Types of Houses: 30+ Popular Types of Houses with Pictures and Their Meaning

In this article, we’ll discuss over 30 popular house styles with their explanations and pictures. We’ll cover the basics of what a house is, and then dive into different home styles to improve your vocabulary words in English. From cottages to mansions, we’ll explore the unique features and cultural influences of each house type.

List of Houses Names

Here is the list of house styles in English with brief explanations:

Names of Houses

Barn
Apartment building (U.S) /Block of Flats (U.K)
Bungalow
Cabin
Camper van
Castle
Chalet
Colonial
Condominium/condo
Container house
Cottage house
Courtyard house
Detached house
Dormitory/ dorm
Farmhouse
Gable front house
Hut
Igloo
Lighthouse
Manor
Mansion
Mobile home/ trailer
Semi-detached houses
Skyscraper/high rise
Split-level
Tent
Terraced houses
Tower
Treehouse
Villa
Hotel
Octagon house

Styles of Houses with Example Sentences

Barn

People were using a barn structure as a house and a stable at the same time, gaining all the benefits of living in close quarters with animals. They were simple to build and customize to an owner’s needs with a few different styles depending on the region.

Example: The sheep were penned in behind the barn.

Apartment building (U.S) /Block of Flats (U.K)

A suite of rooms forming one residence, typically in a building containing a number of these.

Example: There’s a nine-storey apartment building next to the bank.

Bungalow

A low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.

Example: I share a bungalow with my nan and our pet dog Ben.

Cabin

A small shelter or house, made of wood and situated in a wild or remote area.

Example: He showed her to a small cabin.

Camper van

A campervan (or camper van), sometimes referred to as a camper, or a caravanette is a self-propelled vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodation. The term mainly describes vans that have been fitted out, often with a coach-built body for use as accommodation.

Example: We bought a camper van so we could go away whenever the fancy took us.

Castle

A large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.

Example: They had to approach the castle through thick swamps.

Chalet

A wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps.

Example: The two-bedroom chalet is in good condition.

Colonial

The Colonial home is one of the most popular styles of home in the United States. The homes are symmetrical, or square, and feature an entry door that can be found in the middle of the front of the home. The style also features two windows on either side of the entry door, with five windows on the second floor, with one directly above the entry door.

Example: We want to live in a colonial house.

Condominium/condo

A condominium, often shortened to condo, in the United States and in most Canadian provinces, is a type of living space similar to an apartment but independently sellable and therefore regarded as real estate.

Example: They rent out their condominium to skiers during the winter.

Container house

Container homes made from the steel shipping containers that you see carrying goods everywhere on trains, trucks, and ships.

Example: They are selling container house in the market.

Cottage house

A cottage is, typically, a small house. It may carry the connotation of being an old or old-fashioned building. In modern usage, a cottage is usually a modest, often cosy dwelling, typically in a rural or semi-rural location.

Example: Since buying the cottage, house prices had started on a steady descent.

Courtyard house

A courtyard house is a type of house—often a large house—where the main part of the building is disposed around a central courtyard.

Example: We based our proposal upon a traditional Chinese courtyard house typology.

Detached house

A house that is not joined to any other house.

Example: We live in a three – bedroom detached house in the suburbs.

Dormitory/ dorm

A dormitory (often abbreviated to dorm) is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people such as boarding school, high school, college or university students.

Example: He was reading a math textbook in the dormitory.

Farmhouse

A farmhouse is a building that serves as the primary residence in a rural or agricultural setting.

Example: The only access to the farmhouse is across the fields.

Gable front house

A gable front house, also known as a gable front house or front gable house, is a vernacular (or “folk”) house type in which the gable is facing the street or entrance side of the house. Many gablefront houses contain front porches.

Example: I really like a gable front house.

Hut

A hut is a small house with only one or two rooms, especially one which is made of wood, mud, grass, or stones.

Example: The hut is in the midst of the forest.

Igloo

An igloo, also known as a snow house or snow hut, is a type of shelter built of snow, typically built when the snow is easy to compact.

Example: May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart.

Lighthouse

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Example: A lighthouse marks the entrance to the harbour.

Manor

A manor house or fortified manor-house is a country house, which has historically formed the centre of a manor; the principal house of a landed estate.

Example: It was the quintessence of an English manor house.

Mansion

A mansion is a large dwelling house. Manor comes from the same root.

Example: The mansion had an atmosphere of genteel elegance and decay.

Mobile home/ trailer

A mobile home (also trailer, trailer home, house trailer, static caravan, residential caravan) is a prefabricated structure, built in a factory on a permanently attached chassis before being transported to site (either by being towed or on a trailer). Used as permanent homes, or for holiday or temporary accommodation, they are left often permanently or semi-permanently in one place, but can be moved, and may be required to move from time to time for legal reasons.

Example: In the summer her mobile home heats up like an oven.

Semi-detached houses

A semi-detached house (often abbreviated to semi) is a single family dwelling house built as one of a pair that share one common wall. Often, each house’s layout is a mirror image of the other.

Example: From the darkness between the semi-detached houses across the street came the familiar figure of Jack Stone.

Skyscraper/high rise

A skyscraper is a continuously habitable high-rise building that has over 40 floors and is taller than approximately 150 m.

Example: From the top of the skyscraper the cars below us looked like insects.

Split-level

A split-level home (also called a tri-level home) is a style of house in which the floor levels are staggered. There are typically two short sets of stairs, one running upward to a bedroom level, and one going downward toward a basement area.

Example: There John built his own split-level house with electricity and plumbing.

Tent

A portable shelter made of cloth, supported by one or more poles and stretched tight by cords or loops attached to pegs driven into the ground.

Example: We just need a tent supported on a rigid framework.

Terraced houses

A house built as part of a continuous row in a uniform style; a row house.

Example: His home is two terraced houses knocked together, each the mirror image of the other.

Tower

A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures.

Example: The tower is fifty feet in height.

Tree house

A tree house, tree fort or tree shed is a platform or building constructed around, next to or among the trunk or branches of one or more mature trees while above ground level. Tree houses can be used for recreation, work space, habitation, and observation.

Example: I spent hours in our tree house when I was a kid.

Villa

A large and luxurious country house in its own grounds.

Example: We are quartered in a beautiful villa.

Hotel

An establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists.

Example: The hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests.

Octagon house

Octagon houses were a unique house style briefly popular in the 1850s in the United States and Canada. They are characterised by an octagonal (eight-sided) plan, and often feature a flat roof and a veranda all round.

Example: I think octagon houses were a unique house style.

Types of Houses

Detached Houses

When it comes to types of houses, detached houses are a popular choice for many people. They offer privacy, space, and the freedom to customize your living space. In this section, we will discuss three types of detached houses: bungalows, cottages, and villas.

Bungalow

A bungalow is a small, one-story house with a low-pitched roof and a wide front porch. It is often associated with a relaxed and casual lifestyle. Bungalows are popular in warmer climates because of their open floor plans and large windows that allow for plenty of natural light. They are also a popular choice for retirees or those who want to downsize.

Cottage

A cottage is a small, cozy house with a traditional, rustic feel. Cottages are often located in rural or semi-rural areas and are known for their charm and character. They are typically one or two stories tall and have steeply pitched roofs. Cottages often have gardens or small yards, which make them a great option for those who enjoy spending time outdoors.

Villa

A villa is a large, luxurious house that is often associated with wealth and prestige. Villas are popular in Mediterranean countries, where they are known for their grandeur and elegance. They are typically two or three stories tall and have large, spacious rooms. Villas often have swimming pools, gardens, and other luxurious amenities, which make them a great option for those who want to live in style.

Semi-Detached Houses

Semi-detached houses are a type of housing where two houses are built side by side and share a common wall. They are also known as duplexes in some countries.

Semi-detached houses are a great option for families who want more space than an apartment or a townhouse but don’t want to spend as much money as they would on a detached house. They are also a good choice for people who want to live in a house but don’t want to take care of a large yard.

One of the advantages of living in a semi-detached house is that they are typically more affordable than detached houses. They also offer more privacy than living in an apartment building or a townhouse. Additionally, semi-detached houses usually have larger yards than townhouses or apartments.

However, semi-detached houses do have some drawbacks. For example, noise can be an issue due to the shared wall. Additionally, the layout of a semi-detached house may be less flexible than a detached house since the shared wall limits the placement of windows and doors.

Terraced Houses

Terraced houses are a popular type of housing in England and other parts of Europe. They are medium-density houses that share side walls with neighboring houses. In the United States and Canada, they are known as row houses or row homes.

One of the main features of a terraced house is the shared wall, also known as a party wall, on either side of the property. This means that residents will have neighbors on both sides of their home. However, they also have a private rear garden or patio, which provides outdoor space for relaxation and entertainment.

Terraced houses come in different types, including mid-terraced houses and end-terraced houses. Mid-terraced houses have neighbors on both sides, while end-terraced houses only have one neighbor. Some terraced houses have a basement or cellar, which can be used for storage or additional living space.

Living in a terraced house has its pros and cons. On the one hand, residents can enjoy the benefits of a close-knit community and easy access to amenities such as shops and public transportation. On the other hand, they may have to deal with noise from neighbors and limited privacy.

Flats or Apartments

When it comes to types of houses, flats or apartments are a popular choice for many people. They are often more affordable than houses, and they can be found in many different sizes and styles. In this section, we will explore three different types of flats or apartments: studio apartments, loft apartments, and duplexes.

Studio Apartment

A studio apartment, also known as an efficiency apartment, is a small apartment that typically consists of one room that serves as the living room, bedroom, and kitchen. In other words, there are no separate rooms in a studio apartment. This type of apartment is ideal for individuals or couples who don’t need a lot of space and want to save money on rent.

Loft Apartment

A loft apartment is a type of apartment that is typically located in a converted industrial or commercial building. These apartments are known for their open floor plans, high ceilings, and large windows. They often have exposed brick or ductwork, which gives them a unique and trendy look. Loft apartments are great for people who want a modern and spacious living space.

Duplex

A duplex is a type of apartment that consists of two separate living spaces that share a common wall. Each living space usually has its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom. Duplexes are great for families or roommates who want some privacy but still want to live close to each other. They are also a good option for people who want to live in a house but can’t afford one.

Specialized Houses

In addition to the common types of houses, there are also specialized houses that serve specific purposes. Here are a few examples:

Farmhouse

A farmhouse is a house that is typically located on a farm and is used as a residence for the farmer and their family. These houses are usually quite large and feature a lot of open space, with plenty of room for storage and livestock. Some common features of farmhouses include:

Wrap-around porches
Gabled roofs
Large kitchens
Fireplaces

Castle

A castle is a large, fortified building that was traditionally used as a residence for royalty and nobility. Today, many castles have been converted into museums or hotels, while others are still used as private residences. Some common features of castles include:

Turrets
Moats
Drawbridges
Great halls

Mobile Home

A mobile home, also known as a manufactured home, is a house that is built in a factory and then transported to its final location. These houses are typically less expensive than traditional homes and are often used as a more affordable housing option. Some common features of mobile homes include:

Vinyl siding
Metal roofs
Skirting
Small decks or porches

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different styles of homes?

There are many different styles of homes, each with their own unique features and characteristics. Some of the most common styles include colonial, Victorian, ranch, contemporary, and craftsman. Colonial homes are characterized by their symmetrical design and typically feature two or three stories. Victorian homes are known for their ornate details and often have multiple gables and turrets. Ranch homes are typically one-story and have a simple, open floor plan. Contemporary homes are known for their clean lines and minimalist design, while craftsman homes are often characterized by their use of natural materials and attention to detail.

What are the names of different types of houses?

There are many different types of houses, each with their own unique names and features. Some of the most common types include bungalow, cottage, townhouse, duplex, and apartment. Bungalows are typically small, one-story homes with a low-pitched roof and a front porch. Cottages are often characterized by their cozy, rustic charm and may have thatched roofs or exposed beams. Townhouses are typically multi-story homes that share walls with other units. Duplexes are similar to townhouses, but typically have only two units. Apartments are typically multi-unit buildings with individual living spaces.

What are some common features of houses?

While homes can vary widely in terms of their style and design, there are some common features that many houses share. For example, most homes have a kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. Many homes also have a garage or carport, as well as a backyard or outdoor living space. Additionally, many homes have a front porch or entryway, as well as windows and doors that allow for natural light and ventilation.

What is the difference between a one-story and two-story house?

The main difference between a one-story and two-story house is the number of floors. One-story houses have a single level, while two-story houses have two levels. In general, one-story houses are often preferred by people who have mobility issues or who prefer a more open floor plan, while two-story houses are often preferred by people who want more space or who want to separate their living spaces from their sleeping spaces. However, there are many factors to consider when choosing between a one-story and two-story house, including your budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences.