The exterior architecture of your home gives it its first impression and curb appeal. It is extremely important to the overall feeling of your home and can be the first thing that draws you to a home.

Everyone has a preference of which style they enjoy the most, so it is nice to be able to identify which style resonates with you and figure out what elements that speak to you the most. This can be helpful when trying to buy a home or as a fun fact to know.

When you are traveling or driving through a new area it is always interesting to see the different styles of houses around. Knowing the history of a style can help you to get an idea of when the house was built and even give you a hint at the history of an area.

Whether you are deciding what style you like best or figuring out what style of home you have this guide will be your introduction to the most popular home styles!

Most Common Home Styles in Canada

Canada’s architectural design varies greatly city by city and the time that it was established. Because of this, you will see some of almost every style of home across the country. The five most common styles though are Traditional style, modern style, ranch style, cottage style, and craftsman.

Traditional Style

Traditional style homes incorporate a variety of design styles this blends architectural features of the past with modern elements, bringing in things like symmetrical window placement, simple rooflines, and modest details. This category can include styles like Victorian, Colonial, Craftsman, or Neoclassical architecture and is more of an umbrella term for design. They use traditional building materials like brick, wood, plaster, and stone.

Modern Style

Modern-style homes are a newer style that originated after World War II. The style is known for its simplicity, sharp angles, and absence of ornamental details. The designs are often forward-thinking emphasizing modern sensibilities like sustainability, energy efficiency, and natural light. It incorporates industrial materials like steel and other metals.

Ranch Style

Ranch Style is defined by its single-story home design, which often features an attached patio or deck. It was originally designed for the needs of ranch owners. Giving them the ability to quickly get out of the house to attend to cattle in the middle of the night.

Because of its single-story design, it has become a popular choice for older homeowners and those with accessibility needs. It is also a great style for those who enjoy open floorplans because all the main rooms are close and can easily be connected.

Cottage Style

Cottage-style homes incorporate medieval English architectural features and have been popular in North America since the 1920s. The rise of the ‘cottage-core’ aesthetic in 2020 has led to a revival in popularity in this style of home.

The style offers quaint and cozy home designs. With steeply pitched rooves, gables, and arched doors. They incorporate a lot of traditional materials including brick, stone, and stucco siding. Creating storybook-like designs full of character and charm.

Craftsman

Craftsman-style homes originated to show off handmade craftsmanship. It originated at the turn of the 20^th century in a similar time as the British Arts and Crafts movement. The ornate hand-crafted looks provide an artisan approach to home design.

They offer unique designs that include low-pitched gable roofs, overhanging eaves, exposed beams and rafters, and heavy tapered columns, windowpanes, and covered porches.

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Popular House Styles

There are so many architectural home design styles but in this section we will take a look at just a few more of the most popular styles in North America. These styles are ones that have historical origins in North America and have maintained their popularity over time. These designs offer unique characteristics and features that set them apart and give them their trademark style.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod homes are often one or two storey homes with large chimneys and steep roofs. They often have shuttered windows and white picket fences lining the yard.

This type of home originated in 16^th century New England and was designed as a response to the weather in the area. Atlantic gales on the Massachusetts coastline called for the need of these quaint homes with features that made them perfect to withstand inclement weather.

Victorian

Victorian-style homes originated in the 19^th Century during Queen Victoria’s reign. The homes are extremely ornate with complex designs. Popular features include turrets, corbels, decorative railings, and large porches. The exteriors are often painted with bright colors to highlight the intricate design features.

French Country

The French Country style is a historic design that originates in 18^th century when France occupied large areas of Eastern America.

They tend to be a single story design with timber frames and stucco walls. They have narrow windows with shutters and often have steep side gabled roofs. The designs are very ornamental with asymmetrical features.

Colonial

Colonial homes originated in the 17^th century as a variety of people began migrating to North America and bringing styles from their origin countries. This has led to diverse colonial styles such as Spanish colonial and German colonial.

The colonial-style homes tend to be symmetrical with rectangular bases and large square rooms. They use traditional materials like wood, brick, and stone. Dentil molding, which is a style of closely spaced rectangular block molding is a common feature seen on the exteriors of colonial homes.

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In the coming weeks, we will be highlighting each house style individually to provide more information on the origin and unique characters of each design style. Be sure to stay on the lookout to learn more about all these amazing styles.

What house style is your favorite? Do you live in one of these houses or do you have a dream house style?