Blog » Home Styles » 14 Bungalow Style House Exterior Designs

14 Bungalow Style House Exterior Designs

November 9, 2021

Brick&batten has had the privilege of designing many a bungalow style house, common in the midwestern and western United States. We’ve put together a list of our favorites, in different locations and with design ideas to inspire you.

If you have a bungalow style home and are looking for new paint color ideas or modern exterior updates, our designers can help you achieve the curb appeal of your dreams. Get started with our virtual exterior design services today!

white bungalow with wooden columns and walkway stepping stones

What is a bungalow style house?

A bungalow style house is either one story or has a second story built into a sloped roof, typically with dormer windows. This style of home started appearing in the United States in the early 1900s. Bungalows are most commonly associated, in America, with the Arts and Crafts design era. However, other homes, like beach cottages, are also considered bungalows. Due to their small size, bungalow houses were originally built as vacation or second homes, but the approachable style became popular during the midwest housing boom through the 1930s.

before and after white bungalow with light stain wood garage doors and off center door

Bungalows Around the World

The term bungalow is derived from the Hindi word bangla, which means ‘belonging to Bengal’ and refers to a type of cottage built for early European settlers in Bengal. Around the world, bungalow style homes are popular but often carry different meanings. In Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa, for example, bungalow is a term used interchangeably with ‘single-family home.’ These homes are often large and owned by wealthy families. By contrast, in the United States, much of Europe, and Australia, bungalow refers to a particular style of home and is usually much smaller.

white bungalow with black trim, wood columns on the porch and stone walkway

#1 // Traditional Bungalow

This adorable bungalow received an upgrade in James Hardie siding painted white with black trim. The extended wide porch laid with flagstone makes the home feel more inviting and open. The combination of materials adds to the bungalow’s natural feel.

white bungalow with dormer windows and a sloped black roof

#2 // Bungalow with Second Story Porch

Many bungalows have a second story or a half story or loft, but it’s rare to have a second-story porch. This unique detail gives the home design above visual interest while adding some outdoor living space. The semi-enclosed porch on the main floor is also a bungalow-specific characteristic.

before and after of a white bungalow house with garage and large porch

#3 // Bungalow Ranch

This bungalow style home has a sloped roof typical of the era. It has a little bit larger footprint though, like a ranch. Framing the porch in natural wood columns and beams helps highlight the roof as a design feature.

after image of a white bungalow style house with sloped roof, large porch and dormer windows

#4 // Gambrel Roof Bungalow Home

This bungalow house has a gambrel-style roof, which is more commonly seen in the northeastern United States. The dormer windows and wide veranda are characteristic of this style of home. Bungalow style homes were often built with materials available at the time, so natural features like wood beams and stone are common. Using these materials in updating a bungalow house is a great way to bring in modern touches that still honor the home’s architectural roots.

before and after gray bungalow with second story over the garage

#5 // California Bungalow

Some California and airplane-style bungalows often have a second story only above the garage. This floor was traditionally one open room and used as a summer sleeping area with windows for air circulation.

before and after white bungalow with metal porch roof and wood columns

#6 // Side View of a Bungalow Style House

This is a side-view of a bungalow home with a cozy side porch and back sunroom. Bungalows with large porches might be partially or fully closed. They extend the square footage of the home and create more usable living space, depending on the season.

before and after of a milwaukee bungalow with side gables and large porch

#7 // Milwaukee Bungalow

The Milwaukee bungalow home features a gable perpendicular to the street, on the side of the house (as pictured above). In a Chicago bungalow, on the other hand, the gable is facing the street. The home is also narrow, which is characteristic of midwestern bungalows, and features a large open porch.

before and after of tiny bungalow painted gray with detatched garage

#8 // Cottage Bungalow

This small bungalow with a detached garage is more characteristic of the earlier style. It did not include an upper floor or extra square footage. A home with this small footprint will have to use its space creatively — think built-ins, shelves, and compact closets. Design with a lot of function.

white bungalow with 2 dormer windows in the sloped roof and detatched garage with side sun porch

#9 // Cape Cod or Bungalow?

Cape Cod homes have many overlapping characteristics, like sloped roofs and window dormers. However, bungalows differ in their use of natural, locally made materials and a low-profile chimney.

beach cottage style bungalow with large porch and dormer windows in second story

#10 // Coastal Bungalow

This coastal bungalow gives off a beachy vibe with its wide-open porch. The raised basement has windows for extra natural lighting. This is a feature found in later bungalows for a more open and airy feel.

two options of digital renderings in gray and white of a large ultimate bungalow

#11 // Ultimate Bungalow

Newer-built modern homes in the bungalow style are often much larger than their traditional counterparts. With larger square footage, these ultimate bungalows combine the aesthetic style of a bungalow home with the modern desire for wide open space.

small white bungalow with small porch and curved porch gable roof

#12 // Curved Gable Roof

This bungalow home has a curved gable roof over the porch, creating unique visual interest. This home gives off more of a Cape Cod vibe with its use of white building materials, but adding a stone porch and wood shutters brings in the cozy, earthy bungalow feel.

before and after of a bungalow with basement garage and large porch steps

#13 // Raised Bungalow

Raised bungalow homes, sometimes called split-levels, are a unique style that has a basement. This particular home also has a lower-level garage. Many bungalow style houses in midwestern cities are narrow to fit the lots and do not have space for a side or detached garage.