revival house often incorporates unique elements, such as curved brick details, stepped gables, and stucco walls.

Inside, the Tudor Revival houses often feature wood-paneled walls, ornate chandeliers, and dark, richly-colored furniture. Windows may be fitted with stained glass, and lighting fixtures often come in an Art Deco style. Thick rugs and detailed wallpapers add a touch of luxury to the home, while the house may also be adorned with elements of gold, silver, and bronze.

Tudor Revival House Design

Unitary and Symmetrical Design for 1950s Foursquare House

1950s Foursquare House Design Popular American house design in the 1950s, the foursquare house, is centered upon unitary and symmetrical plans. The foursquare house is a two-story, box-like structure typically featuring a hipped roof with a hipped dormer window, four rooms arranged around a central stairway, and two equal sized floors. Its distinct floor plans are easy to identify and are well loved for their efficient use of available space and simple design.

Attractive and Economical Exteriors

1950s Foursquare House Design The exterior of the 1950s foursquare house presents an attractive face. The roof, usually quite low with steep slopes, is framed by a wrap-around porch, eave brackets and a decorative gable. Standard features include a small hipped roof dormer located in the middle of the roof or at the front of the house. The exterior trim is often left plain, letting the simple lines of the foursquare design speak for itself. Window frames may also be unadorned with just a single decorative motif.

Adaptable and Modern Interiors

1950s Foursquare House Design In contrast, the interiors of foursquare houses provide a wealth of decorative opportunity. The room layout is typically an open arrangement with one large room left open between the main stairway and the back of the house. From there seven convenient and efficient rooms are accessed with double doors, a large central hall and a private bathroom. The walls may be covered with built-in shelves and bookcases or with wood paneling or wallpaper.

Reimagined and Rejuvenated Homes

1950s Foursquare House Design Although a product of its era, the 1950s foursquare house design has stood the test of time. Today, many homeowners choose to preserve the traditional floor plans of this iconic house -- keeping the main stairway, layout and exterior features intact -- and focus on updating the interiors instead. Colors, fixtures, and amenities are modernized to suit the homeowner’s needs, while preserving its signature beauty and efficiency.

10