The distinctive roof with its steep slope make it well suited for snowy climates. However, the roof shape makes the interior fairly small, so the style isn’t well suited for year round lodging of a large family.

The A-frame is usually made up of one and a half or two and a half stories. The roof generally extends all the way to the ground on both sides, although in some versions the roof ends a few feet above the ground.

Since most of the exterior is made up of roofing materials, there’s very little exterior maintenance required beyond maintenance of the roof.

A-frame Exterior Design Features:

• A distinctive triangular shape with a steep pitched roof and deep eaves
• Gables in the front and back of the house
• The most common exterior for the front and back of the home is wood siding
• Many windows set in the front and back walls
• Sometimes windows are also set into the roof on the sides

A-frame Interior Décor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Exposed ceiling beams
  • Few vertical walls
• Floor plans are usually open, with rooms flowing into one another
• Combined living and dining areas are common
• Sloping walls create dead space in the outside corners of the home

A-frame Decorating Suggestions:

• Sloping walls make hanging decorations difficult. Make the most of the few vertical walls that you have, or consider injecting a little color with paint and wallpaper.
• Since the walls are difficult to decorate, use fabrics on upholstery and window treatments to brighten up the room. Don’t be afraid to combine patterns in the same color family; sticking with one pattern creates too formal of a look for a casual home like an A-frame.
• Since the space is small, steer away from mammoth furniture pieces that will overwhelm the space. Three smaller chairs is generally a better choice than one large one.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with A-frame architectural design include:
  • English Country décor
  • Arts and Crafts style
  • Rustic style
  • Western style 

The Bungalow is defined as a small home, one and a half stories tall, with an affordable and efficient floor plan. Design wise, it can be influenced by almost any other architectural type.

Thus, there are Spanish Colonial Bungalows, Queen Anne Bungalows, and Foursquare Bungalows, just to name a few. This style is one of the most common smaller home designs found in America today. In fact, standard Bungalow plans were once readily available in books and magazines.

The common architectural elements will vary depending on the type of Bungalow. For example, a Queen Anne Bungalow will have scaled down Queen Anne architectural details, whereas an Art Moderne Bungalow will have completely different details.

Bungalow Exterior Design Features:

• A low pitched roof
• Exterior materials vary depending on the type of Bungalow. Brick, stucco, stone, and wood siding are all commonly used
• Windows also vary depending on the Bungalow type, although double hung windows are particularly common

Bungalow Interior Décor Features:

• Floor plan is generally arranged around a central living area
• Most of the living spaces are located on the ground floor
• A bedroom may be located on the upper story
• The rooms connect directly to each other without the use of hallways
• Built in furnishings such as benches and display cabinets are common
• Entryways are small, with the front door sometimes opening directly into one of the living spaces

Bungalow Decorating Suggestions:

• Since Bungalows are smaller homes with naturally smaller rooms, the key to design success is scale. For example, an oversized and elaborate sideboard might be the perfect choice for a dining room in a Queen Anne Victorian. However, the Queen Anne Bungalow dining room has less space and would be overwhelmed by such a large piece of furniture. Try to find accent pieces with Victorian elements while keeping the basic furnishings smaller in scale.
• Since you have less space for furnishings, make the most of the walls. Use color to brighten up a dim room, or consider a faux finish to add interest.
• Bungalow decorating schemes will obviously depend on the type of Bungalow in question.

Because it integrates many medieval elements, the style is sometimes called Medieval Revival. It’s also sometimes called Tudorbethan or Mock Tudor.

Tudor Revival homes may be small in size like a medieval cottage or grand structures reminiscent of a medieval castle.

They often integrate elements from Victorian or Craftsman design styles.

The Cottswold Cottage style is a direct offspring of Tudor Revival and is characterized by an imitation thatched roof.

These homes often have an irregular, rambling floor plan and multiple floors, although cottage versions are obviously much more restrained in size.

Tudor Revival Exterior Design Features:

• A steep pitched roof, often with an uneven slope
• Common exteriors include brick and stucco
• Brick is often arranged in a herringbone pattern when used
• Exteriors are decorated with half timbers: strips of wood attached to the exterior but not forming a part of the frame as in true Tudors
• Tall, narrow windows with small panes
• A front gable and often multiple side gables
• Large chimneys with decorative pots

Tudor Revival Interior Décor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Tudor style paneling
  • Exposed ceiling beams
  • Coved ceilings
• Floor plan is generally arranged around a central entry hall with a decorative wooden staircase
• While some retain the low ceilings and small room sizes commonly found in Tudors, many have large, spacious rooms

Tudor Revival Decorating Suggestions:

• The first step to decorating success is to consider the size of your rooms. If you have a more traditional home with smaller rooms, your furnishings should be selected to meet that scale. Conversely, larger rooms demand larger furnishings so that the space is adequately filled
• Since many Tudor Revivals have wood floors and cozy rooms, area rugs are a terrific choice to inject color and warmth into a defined area.
• Small rooms also make it easy to add a little patterned wallpaper without overwhelming the space. Consider a traditional flowered pattern in a large or small print.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Tudor Revival architectural design include:
  • Colonial décor
  • English Country décor
  • Arts and Crafts style 

Colonial Revival homes gained popularity in the late 1800s and remained popular through the mid 1900s.

Colonial Revival architecture was heavily influenced by earlier Georgian Colonials and Federal style homes.

This style is distinguished from the original Georgian Colonials by the elaborate front door, clustering of windows into groups, and addition of sun rooms or porches on the side of the home.

These homes were significantly different from the Victorian homes of that era.

They were much less ornate but still integrated classic elements.

Some subtypes of Colonial Revival design include the Dutch Colonial, Garrison Colonial, Spanish Colonial, and Saltbox Colonial.

They are characterized by a symmetrical rectangular layout and usually have two to three stories.

Colonial Revival Exterior Design Features:

• A gable roof, sometimes accented with dormer windows
• Brick and wood siding are common exterior materials
• Double hung windows with shutters or decorative trim
• Front door is often framed with a portico, pediment, and/or pillars
• Doors are often paneled and flanked by sidelights

Colonial Revival Interior Décor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Dado board
  • Chair rails
• Floor plan is generally arranged around a central entry hall
• A fireplace or multiple fireplaces are common
• Living areas are located on the first floor and bedrooms on the second
• Linoleum, ceramic and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually raised, curved panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Colonial Revival Decorating Suggestions:

• Make the most of tall windows and ceilings by hanging ornate curtains up near the ceiling. Brocade is an attractive and historically accurate choice.
• Colonial Revival homes provide a terrific backdrop to display and/or use antique furnishings. Hang a collection of china or hats on the wall or stack vintage suitcases as a unique side table. And if antique furniture is on your wish list but outside of your price range, consider reproductions. They’re particularly handy if you want to be able to use the furniture without worrying about damaging it.
• The presence of a sunroom or side porch is an invitation to garden, and in fact, Colonial Revival gardening is a style onto its own. Consider implementing this semi-formal garden style edged with boxwood to make the most of your outdoor views.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Colonial Revival architectural design include:
  • Colonial décor
  • French Country décor
• Arts and Crafts style

These homes were much more streamlined than the popular Victorians of that period.

Shingle Style borrows elements from a variety of architectural styles, including Queen Anne Victorian, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Gothic, and Stick.

Shingle Style homes integrate these elements into an informal and casual house design.

The name comes from the fact that most of these homes are sided with cedar shingles, although that’s not true of all houses in this style.

They also are characterized by an irregular floor plan and multiple floors.

Most Shingle Style homes are two or more stories.

Shingle Style Exterior Design Features:

• Roof line is irregular, with eaves on several levels
• Exterior siding and roof are often covered with matching shingles, usually made from cedar
• Shingles may or may not be patterned
• Some homes have a rough stone exterior on the first floor and shingles on subsequent floors
• Casement and Palladian windows are common
• Often has multiple gables, one at the front of the house, and one or more wings with additional gables
• Often has a porch or multiple porches
• May have stone arches or small towers reminiscent of Queen Anne style

Shingle Style Interior Décor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Exposed rafters
  • Millwork and carved moldings
• Floor plan is generally arranged around a large central hall but is otherwise irregular
• A fireplace or multiple fireplaces are common and usually have brick or stone surrounds
• Staircase is centrally located but more casual in appearance
• Large, open rooms that flow into each other

Shingle Style Decorating Suggestions:

• Focus on the use of natural materials like wood and leather to complement the wood trim, natural flooring, and stone accents commonly found in Shingle Style homes.
• One hallmark of Shingle Style home design is painting the ceilings in a complimentary color. Consider a ceiling in sky blue or light tan to inject a little color without obscuring the trim with a coat of paint.
• Compliment the informal, rambling layout with clusters of furnishings that encourage reading, relaxing, and conversation.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Shingle Style architectural design include:
  • Arts and Crafts décor
  • Tuscan/Italian décor
  • Rustic style

This style borrows heavily from the architecture found in Renaissance French and Italian homes and is sometimes called Neo-Renaissance.

Renaissance Revival homes became increasingly ornate: homes built after 1900 were particularly elaborate.

These structures are very expensive to build, so the style is usually found in public buildings rather than private homes.

However, some very elaborate estates are built in the Renaissance Revival style.

They are almost always multi-story, and many of these homes have three or more stories and an imposing, castle-like exterior.

They are almost always cube or rectangular shaped and symmetrical in appearance.

Renaissance Revival Exterior Design Features:

• Low pitched roof or Mansard roof with wide eaves and large brackets
• Exteriors are usually made from smooth hewn stone, smoothed stucco, or a combination of the two
• Window style varies by floor
• Smaller windows are usually used on the top floor
• Stone window trim is also unique to each floor
• Horizontal bands of stone separate floors
• Large blocks of stone called quoins at each corner of the house
• Pedimented gables on the front of the home
• Older homes of this style often have columns

Renaissance Revival Interior Décor Features:

• Usually has multiple fireplaces
• Common interior architectural details:
• Arched doorways and entryways
• Niches carved into the walls
• Formal staircase with columns and surrounding windows is common
• Floor plan is often arranged around a large central hall
• Stone and tile are the most common flooring options

Renaissance Revival Decorating Suggestions:

• You’re not likely to find drywall inside a Renaissance Revival home, so you’ll need to use textiles to add the color that would normally be supplied by paint. Renaissance homeowners used tapestries to add warmth; hang attractive textiles to add visual interest. Make the most out of your window treatments and furniture fabric choices to keep rooms from looking bland.
• Some rooms may have stucco or plaster interiors; use traditional Renaissance jewel tones or try a faux finish like a glaze or Venetian plaster technique.
• Artisan tiles are another option to add warmth and color to your rooms.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Renaissance Revival architectural design include:
  • Renaissance décor
  • Tuscan/Italian décor
  • Victorian décor

Since they’re usually built with adobe, they’re sometimes called Adobe homes. Pueblo Revival homes incorporate elements of native architectures of American southwest pueblos such as the famous Taos Pueblo, as well as features brought to the US southwest from the styles of homes found in southern European Mediterranean rural countries.

Pueblo Revival homes first gained popularity in the early 1900s and are still being built today.

Pueblo Revival has many offshoots including Pueblo Deco, which combines Pueblo Revival and Art Deco; Santa Fe, which is a style that developed in New Mexico; and Territorial Pueblo, which has right angles instead of rounded corners.

Although the original pueblos were built with bricks made from dried mud, today’s version is usually made from ready made materials.

However, the stress on natural materials and seamless integration with the outdoors remains. Pueblo Revival homes are usually single story or two story.

Pueblo Revival Exterior Design Features:

• Flat roof without any overhang
• Walls are generally made from adobe or have stucco siding
• Corners are rounded
• Exterior ornamentation usually includes a parapet and stepped levels
• Simple windows set in deep openings
• Some have porches, which are usually supported with Spanish style posts
• Porches may or may not be enclosed

Pueblo Revival Interior Décor Features:

• Often has a corner fireplace
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Exposed timbers
  • Niches carved into the walls
  • Many have built in furniture, particularly benches
• Brick and wood are the most common flooring options
• Kitchens usually integrate natural materials

Pueblo Revival Decorating Suggestions:

• Focus on natural materials that integrate well with the home. Wood and leather are always good choices for large furnishings. You can integrate bright colors with textiles and accessories
• Make the most of the wall niches. They are intended to display religious items; if you’re not particularly religious you can still make use of them as a focal point. Consider hanging a cluster of objects around the niche to draw the eye. Pueblo style pottery and tile are just a few of the possible choices
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Pueblo Revival architectural design include:
  • Pueblo or Southwestern Decor
  • Rustic Decor
  • Tropical Decor

This architectural category includes a lot of different house shapes and styles. Some Contemporary homes have Postmodern influences and others have Neoeclectic elements.

The key to identifying a true Contemporary home is the presence of many tall windows. These homes generally have unique, custom shapes. Contemporary homes are rarely rectangular or L shaped.

One story is the most common height for a Contemporary home, although two story versions can also be easily located.

Contemporary Exterior Design Features:

• Roof may be flat or gabled
• Common exterior materials include stone or wood
• Very little exterior ornamentation: no shutters, columns or porches
• Numerous tall windows, sometimes in irregular or trapezoid shapes
• Since the exterior is minimally decorated, landscaping is key to creating curb appeal

Contemporary Interior Décor Features:

• Floor plans are usually open
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Cathedral ceilings and exposed beams in styles with gabled roofs
  • Crown molding
• Wood and ceramic tile are the most common flooring options. These homes often integrate rare artisan materials
• Gourmet kitchens with central islands are common
• Common countertop materials include marble, concrete, and stainless steel

Contemporary Decorating Suggestions:

• When it comes to decorating a Contemporary home, think clean lines and neutral colors. Add interest to your rooms with an unusual focal point: an abstract modern painting or sculpture, a pop of bright color in a cluster of objects on the mantle, or maybe an attention grabbing ceiling fixture
• Choose neutral furnishings in simple shapes. Update your rooms easily with accessories and paint when the urge strikes
• If you need to inject some patterns into your rooms, stick with modern geometric shapes. No fussy flowers or fluttery laces
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Contemporary architectural design include:
  • Modern décor
  • Swedish décor
  • Asian décor

These homes first gained popularity in the mid 1900s. Ranch Style is a direct descendant of the Prairie Box home design.

As with Prairie Box homes the stress in designing ranch style homes was on economical design and use of available building materials.

Since so many Ranch Style homes were built in a short period of time after World War II, there are a few commonly used floor plans. Of course, there are also custom Ranch Style homes.

Ranch Style homes have only one floor (and may or may not have a basement). However, variations such as the split level ranch and raised ranch have multiple floors.

Most of these homes have a long, low profile. The most common Ranch Style layouts are rectangular, L shaped, or U shaped.

Ranch Style Exterior Design Features:

• Low pitched gable or hip roof with deep set eaves
• Common exterior materials include wood siding, brick, and stone
• May have exterior shutters but otherwise there is minimal detailing
• Large windows in a variety of styles including double-hung, picture, and sliding windows
• Usually has a sliding glass door at the back of the home leading out to a patio
• Often has an attached garage

Ranch Style Interior Décor Features:

• Floor plans are simple and relatively open
• Combined living and dining areas are common features
• Common architectural details:
  • Exposed ceiling beams
  • Crown molding
• Linoleum, carpet and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate and Formica countertops are most common in the kitchen

Ranch Style Decorating Suggestions:

• Unless they’ve been recently updated, ranch homes can look dated. Simply replacing the fixtures can bring the home into the 21st century. You can also try updating paint colors and replacing worn carpeting with something newWhen your floor plan includes a lot of rooms that are open to one another, it’s important to define areas. Cluster furniture to help keep the space from looking all mashed together, and use accent pieces to define the space
• With a low-key home design, it’s better to choose less ornate furnishings. Fancy Victorian furniture would look out of place in a Ranch Style home; stick with more casual designs
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Ranch Style architectural design include:
  • Rustic style
  • Retro décor
  • Swedish décor

The style first gained popularity in England, and American soon followed suit with an Americanized version.

Italianate homes were the most common new architectural style in Victorian America.

They are cost effective without sacrificing attractiveness and adaptable to a variety of building materials.

Some barns, libraries, and town halls are also built in Italianate style.

Italianate homes are usually tall. The two story structure is most common, but three and four story Italianate homes can also be found.

Floor plans are usually irregular, but contained within a symmetrical and rectangular house shape.

Italianate Exterior Design Features:

• Low pitched or flat roof with overhanging eaves
• Roof is usually ornamented with brackets and cornices
• Common exterior materials include wood, stone, and stucco
• Window styles are varied but usually ornamented with arches
• Tall, narrow windows are most common
• Bay windows are also popular
• A cupola or balcony over the front entrance

Italianate Interior Décor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Dentil, egg, and dart
  • Chair rails
• Linoleum, ceramic and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually raised, square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Italianate Decorating Suggestions:

• Italianate homes lend themselves to rich textures and vibrant colors. The first step in interior decorating should be your walls. Rather than stick with a flat color, consider a faux finish like stucco, a wash, or Venetian plaster to add depth to the walls
• Whether you stick with traditional Italian or Tuscan style or integrate something new into your home, make the most of tall ceilings and long windows with equally dramatic window treatments. Hang them near the ceiling to maximize their impact
• Keep things casual by integrating natural elements such as wood furniture, terra cotta pottery, and ceramic tile
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Italianate architectural design include:
  • Italian or Tuscan style
  • Colonial décor

Arts and Crafts homes stress the use of handcrafts and natural materials for a scaled down, comfortable look.

The style is also heavily influenced by Chinese and Japanese architecture.

One of the most popular Arts and Crafts home styles is the bungalow.

However, other home layouts can also be built in the Arts and Crafts style, including Prairie homes or Foursquare homes.

Most homes built in the style have one and a half floors, but they have irregular floor plans.

Arts and Crafts Exterior Design Features:

• Low pitched roofs with wide overhangs and triangular brackets
• Common exterior materials include wood, stone, and stucco
• Many windows, some may have stained or leaded glass
• Often has a dormer window on the second floor
• Most homes have a front porch, supported with thick columns which are often made of stone

Arts and Crafts Interior Décor Features:

• Most have chimneys, usually made of stone
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding, usually made from dark woods
  • Dado board
  • Chair rails
  • Beamed ceilings
• Linoleum, slate and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually recessed, square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Arts and Crafts Decorating Suggestions:

• Arts and Crafts style homes often have built in furniture such as seating, cabinets, or shelves. Top seating with colorful pillows and cushions to make it a focal point. Make the most of displayed items by painting the back of built in display areas to match the walls or use a complimentary color
• Hand-painted tiles are a hallmark of Arts and Crafts decorating. Use them as accents in the kitchen or bath, frame and hang them on the walls, or integrate them into your fireplace surround.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Arts and Crafts architectural design include:
  • Arts and Crafts style
  • Rustic décor
  • English country style

The style is based on popular European home designs of that period.

It’s also heavily influenced by designs seen in medieval churches and cathedrals.

The most famous example of Gothic Revival architecture is Lyndhurst, an estate in New York.

Gothic Revival is similar to High Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic, but High Victorian Gothic is generally taller and more ornate.

Gothic Revival homes are usually two stories and are sometimes larger.

These homes have an irregular shape and may incorporate elements like Gothic style battlements and parapets.

Gothic Revival Exterior Design Features:

• Flat roofs with battlements or gable roofs with parapets
• Common exterior materials include wood, stone, and brick
• Sometimes exteriors combine multiple materials to create a multicolor effect
• Windows are pointed or arched and often embellished with tracery or trim
• Leaded glass, quatrefoil, and clover-shaped windows are common

Gothic Revival Interior Décor Features:

• Often has multiple chimneys arranged in groups
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Molding has dentil, egg, and dart
  • Chair rails
• Linoleum, ceramic and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually beaded, square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Gothic Revival Decorating Suggestions:

• Cover large wall expanses with accessories that have a medieval flair. Large oil paintings and tapestries work well in Gothic Revival homes
• Generally, dark jewel tones were used in Gothic Revival homes, and they integrate nicely with the dramatic and formal backdrop of the homes
• Consider ornate patterns in wallpapers, draperies, and other linens. Heavy fabrics like velvet add to the sense of drama
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Gothic Revival design include:
  • Medieval décor
  • Victorian style

The style is based on the Georgian homes that were popular in England at the time.

However, the Americanized Georgian Colonial is a little less ornate than the English Colonial.

It’s also influenced by classic architectural styles such as Greek and Roman architecture.

Georgian Colonial homes are usually two or three stories tall, and in general they’re large and stately in appearance.

Classic lines and architecture are the norm both inside and out.

Georgian Colonial Exterior Design Features:

• A medium pitched hip roof
• Common exterior materials include brick (with stone quoins in the corners), clapboard, and shingle facing
• Rectangular shape
• Double hung windows without shutters
• Windows often have nine or twelve panes per sash
• A gabled entrance with a paneled front door often flanked by Greek columns

Georgian Colonial Interior Décor Features:

• Often has two chimneys, one at each end of the house
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Dado board
  • Chair rails
• Linoleum, ceramic and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually raised, curved panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Georgian Colonial Decorating Suggestions:

• Most Georgian Colonials have large rooms with equally large walls. Think big when it comes to wall ornamentation. Large mirrors with ornate frames or sizable paintings will fill the space without looking cluttered
• Traditionally, muted hues were used in Georgian design, and they do work particularly well in these homes. Instead of bright reds, consider a dusty brick color. Muted forest green, grey-blue, and tan are also good choices.
• Wallpaper was very common in Georgian design, and many wallpaper manufacturers have Georgian prints to choose from. If the idea of applying wallpaper doesn’t appeal to you, consider buying scraps and hanging them in ornate frames.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Georgian Colonial design include:
  • French country décor
  • Colonial style

This home style was the first to regularly use open floor plans, Wright felt that Victorian homes, with their small rooms, were too cramped.

The style also has Japanese influences.

Usonian houses are very similar to Prairie style homes and were also developed by Wright as a more cost-effective version of the style for use during the Depression.

These homes are low to the ground, although they may be multilevel. The low feeling is created by the low pitched roof.

Prairie Exterior Design Features:

• A low pitched, cantilevered roof with overhanging eaves
• A variety of exterior materials, including plaster with wood trim, concrete block, or siding with horizontal board and batten
• A variety of shapes, including L-shapes, Y-shapes, T-shapes, and pinwheel shape
• Long repetitive rows of windows
• Clerestory windows: a tall wall with a long row of narrow windows right at the top near the roof

Prairie Interior Décor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Wood banding at intersections between walls and ceilings
  • Chair rails
• Linoleum, slate and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually recessed, square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Prairie Decorating Suggestions:

• Prairie homes usually feature built in furniture elements like hutches, dressers, and bookshelves. Make them a focal point of the room. Paint or glaze the back wall of the built in the same color as the walls to make display items pop
• Prairie and Usonian furniture lines are still available. Search online to find some styles and options to fit your budget
• Traditionally, Prairie homes used color schemes with hues found in nature. Think leafy greens, wheat colors, rusts and reds, and terra cottas.
• Make the most of walls with glaze. This allows you to integrate color without overshadowing the trim.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Prairie design include:
  • Modern décor
  • Art Deco style
  • Oriental style

The advent of mass-production allowed for creation of fancy trims and woodwork at a reasonable price.

Queen Annes are multi-story, sometimes rising as large as two, three, or even four stories tall.

They’re usually irregular in shape, with wraparound porches, turrets, and a variety of architectural details.

Queen Anne Exterior Design Features:

• A steep-pitched roof
• A variety of exterior materials, including decorative shingles, masonry, or half timber.
• Multiple window styles
• A variety of ornate architectural elements, including turrets (round or square in shape), colonnades, bays and overhangs
• Front entrance may be central or offset

Queen Anne Interior Decor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Chair rails
• Linoleum, slate and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually raised, square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Queen Anne Decorating Suggestions:

• Unusually shaped rooms don’t necessary lend themselves to formal furniture arrangement, so consider clumping pieces by activity. For example, you might clump a set of armchairs in a corner for reading or visiting.
• Integrate traditional Victorian elements like doilies, antique light fixtures, and Victorian style furniture, or go for more of a shabby chic effect and mix true antiques with distressed pieces to create a more casual piecemeal look.
• Many retailers carry a Victorian line to help you select colors that work with the home. One popular color scheme is blue, mulberry red, and cream.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Queen Anne design include:
  • Victorian decor
  • English country style

They’re sometimes confused with their predecessor; Georgian Colonial homes.

However, Federal homes integrate design elements like curved lines, whereas Georgian Colonials tend to be more angular.

These homes are large, with two or three stories, and highly formal in appearance.

They’re rectangular rather than square, and almost always symmetrical.

Federal Exterior Design Features:

• A flat, low pitched roof with a balustrade and sometimes a belvedere
• Brick or clapboard exteriors
• Double hung, shuttered windows with small panes
• Often includes one or more Palladian windows
• A central entrance which is usually flanked by columns and/or sidelights and sometimes topped with a fan-shaped window called a fanlight

Federal Interior Decor Features:

• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Dado
  • Chair rails
• These homes often have fireplaces
• Linoleum, ceramic and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually raised, curved panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Federal Decorating Suggestions:

• Formal floor plans and furnishings best suit Federal style homes. Consider integrating furnishings developed during the Colonial period, including later Chippendale or William and Mary styles.
• Make the fireplace a focal point by arranging furniture symmetrically around it and topping it with a large painting or mirror. If the fireplace surround is underwhelming, flank it with Ionic columns topped with urns.
• Georgian color schemes work well in Federal homes. Consider combining bold colors like lilac, bright blue, or red-brown with black to create a dramatic look.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Federal design include:
  • Classic decor
  • Colonial style
  • Georgian design

They’re sometimes confused with Prairie box or Prairie homes.

However, while Foursquare homes can integrate Prairie elements, they can also be built in Arts and Crafts style or Farmhouse design.

They’re usually two or two and a half stories tall and square rather than rectangular in shape.

This simple style is one of the most common home types of the 20th century.

Foursquare Exterior Design Features:

• A roof with low hips and a deep overhang
• A variety of exterior materials, including brick, stucco, stone, concrete block, and wood.
• A large central dormer window, usually placed above the central door
• A full length porch in front of the home

Foursquare Interior Decor Features:

• Common architectural details:
  • Crown molding in classic styles
  • Dado
  • Chair rails
• Linoleum, slate and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually recessed square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials

Foursquare Decorating Suggestions:

• A more casual design scheme fits the farmhouse style of Foursquare homes very well. The mix-and-match approach works well against the simple backdrop and square rooms. Consider layering patterns within a room to increase design interest. Consider using wood, wicker, or leather furniture, or combine materials to create a look of your own.
• Deep colors, both inside and outside on the trim, help to create visual appeal.
• One color scheme that looks particularly good with Foursquare homes and is historically correct is a combination of olive green, dark red, and buff.
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Foursquare design include:
  • Rustic decor
  • Arts and crafts style
  • English country style

The major difference between the two is that Moderne is more scaled down in comparison to the more showy Art Deco style.

Moderne is obviously a modern architectural style, and in fact it was featured at the 1933 World Fair.

These homes are generally very streamlined in appearance, with the use of geometric shapes and very little exterior ornamentation.

Moderne Exterior Design Features:

• A flat roof without cornices or eaves
• Smooth, usually white exterior walls
• Glass block and metal windows are common and found in a variety of geometric configurations
• Rounded walls add architectural interest

Moderne Interior Decor Features:

• Open floor plans allow rooms to flow together
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Horizontal bands
  • Vertical bands
• Linoleum and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and marble countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Flat slab cabinets contribute to the streamlined look and can be stained or painted. Cherry and maple are common materials

Moderne Decorating Suggestions:

• Streamlined and geometric are the way to go with Moderne style homes, but avoid making rooms feel too boxy by integrating irregular geometric shapes into the overall design scheme
• Integrate metallic colors into the rooms to complement metal window frames and draw the eye
• Vitrolite glass, which is semi-opaque and usually tinted in colors like blue, green, or black, was a staple of Moderne design and can be integrated into interiors
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Moderne design include:
  • Modern decor
  • 1950’s decor
  • Retro furniture

These homes were particularly popular in the Southern United States, although their popularity was widespread.

Although the name “Greek Colonial” brings to mind images of large homes with Grecian columns, the columns are actually optional and not found on all homes of this style.

Greek Revival style homes are usually large, with two or three stories as the norm.

They’re usually rectangular in shape, laid out symmetrically with the door in the middle.

Greek Revival Exterior Design Features:

• A flat roof, with a balustrade and belvedere
• Clapboard or brick exteriors
• Double hung windows, usually with shutters and small panes
• White columns, usually flanking the door in a symmetrical arrangement, and usually supporting a gable

Greek Revival Interior Decor Features:

• Chimneys are common and usually extend through the roof
• Common interior architectural details:
  • Crown molding
  • Chair rails
  • Dado board
  • Moldings are often ornate and can serve as design elements on their own
• Linoleum, ceramic, and wood are the most common flooring options
• Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually lipped or full overlay wood models, which may be stained or painted. Maple, cherry and oak are common materials

Greek Revival Decorating Suggestions:

• Consider furnishings and accessories with a geometric flair that will compliment the style of the home. Casual country furnishings look out of place in a Greek revival house
• Consider using wallpaper in a geometric, floral, or classical design to increase visual interest in large rooms
• An attractive color palate that is consistent with Greek Revival style includes green, gold, and white.
• White paint allows the elaborate molding, wainscoting, and other architectural features to pop against tinted walls. However, you can also up the formal appeal by coloring the trim and using a neutral wall. Make sure not to choose too dark of a color so that you can still see the details
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with the Greek Revival design include:
  • Neo classical decor
  • Modern decor
  • Classic decor

It’s roughly modeled on the traditional English house, which contained a hall and a parlor, although the design was modified to use local materials and to withstand New England storms.

The name “Cape Cod” developed as a result of the design’s New England origins.

Cape Cods are small, usually one to one-and-a-half stories, which makes them very affordable for first-time home buyers.

They’re very symmetrical, with the entrance in the middle and an equal placement of windows and other decorative elements on each side. However, exterior ornamentation is usually kept to a minimum.

Cape Cod Exterior Design Features:

• A steep roof, with side gables and a small overhang
• Wood shingles, wide clapboard, or sometimes brick exteriors
• Shuttered, double hung windows, with dormers often found in one-and-a-half story Cape Cods
• White picket fence

Cape Cod Interior Décor Features:

• Living quarters on the first floor, although they may be expanded into the attic
• Most floor plans lack central hallways
• A central chimney linked to each room
• Cape Cod Interior design details:
  • Crown molding
  • Chair rails
  • Wainscoting
• Flooring choices:
  • Linoleum or ceramic in kitchen
  • Hardwood common throughout the rest of the home
• Laminate and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
• Cabinets are usually traditional inset wood models; maple and oak are common materials

Cape Cod Decorating Suggestions:

• Keep in line with the design’s clean look by a pared-down decorative approach. Choose furnishings with simple lines. Spice up the decor with decorative elements like throw pillows and other decorative accessories
• White trim allows the molding, wainscoting, and other architectural features to really pop against tinted walls
• Since the exterior is fairly minimalist, increase the home’s curb appeal with landscaping
• Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with the Cape Cod design include:
  • Nautical decor
  • Rustic decor
  • 1950’s style