Choosing an architectural style is a crucial stage in planning your custom home. This phase is where you use your creative mind and personal taste to determine what seems best for your dream house. Many homeowners and builders consider it the most exciting part of custom home planning. 

For a little help in this process, take note of these tips when choosing the best architectural style that fits your wants and needs. 

How to Find the Best Architectural Style for You

With the internet and other resources, you can find something that speaks to your personal preference. Just try to explore and never hesitate to ask experts and other homeowners for advice regarding the best architectural style for your home. 

  • Browse the world wide web and download pictures of different custom home styles that seem attractive to you. You can use online platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Dream Home Source, and Houzz. 

  • Visit neighborhoods and look for inspiration for your own custom home project. Make sure to take photos of the houses that appeal to you. 

  • Home and lifestyle magazines are also great resources to find trending styles for your custom home. You can read House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Dwell, Luxe, and Elle Decor for some custom home architectural style inspiration. 

Different Architectural Styles for Custom Homes

Here’s a list of architectural styles to give you some ideas on what you would like your dream home to be. 

Ranch

Ranch is an architectural style with influences from 1930s rural Western ranches. It’s a single-story home that features an open and free-flowing floor plan. It commonly has an attached garage, and it provides easy access to the outdoors. 

The long, horizontal layout creates a practical division between the living area and sleeping quarters. If you want a simple, no-frills aesthetic on a functional abode, a ranch home is a good idea. 

Tudor

Tudor is a pretty popular architectural style, tracing its origins to the 1500s when the Tudor monarchy reigned. It’s a two-story structure featuring brown wood or white stucco against red construction. 

Chimneys and gables are also constant elements of Tudor homes, allowing for a warm home environment in the winter. The exterior of Tudor houses is more striking compared to the austerity of ranch homes. 

European

A European style of architecture incorporates a variety of aesthetics, such as Creole, Spanish, and Mediterranean. A home modeled after this style is usually made of adobe, stone, and stucco. With these design elements, you can make the look of the house basic and functional or intricate. 

A European-inspired home features a sheltered courtyard, flat clay roof, cozy window arrangement, and several arches. 

Cape Cod

Cape Cod incorporates 17th-century English design elements and cost-efficient concepts of the mid-20th-century. It’s a rectangular house featuring a pitched roof, a large chimney, and clapboard walls. Dormer windows and windows flanking the front door are also recognizable features of Cape Cod houses. 

Dutch Colonial

Dutch Colonial-style houses originated in the early 1600s. Its architectural concept features flared eaves reaching over the porch, a gambrel roof, dormers, and an ornamental hood over the front entryway. Many Dutch Colonial homes also have a double doorway to prevent animals from entering while letting natural air inside. 

Craftsman

The craftsman style of architecture flourished in the early 1900s and served as an upgrade to the traditional English cottage. It’s commonly a single-story structure with a low-pitched roof and simple, Nature-inspired design elements. 

Craftsman homes are loved by many because of the focus on efficiency, comfort, and the economy of space. The austere exterior, wide front porch, and oversized fireplace are distinctive features of this architectural style. 

Contemporary

The aesthetics and design concepts of contemporary architecture are broad. But what’s distinct about this style is its focus on the use of sustainable materials, optimization of natural light, and energy-efficient equipment and devices. It also emphasizes the open flow of the interior and exterior of the home. 

Transitional

Transitional homes incorporate traditional and modern design concepts. It’s pretty popular to see this architectural style in many homes today. Homeowners and custom home builders often follow this style to create off-the-wall living spaces. The uniqueness is often shown in the color details, siding, railing, and columns. 

Sometimes the blend of different design elements can ruin the aesthetics of transitional homes. That’s why you need to take caution when applying ornamental pieces. Always keep a balance between different styles. 

Takeaway

Yes, choosing what architectural style you should follow for your custom home is an exciting endeavor. Of course, there are many styles out there that you can select, but the crucial thing to keep in mind is to ensure that it suits your personal preference and budget. Read home and lifestyle magazines, browse the internet or drive around different neighborhoods to discover some architectural style inspiration for your dream home.