The colonial style house embodies timeless elegance, blending historical charm with modern functionality. Rooted in early American architecture, these homes reflect symmetry, classic proportions, and enduring appeal. Whether you’re dreaming of a cozy New England-inspired retreat or a grand Southern manor, colonial style houses offer versatile designs that suit various lifestyles. In this article, we explore 34 unique colonial style house designs, each showcasing authentic architectural elements and creative interpretations to inspire your next home project. Let’s dive into the beauty of colonial aesthetics!
Defining Characteristics of Colonial Style
Colonial style houses are instantly recognizable for their balanced, symmetrical facades and orderly layouts. Originating in the 17th and 18th centuries, these homes often feature brick or clapboard exteriors, multi-pane windows, and central chimneys. Gabled roofs, dormer windows, and decorative crown molding add sophistication. The design emphasizes functionality, with formal living spaces and practical room arrangements. Modern adaptations incorporate open floor plans while preserving classic details like wainscoting and fireplaces, making colonial homes ideal for those seeking tradition with contemporary comfort.
The Appeal of Symmetry in Design
Symmetry is the hallmark of a colonial style house, creating a sense of harmony and balance. The facade typically features a centered front door flanked by evenly spaced windows, often adorned with shutters. This orderly aesthetic exudes refinement and curb appeal. Homeowners love how symmetry simplifies landscaping and enhances architectural elegance. Whether it’s a two-story Georgian colonial or a modest Cape Cod, the symmetrical design ensures a polished look that stands the test of time, appealing to those who value classic beauty.
Brick Facade Colonial with Black Shutters
This design showcases a classic red brick colonial-style house with striking black shutters. The two-story structure features a central entryway with a pedimented door, flanked by six-over-six double-hung windows. A steeply pitched gable roof adds height, while twin chimneys anchor the ends. White trim highlights the brickwork, creating a crisp contrast. The symmetrical facade is enhanced by a manicured lawn and low boxwood hedges, offering a timeless look that blends historical charm with modern curb appeal, perfect for suburban settings.
White Clapboard Colonial with Blue Accents
A white clapboard colonial style house radiates brightness and charm. This design incorporates a soft blue front door and matching shutters, adding a pop of color to the crisp white siding. The symmetrical facade includes evenly spaced multi-pane windows and a central entry with a transom window. A medium-pitched roof with dormers adds character, while a brick chimney provides warmth. This design suits coastal or rural settings, offering a fresh, inviting look that balances tradition with a touch of modern flair.
Georgian Colonial with Grand Columns
Inspired by British architecture, this Georgian colonial style house exudes grandeur. The brick facade features a central entrance with towering white columns supporting a pediment. Symmetrical windows with black shutters line the facade, while a hipped roof adds elegance. Decorative quoins at the corners enhance the stately appearance. This design is ideal for large lots, where its imposing yet balanced structure can shine. The formal aesthetic appeals to those seeking a luxurious, historically inspired home with timeless sophistication.
Cape Cod Colonial with Dormer Windows
The Cape Cod colonial style house is a cozy yet elegant option. This single-story design features a steep gable roof with dormer windows, allowing for a spacious attic. The cedar shingle exterior, weathered to a soft gray, complements the black shutters and white trim. A central chimney and paneled front door add authenticity. Perfect for smaller lots, this design combines practicality with charm, offering a warm, inviting aesthetic that evokes New England simplicity and timeless appeal.
Saltbox Colonial with Rustic Charm
The saltbox colonial style house is defined by its distinctive asymmetrical roofline, longer at the back. This two-story design features a weathered clapboard exterior in muted green, paired with white trim and black shutters. The central door is framed by sidelights, and multi-pane windows maintain symmetry. A large stone chimney adds rustic appeal. Ideal for rural settings, this design blends historical authenticity with cozy charm, making it a favorite for those seeking a unique yet traditional colonial home.
Dutch Colonial with Gambrel Roof
Dutch colonial style houses stand out with their gambrel roofs, creating a barn-like silhouette. This design features a cream-colored clapboard exterior with dark green shutters. The flared eaves of the gambrel roof add character, while a central entry with a fanlight door enhances elegance. Symmetrical windows and a brick chimney complete the look. This design suits suburban or rural lots, offering a distinctive yet approachable aesthetic that merges colonial tradition with Dutch architectural influences.
Federal Colonial with Palladian Window
The Federal colonial style house is known for its refined details. This brick design features a symmetrical facade with a central Palladian window above the entrance, adding architectural drama. White trim and black shutters frame the multi-pane windows, while a low-pitched roof with balustrades enhances sophistication. The front door, adorned with decorative molding, welcomes guests. Perfect for urban or suburban settings, this design combines elegance and historical charm, appealing to those who appreciate intricate colonial details.
Southern Colonial with Wraparound Porch
This Southern colonial style house exudes warmth and hospitality. The white brick facade is accented by a sprawling wraparound porch supported by slender columns. Symmetrical windows with dark blue shutters line the two-story structure, while a hipped roof adds grandeur. The central entrance features double doors with sidelights. Ideal for warm climates, this design invites outdoor living, blending classic colonial symmetry with Southern charm, making it perfect for those who love entertaining in style.
Colonial Revival with Arched Entry
The Colonial Revival style reimagines traditional designs with modern flair. This two-story brick house features an arched entryway with a decorative keystone, adding elegance. Symmetrical windows with green shutters and white trim create a polished look. A gable roof with dormers adds height, while twin chimneys provide balance. This design suits suburban neighborhoods, offering a blend of historical authenticity and contemporary comfort, ideal for families seeking a sophisticated yet approachable colonial style home.
Stone Colonial with Tudor Elements
This colonial style house incorporates Tudor influences, featuring a stone facade with half-timbered accents. The symmetrical design includes a central entry with a gabled portico, flanked by diamond-pane windows. A steeply pitched roof with cross gables adds drama, while a massive chimney anchors the structure. Perfect for rural or wooded lots, this design blends colonial symmetry with Tudor rustic charm, creating a striking, timeless aesthetic that appeals to those who love unique architectural fusions.
Coastal Colonial with Widow’s Walk
Designed for seaside settings, this coastal colonial style house features a white shingle exterior with navy blue shutters. The symmetrical facade includes a central door with a transom and sidelights, flanked by multi-pane windows. A flat widow’s walk crowns the low-pitched roof, offering ocean views. Twin chimneys add balance. This design combines colonial elegance with coastal functionality, making it ideal for beachfront properties where homeowners seek a blend of tradition and scenic beauty.
Modern Colonial with Minimalist Details
This modern colonial style house reinterprets tradition with clean lines. The white brick facade features large, unadorned windows and a sleek black door, maintaining symmetry. A flat roof with subtle dormers adds a contemporary edge, while a single chimney provides warmth. The minimalist design emphasizes open space and light, perfect for urban lots. This approach appeals to those who love colonial aesthetics but prefer a streamlined, modern look that prioritizes simplicity and functionality.
Farmhouse Colonial with Red Barn Aesthetic
Blending colonial and farmhouse styles, this design features a red clapboard exterior reminiscent of a barn. The symmetrical facade includes a central door with a simple portico, flanked by white-trimmed windows. A steep gable roof with dormers adds height, while a stone chimney enhances rustic charm. Ideal for rural settings, this colonial style house offers a cozy, welcoming aesthetic that combines historical elegance with farmhouse warmth, perfect for those seeking a countryside retreat.
Colonial Cottage with Picket Fence
This colonial style house is a charming cottage with a white clapboard exterior and black shutters. The single-story design features a central gabled entry and symmetrical windows with flower boxes. A steep roof with dormers adds coziness, while a brick chimney provides warmth. A white picket fence completes the idyllic look. Perfect for small lots or suburban neighborhoods, this design offers a compact yet elegant colonial aesthetic that evokes nostalgia and timeless appeal.
Two-Tone Colonial with Contrasting Trim
This colonial style house features a two-tone facade, with gray clapboard siding and white brick accents. The symmetrical design includes a central door with a fanlight, flanked by black-shuttered windows. A medium-pitched roof with dormers adds character, while twin chimneys provide balance. The contrasting colors create a modern yet classic look, ideal for suburban settings. This design appeals to homeowners who want a colonial home with a fresh, contemporary twist that stands out.
Colonial Manor with Circular Driveway
This grand colonial style house exudes luxury with its pale yellow brick facade. The two-story structure features a central entrance with double doors and a pediment, flanked by tall windows with green shutters. A hipped roof with dormers adds elegance, while twin chimneys anchor the ends. A circular driveway enhances the stately appearance. Perfect for large estates, this design combines colonial symmetry with manor-like sophistication, ideal for those seeking a prestigious, timeless home.
Shingle Style Colonial with Rustic Flair
The shingle style colonial house blends colonial symmetry with rustic textures. This design features a cedar shingle exterior in a natural gray tone, paired with white trim and black shutters. The central entry includes a gabled portico, flanked by multi-pane windows. A gambrel roof adds character, while a stone chimney provides warmth. Ideal for coastal or wooded lots, this design offers a relaxed yet elegant colonial aesthetic that appeals to those who love natural materials.
Colonial with Arched Dormers
This colonial style house stands out with its arched dormer windows, adding a touch of romance. The cream-colored brick facade features a central door with sidelights, flanked by symmetrical windows with navy shutters. A steep gable roof enhances height, while a single chimney adds warmth. The arched dormers create a unique silhouette, perfect for suburban or rural settings. This design combines classic colonial elements with distinctive details, appealing to those seeking a personalized yet traditional home.
Urban Colonial with Rooftop Terrace
Designed for city living, this colonial style house features a red brick facade with white trim. The symmetrical design includes a central entry with a transom, flanked by tall windows with black shutters. A flat roof with a rooftop terrace maximizes space, while a single chimney adds charm. This design suits urban lots, offering a blend of colonial elegance and modern functionality, ideal for homeowners who want a sophisticated home in a bustling environment.
Colonial with Mixed Materials
This colonial style house combines brick and clapboard for a dynamic facade. The lower level features red brick, while the upper level is clad in white clapboard. Symmetrical windows with green shutters maintain balance, and a central door with a pediment adds elegance. A gable roof with dormers enhances height, while twin chimneys provide warmth. Perfect for suburban settings, this design offers a fresh take on colonial aesthetics, appealing to those who love architectural variety.
Colonial with Bay Windows
This colonial style house incorporates bay windows for added charm. The white clapboard facade features a central door with sidelights, flanked by symmetrical bay windows with black shutters. A medium-pitched roof with dormers adds character, while a brick chimney provides warmth. The bay windows create cozy interior spaces, perfect for suburban or rural lots. This design combines colonial symmetry with inviting details, appealing to those who want a warm, functional home with classic appeal.
Colonial with Stone Accents
This colonial style house features a gray clapboard exterior with stone accents around the base and entryway. The symmetrical facade includes a central door with a gabled portico, flanked by multi-pane windows with white shutters. A steep gable roof with dormers adds height, while a stone chimney enhances rustic charm. Ideal for wooded or rural settings, this design blends colonial elegance with natural textures, perfect for those seeking a grounded, timeless aesthetic.
Conclusion
Colonial style houses offer a perfect blend of historical charm and modern versatility, making them a timeless choice for homeowners. From classic brick Georgians to cozy Cape Cods, the 34 designs explored in this article showcase the diversity and elegance of colonial architecture. Whether you prefer rustic stone accents, vibrant colors, or minimalist modern twists, there’s a colonial style house to suit every taste. Let these inspiring designs guide you toward creating your dream home, where tradition and comfort harmoniously coexist.