The FINANCIAL — On February 28, Trulia, a home and neighborhood site that helps homebuyers and renters discover a place they’ll love to live, revealed Americans’ favorite architectural styles and where to find them across the United States.
In their new survey, conducted online by Harris Poll of more than 2,000 Americans age 18 and older, Trulia found that Americans’ favorite home styles are craftsman (43%), ranch (41%) and colonial (36%). Millennials, aged 18-34 years old, were more likely to favor craftsman-style homes (52% vs. 36% of those aged 55+), while older adults, aged 55+, were more likely favor ranch-style homes (52% vs. 28% of millennials).
While these styles may be favorites amongst Americans, they may be hard to find. To help people discover where they can find their dream architectural style, Trulia dove into its listing data to find out how common various architectural styles really are. Turns out, a craftsman home will be hard to come by despite its popularity. Among all home listings on Trulia, the most common architectural styles nationally that are called out as selling points in listing descriptions are colonial, ranch, Cape Cod, Victorian, and mid-century. Though state-by-state, it varies.
Trulia also found some local surprises:
Although brownstones are practically synonymous with New York City, colonial houses are actually more common in the city.
Art deco may be Miami’s best-known architectural feature, but mid-century homes are by far the most common throughout the city.
If you’re looking for a ranch-style home, Colorado Springs, CO, has the highest proportion of them in the country.
Given the five most common architectural styles in America that buyers are more likely to find, the Trulia Design Panel, Trulia’s expert group of interior designers, home stagers and professional organizers, offered their tips on how to decorate for each type of home.
“Each architectural style across the country adds character and charm to a neighborhood, making each one unique.” said Lynnette Bruno, Trulia’s vice president of communications and research. “These decorating tips from the Trulia Design Panel help you bring character from the outside in so you can transform your space into a home where you’ll love to live.”
Tips for Decorating the Most Common Architectural Styles:
Colonial: Dating back to the 19th century, colonial-style homes are especially common in the northeast, from Maine to Virginia, and typically feature multiple stories, balanced window displays, chimneys, and brick or wood exterior siding. To decorate, balance the home’s wood tones and handcrafted elements with dramatic paint choices on walls or furniture.
Ranch: Found across the country, from Alaska to Tennessee, ranch homes are known for being single story with features like a low roofline, open floor plan, rectangular or L-shape, and either a stucco, brick or wood exterior. Honor the home’s modern simplicity by utilizing clean-lined furniture and neutral tones, but adding personality with rattan accents, leather, and a mix of metals.
Cape Cod: Inspired by 17th century architecture, Cape Cod style homes can be found in eastern coastal areas, like its namesake Cape Cod, and especially in Maryland and New York state. These homes often feature one-to-two stories, a steep roofline, wood siding, and multi-pane windows. Emulate the simplicity and function of the Cape Cod style by painting walls in neutrals and take advantage of the architectural style’s charming exterior by focusing on curb appeal with floral boxes or large planters.
Victorian: The Victorian architectural style is known for romantic details with texture and color, pitched rooves, bay windows, and full front porches covered with prominent gables. San Francisco is famous for its extensive examples of the style, including its famous “Painted Ladies,” but these homes can also be found in Louisiana and Utah. Paint baseboards dark espresso or high-gloss black to mimic dark wood elements popular in the Victorian era, while modernizing the home’s style with wallpaper on one feature wall while keeping all other walls neutral.
Mid-century: Beginning in 1940’s, the mid-century modern architectural style drew on simplicity and integration with the natural world, with features like large glass windows, open spaces, geometric lines and multiple views and access points to the outside. Refresh the mid-century modern style by giving the home a fresh coat of white paint, but give a nod to the style with furniture that hearkens back to the period, like tapered legs, or natural elements like live plants.
