18 Colonial Houses with Classic Looks and Enduring Charm (2024)

17 Popular Exterior House Styles (and How to Spot Them)

Colonial House Styles

As the name suggests, Colonial houses were first introduced by the colonists who settled in America around the 1600s. They constructed homes using the available materials, basing the designs on the architectural styles of the countries they had left. Because of this, the Colonial house style encompasses several different types of homes, including Georgian, Federalist, Dutch Colonial, Spanish Colonial, and more.

Colonial House Design

​​Colonial houses typically include two or three stories stacked directly on each other. Historically, this simple layout made the homes easier to heat in the winter, a practical necessity for early colonists. In addition, separate rooms, as opposed to open-concept layouts, and relatively low ceilings helped retain warmth more efficiently.

Modern Colonial House

Colonial houses, with roots in the 17th century, are examples of one of the oldest house styles in America. However, many ways exist to update these classic houses for contemporary life. For instance, a fresh color palette can modernize the exterior, and additions such as front porches or sunrooms can boost living space.

Colonial House Colors

​​Look at a Victorian home; you'll likely be treated to a visual feast of color and detail. Colonial houses are the flip side of that architectural coin, with few ornaments and restrained color schemes. These facades often rely on white to play up the geometry and proportion of the homes.

Symmetrical Colonial Houses

Many Colonial-style homes exhibit a soothing visual symmetry. On the exteriors, windows, doors, columns, and other elements are typically reflected from one side to the other. Colonial home interiors also often feature a mirror-image setup, particularly on the main level.

Geometric Colonial Architecture

One of the hallmarks of Colonial houses is the simplicity of their geometry. Most homes are squares or rectangles and have few flourishes. The straightforward design often makes Colonial houses easy to modify with additions and other renovations.

Colonial House Details

Centuries ago, many Colonial-style homes were built with operable shutters to keep out inclement weather. Today's Colonial houses might still have this design element, although it's more often just for show. Shutters flanking each window help establish a uniform exterior facade.

Colonial House Exteriors

When many Colonial houses were constructed, builders used readily available local materials. For the East Coast, that often meant wood, and clapboard siding became a regular feature of this home type. Although many more siding types are available today, some modern Colonial houses still incorporate traditional materials for a more authentic look.

Colonial Roof Styles

Some Colonial-era builders saved time and resources by creating a dormered half-story on the upper level instead of an entire second floor. Also, Colonial houses were often built with steeply pitched roofs that enabled practical drainage and access to an attic space. Dormer windows eventually became popular as a way to provide light and ventilation for the upper level, adding to the home's usable living space.

Colonial House Window Placement

Many of the design influences of Colonial houses worked in tandem with one another. Precise geometry and symmetry deterred the random placement of details such as windows. Colonial houses typically feature a window on each side of the entry door and three to five windows on the upper level, with one directly above the entry door.

Brick Colonial House

Regional availability influenced the design and construction of Colonial houses. As the style extended from the East Coast to the Southern states, brick began to appear in these restrained home designs. Some Colonial houses feature only a brick facade, with less expensive siding around the back, to save on building expenses.

Colonial Home Landscaping

Like the stripped-down details of Colonial house styles, their landscapes usually lack conspicuous ornamentation. Instead, many rely on geometric combinations of shrubs and trees as a restrained accent. This more formal landscaping underscores the style's refined appearance.

Simple Colonial Houses

Many Colonial houses, notable for their lack of interior flamboyance, have similar exterior facades. Although this house's size gives it an impressive presence, the single decorative exterior flourish in this otherwise simple design is the arch atop the ground-level row of windows.

Colonial-Style Entry

The front door of a Colonial house is traditionally placed directly in the middle, reflecting their symmetry while also being a practical layout choice. An on-center entry typically opens into a foyer or hall with rooms on either side. This allows stairway placement in the middle of the home, with a hallway that cuts through the upper level's center.

Colonial House Portico

Unlike the wraparound, two-level porches common in many Victorian homes, classic Colonial home design incorporates humble entryways. Many rely on a no-frills, covered portico to mark the front door. Decorative molding or columns around the entrance sometimes provide minimal embellishment.

Colonial-Style Chimneys

As with many other details of Colonial houses, chimneys are a reminder of the historical beginnings of this style. Many Colonial homes had double chimneys on either side to provide warmth throughout. Inside, fireplaces are often found on every level of the house.

Columns on Colonial Houses

Colonial home styles were influenced by the history and architecture of the colonists' home countries, mainly from Europe. Although Colonial houses are relatively understated, some have columns supporting the front porch or portico. This detail originates in Greek and Roman architecture and can be found in many of the grand buildings of Europe.

Four-Over-Four Colonial Home

If you look closely at a Colonial home exterior, you might be able to guess the interior's floor plan. Many of these spaces were designed as four-over-four: four rooms downstairs and four rooms upstairs. Respectful additions like this home's sunroom increase square footage while maintaining the original design aesthetic.