Cities and suburbs across the United States are home to several different architectural house styles. Many old homes are still full of character, reflecting their original design. Not to be confused with the categories of homes—single-family, multi-family, condo, apartment, and co-op, etc. —we’re talking about a home’s architectural type based on its features like the trim, roofline, number of floors, building materials, and the windows’ and doors’ shape, size, and placement, as well as exterior features like porches.
Due to America’s worldly population, it’s no wonder that our architecture varies so drastically depending on where you live. Ranch-style homes are popular in the midwest, while Colonial Revival styles of houses can be found along the East Coast, and Spanish Colonials reign in California. Because of the varying geographical influences on these design styles, it can be difficult to distinguish each type of home from the one next to it.
Regardless of where you live, it’s helpful to identify what style of home you love or hate since it can help you decide where to move and which homes to consider. To teach you how to spot your favorites, we’ve rounded up a list of 10 Architectural Home Styles To Know: