What Is A Traditional-Style House? Characteristics And Types

Traditional houses (also known as traditional-style houses) are one of the most popular varieties of dwellings available. That’s because they lean toward classic and elegant visual stylings while also blending form and function in ways both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

As you might imagine, more than a few homeowners and prospective real estate buyers prefer traditional architecture and traditional-style homes to contemporary alternatives. Let’s take a closer look at what a traditional home is, different types of traditional houses and why you may wish to invest in one.

What Is A Traditional Home?

In general, a traditional home features elements that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and boasts a classical – and in many ways timeless – architectural style. Sometimes it may also draw inspiration from later periods or eras of architectural design. A traditional-style house often includes the following features: 

• Distinct living and dining rooms on the first floor
• Bedrooms and dwelling quarters above on the second floor
• A basement that is situated below them

Mind you, while different types of traditional homes exist – for example, Colonial, Tudor and Craftsman, which are described below – some may be hybrid in nature. For instance, you may encounter certain residences that draw on design themes and elements from multiple periods, such as ones that feature Colonial-style fixtures in a Victorian-style home.

Overall, these types of properties tend to pair modern upgrades and conveniences with artistic nods to classical forms of architecture. Such dwellings are especially popular as they’re often stylish, practical and convenient to adapt or renovate, and allow for flexibility in mixing and matching different visual designs and themes. Discuss the details you want to see in your new home with your real estate agent so they can narrow down your search.

In short, traditional-style homes tend to offer a striking look that harkens back to earlier eras while providing all the comforts  and conveniences of modern dwellings.

The History Of Traditional-Style Homes

The roots of what we now recognize as traditional homes today can be found in the Colonial-style dwellings first built back in the 1600s. Credit a wave of European settlers who brought the farmhouse style with them as they migrated from the old world to the new – a style that later evolved to incorporate elements of Georgian and Neoclassical architecture. Amid the housing crisis that followed World War I and the Great Migration, the United States government sought to promote more affordable and widespread housing. This led to the further adoption of Craftsman-style elements in tandem with more traditional aesthetic elements. Over time, this ever-evolving blend of traditional and Neoclassical influences led to a growing range of characteristics, influences and features in residences. As a result, the traditional-style homes that we know and love today feature a widespread variety of influences, characteristics and signature elements that define them, allowing them to blend in with a multitude of neighborhood surroundings.

Key Characteristics Of Traditional Architecture

Traditional-style houses typically incorporate building features from the past, and in many cases often combine them with modern perks, amenities and conveniences. Noting this, traditional architecture doesn’t just tend to be classical in nature. It also often serves as one of the most popular styles of home on the market today. That’s because this aesthetic choice tends to combine classic and modern designs with features such as pointed rooflines, symmetrically placed windows and open porches with overhanging beams. Such styling often tends to give these homes a sense of charm that more modern, manufactured and prebuilt dwellings lack in the eyes of certain buyers. 

Interior

Just a few common characteristics of a traditional house often include, but are not limited to:

• An open floor plan
• Bonus rooms or dens
• Large kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms
• Sitting rooms or sunrooms

Exterior

Naturally, traditional-style houses also sport several common exterior characteristics as well:

• Distinctive triangular roofs, eaves and gables
• Horizontal wood paneling
• Covered porches
• Pillars and columns

Types Of Traditional Houses

As briefly touched on prior, there are many different types of traditional houses to pick from. A few that you may wish to consider are as follows.

Colonial

A classical American offering, these rectangularly shaped and symmetrical structures often sport a porch, columns, pillars and other impressive fronts, like a door framed by a peaked overhang. Simply drive by any neighborhood in your local area and you can spot Colonial-style houses by the dozen.

Craftsman

With origins in the Arts and Crafts movement, Craftsman-style houses tend to use wood, stone and other natural materials in their makeup. They also tend to favor traditional methods of building, skilled labor and construction, as well as stained-glass windows, ornate metalwork and other inspired handcrafted touches.

Cape Cod

Named for the coastal area of Massachusetts that inspired the aesthetic, Cape Cod-style houses are popular in New England and across America. They tend to have a steep roof, central door and sharply lined rectangular frame that’s somewhat cottage-like in nature.

Tudor

Large and stately affairs whose origins lie in the Middle Ages, Tudor-style houses often feature elements such as exposed beams and latticed windows. They also tend to have a storybook, cottage-like feel that helps them stand out from other dwellings on the block.

Victorian

Named after Queen Victoria, these Gothic dwellings tend to feature ornamental turrets, intricately carved woodwork and other classical flourishes. Victorian-style houses often blend a variety of stylistic elements to create dramatic designs and eye-catching flourishes.

Other common traditional home styles include: 

• Farmhouse
• French Country-Style
• Mediterranean
• Neoclassical

Traditional-Style Houses Vs. Contemporary Houses

Several differences exist between traditional-style houses versus contemporary houses. As a perspective buyer, understanding these key differences can help you better determine which type of home suits your needs. For example, contemporary homes tend to sport larger doors and windows, and their interiors are more open and airy with greater natural lighting. They also tend to be constructed from more modern and manufactured materials. On the flip side, traditional-style houses boast more of a classical look, feel and layout, and are often crafted using historical building materials. They tend to have a feel of greater aesthetic craftsmanship and air of history about them.

3 Ideas To Add A Traditional Influence To Your Home

Want to give your real estate property more of a classical feel? Here’s how any homeowner can infuse the characteristics of a traditional-style house into their home design.

1. Create a grand entryway. By creating a large, open entry space, you can create a more grandiose entrance to the home and leave a more lasting first impression on visitors, who’ll be impressed as they step into your sprawling foyer.

2. Include natural hardwood floors. Installing natural hardwood floors can give your house the feeling of a traditional-style home and a more refined aesthetic that boasts an air of classic elegance.

3. Frame the windows. Framing the windows of your home can make them – and the rooms that host them – feel larger and more refined, giving more of a feeling of a traditional-style home.

The Bottom Line: Traditional Houses Preserve Classic Features

Though they may be constructed to include modern amenities and conveniences, traditional houses tend to have a throwback look and historical feel to them. That’s because traditional-style homes draw on the best of the past and present to provide homeowners with what’s often a more visually striking and refined alternative to more modern builds.

Interested in learning more about different types of traditional houses, such as Colonial, Victorian or Cape Cod-style dwellings? Reach out and speak with a Rocket Homes℠ Verified Partner Agent today to find a traditional home to call your own.