Mediterranean-Style Homes: Key Features And House Styles

You can’t judge a book by its cover, but it’s hard not to be won over by the gorgeous exterior of a Mediterranean-style home. These homes use color, texture and shapes in a way that gives their homes instant appeal.

Pair the gorgeous exteriors with an airy interior that leads into a large courtyard for easy indoor-outdoor living, and it’s no question why Mediterranean-style homes have been popular in North America for more than a century.

Let’s dive into the key features that define a Mediterranean-style home and determine if one might be perfect for you!

What Is A Mediterranean-Style Home?

Mediterranean-style homes have a mixture of Spanish and Italian influence and place a big focus on indoor-outdoor living. Because of this, these homes are often found in places with great weather all year round, such as Florida and California. Many of the aesthetic exterior features go hand-in-hand with architectural features in these areas as well, so the link is pretty clear.

This popular house style usually features white stucco walls, terra cotta tiled roofs and black metal railings. These homes have a timeless classic style that is popular all over the world, and they have been popular in the United States for about 100 years. 

History Of Mediterranean Homes

Mediterranean-style architecture was made popular in North America in the 1920s and 30s by Floridian architect Addison Mizner, as well as Californians Bertram Goodhue, Paul Williams and Sumner Spaulding.

This style of home was inspired by architecture in Italy, Portugal and Spain. In addition to inspiring the materials and visual design of these homes, the Mediterranean lifestyle also influenced the functionality of the spaces, with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. This includes the functionality of keeping doors open, having an open flow of conversation and gathering both inside and outside the home, usually with a patio or living space immediately off the main room of the home.

The indoor-outdoor living was suggestive of a luxurious life of leisure, which was fitting with the general feel of the Roaring ‘20s time period. At the time, those who had wealth loved to entertain in big ways, so expanding the entertaining space to include the outdoors was very appealing.

These homes were most popular in areas where the weather allowed for indoor-outdoor living all year long, including Florida, California and the Southwest United States. Areas with too much cold, heat or bugs didn’t see as much of this style, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.

Key Features Of The Mediterranean House Style

There are several key internal and external characteristics of Mediterranean-style homes.

Exterior Home Features

Mediterranean-style homes have distinct exteriors that usually include:

• White stucco walls
• Low pitched red or terra cotta tiled roof
• Black metal railings and window grills
• Outdoor balconies and walkways
• Arched windows and doorways
• Large courtyards and gardens
• Fountains or other stone water features

Seeing a combination of these features while driving through a neighborhood is easy to spot. The exterior of the house is very distinct, and builders usually make entire neighborhoods with this design to increase cohesiveness.

Interior Home Features

Mediterranean-style homes also include several key internal characteristics and home decor elements including:

• White wall paint
• Arched doorways and windows
• Textured or stucco walls
• Airy living spaces
• Sliding doors or large windows to bring the outdoors in
• High ceilings
• Patterned tile

The white paint on both the inside and outside of the home lends to creating the feeling of a larger open space, while the texture goes back to looking like a more rustic style of build that you’d see in historic Mediterranean areas. Pattern tiles inside also tend to have a specific style and feel, and don’t look like modern tile styles you see today.

Types Of Mediterranean Homes

Mediterranean homes can be classified in one of several subcategories.

Italian-Style Mediterranean

Italian-inspired Mediterranean-style homes are more reflective of Italian architecture than other areas in the Mediterranean. Instead of white stucco walls, their exteriors are often made from natural stone, but still paired with the terra cotta roof tiles.

These homes might have more straight lines and rectangular window shapes. They also have an emphasis on Italian-style landscaping, including plants such as boxwood, Italian cypress, laurel, yew, rosemary and junipers.

Spanish-Style Mediterranean

Spanish-inspired Mediterranean-style homes are a bit more intricate compared to other Mediterranean homes. They feature elaborate tile work and more details in the iron railings in addition to the white stucco walls and terra cotta roof.

These homes usually include arched windows and doorways, and feature large columns and pillars. These characteristics can often be incorporated into a home later by wrapping existing columns with bigger ones or adding curves to existing doorways with drywall.

Modern Mediterranean 

Modern Mediterranean-style homes often feature black accents on the windows and roof paired with white stucco walls. They usually have clean lines without intricate tile or ironwork. They feature Spanish and Italian influences, but with an emphasis on modern, indoor-outdoor living and the modern amenities that many homeowners expect. You can expect to see more modern takes on Mediterranean-style homes when building new construction in the areas of the United States that feature these homes today.

Pros Of Mediterranean-Style Houses

Some of the benefits of buying a Mediterranean-style home include:

• Indoor-outdoor living can make a home feel larger than its square footage and is great for entertaining.
• The architectural details, including the arched doorways and windows, are charming, very visually appealing and are often more distinguished and unique than most homes.
• An airy layout means that air will flow freely, and a breeze can be enough to keep the house at a comfortable temperature in the right environments.
• If not damaged, the tile roof should last for decades, much longer than a shingled roof.

Cons Of Mediterranean-Style Houses

Some of the drawbacks of buying a Mediterranean-style home include:

• Only typically available in specific areas with warm weather year-round.
• Stucco walls can have higher maintenance requirements, especially in areas with temperature changes, which can lead to swelling and cracking.
• Stucco walls are usually not as well-insulated compared to other materials. They can also need more frequent maintenance and sealing.
• Tile roofs are vulnerable to damage and cracks if damaged and may be more difficult and expensive to replace compared to readily available roof shingles.

The Bottom Line

Mediterranean-style homes are a great option for homeowners who love indoor-outdoor living. If you are house hunting in an area with beautiful weather, a Mediterranean-style home could be perfect for you.

Working with a Verified Partner Agent will make searching for a Mediterranean or other style of home as seamless as possible. Contact a Verified Agent to start your home search today.