Best Of 85+ Awe-inspiring United States House Design Most Outstanding In 2023

Victorian House Designs

Victorian house designs are rooted in the period of Queen Victoria’s reign in England in the late 19th century. Featuring intricate and detailed design elements, Victorian homes have long been sought after due to their ornate charm and presence. From the hand-crafted spindles on the porch and pipe-like downspouts to the symmetrical facade and steeply pitched gables, Victorian homes are considered architectural treasures. Most often made of wood, Victorian styles distinguish themselves with towers, turrets and elaborate trim. Choose a Victorian-style house to stand the test of time and add embellishment to your neighborhood.

Italianate House Designs

The already popular Italianate style of house was adapted from the fashionable Italian villas of the 16th century. Italianate house designs feature flat or low-pitched roofs, three-dimensional cornices and balconies or porticos with classical columns. The exterior often has pronounced window hoods, while the interior has many rectangular spaces for rooms. Ornamentals such as bracketed eaves, decorative window frames and loggias are also often found. Italianate house designs replicate the Italianate villas of old with a modern flair, making them popular among many American families.

Colonial Revival House Designs

The Colonial Revival house designs were immensely popular in the 1930s and 1940s. The main identifying feature of a Colonial Revival house design is its symmetrical façade, which is quite common among many traditional homes. Some other features you can expect to find include a columned entrance, multi-paned windows and double-hung window sashes. Many Colonial Revival style houses also feature exterior cladding of a different material than the rest of the house, such as red bricks and white trim for example. The Colonial Revival style is timeless and will never go out of fashion.

Tudor Revival House Designs

Tudor Revival houses, also known as Mock Tudor or Tudorbethan houses, have become popular again in recent years. This style of house dates back to the late 19th century and was inspired by the English Tudor period of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Distinguishing features of the Tudor Revival house design include a steeply-pitched roof, cross-gables, tall prestigious chimneys and Tudor arch windows. These houses are built with a mix of stucco, brick, half-timbered and clapboard finishes, making for a beautiful finish. Modern Tudor Revival homes are often made with an assortment of materials for an even more pleasing look.

Neoclassical House Designs

The Neoclassical house design is typically found in more upper-class suburbs and smaller towns. Redefined by the European Enlightenment, neoclassical design was a popular style in the US in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This style of house features a symmetrical facade with classical features that may include columns and porticos, as well as a central pediment. Exterior walls may be made of clapboards, brick, stone or stucco. Inside, the hallways are often flanked by formal dining and living rooms, as well as a library.

Art Deco House Designs

Art Deco houses bring modernist spirit, glamour and optimism to the home. This style of house was developed in the 1920s and 1930s, emerging out of a desire to create a striking, modern look. Deco houses often feature flat roofs with large overhangs, long glass windows, curved corners and decorative steel bars or railings on the façade. Art Deco houses also often feature geometric designs in the interior, ranging from zigzag and chevron patterns to abstract, angular shapes. This style of home adds a whimsical and luxurious touch to the neighborhood.

Queen Anne House Designs

The Queen Anne house design is from the late Victorian era and is generally considered to be the first of the American architectural styles. Distinctive features of the Queen Anne house plan often include steep roofs, a tower-like entrance, decorative patterns and wraparound porches. Queen Anne style homes also often have asymmetrical features, such as bay windows or windows of varying size and shape. Ornamental elements like spindles, a wraparound porch, decorative panels, transoms and fanlights also often grace the exterior of this style home.

Craftsman House Designs

The Craftsman house design is an American favorite and has been for decades. This style of house has strong roots in the early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement. Craftsman houses typically feature low-pitched roofs, broad eaves and one-or-one-and-a-half-story heights. These dwellings are generally made of brick, shingles or stucco with distinctive touches like open porches with tapered columns, exposed beams and wide entryways with wooden doors. Homeowners love this style of house for its classic yet simple beauty.

Prairie Style House Designs

Lovingly referred to as “Prairie Boxes”, the Prairie Style house designs feature long, low profiles and wide-open floor plans. This style of house points to nature and was first invented by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20th century. This style is uniquely American with a horizontal planes, few walls, large windows and sheltering roof overhangs. To capture the beauty of the prairie in a home, consider a Prairie Style house design with its muted colors, shedding walls and wide open spaces.

Contemporary House Designs

Contemporary house designs, while modern, are still rooted in traditional architecture. Features such as natural lighting, glass walls, central courtyards and open living spaces are all typical of contemporary house designs. Contemporary and modern houses focus on natural materials, touch-and-go décor and attention to sustainable design. Through the use of passive and active systems, contemporary homes are designed to be energy efficient and eco-friendly. Contemporary house designs are perfect for those seeking a modern living space that is in harmony with their immediate environment.

Modernist House Designs

Modernist house designs are a product of the modern art movement, which began in the late 19th century. Both mid-century modern and postmodernist styles of architecture are defined by the shape of the house and free-flowing interior spaces. Unlike other house designs, Modernist houses focus on simple and open living spaces. Structures with large windows and sliding glass doors, exposed steel frames and flat roofs are typical of modernist architecture. Those seeking a house with modern style and cutting-edge design should look to Modernist house designs as an ideal choice.