What is a Colonial House? Definition and Design Examples of Colonial-Style Houses

There’s something timelessly classic about a colonial home. As you can probably guess by the name, colonial architecture rose in popularity thanks to some of America’s first settlers. The fusion of European styles in U.S. led to colonial homes that vary in architecture. That’s why today, we have Spanish, French, Dutch, and British colonials scattered all throughout. But exactly what is a colonial house? We’ll go over some signatures of this style and share some design examples below.

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What is a colonial house?

Wondering what is a colonial house? Colonial-style homes feature a historic architecture style that celebrates early European influence in America. Many colonial homes sport symmetry, a rectangular shape, and small porches. Some have columns and use brick for a grand appearance.

Many colonial homes display symmetry

One telltale sign of a colonial home is balance and symmetry. Many colonial homes display nearly perfect symmetry, but some may have a slightly-off centered door. Side note: We love how this home features real shutters, latch and all. When applied correctly in the right size, shutters can really add balance and symmetry to a home.

Dutch colonial homes show off gambrel roofs

Like we mentioned earlier, colonial homes typically feature inspiration from specific European regions. Dutch colonial homes typically have gambrel roofs, which is a roof with two sides that display a shallower slope above a steeper one. This home pictured above could actually be described as a Dutch colonial revival home because it is a newer build. If you own a Dutch colonial home, you can really lean into the style even more by opting for a stylish dutch door.

These homes usually feature a window above the door

Going back to symmetry, many colonial homes sport a set of windows a few feet above the front door. This varies from a transom window, which usually only rests a few inches above a door’s frame. Additionally, colonial homes also usually feature equal amounts of windows on either side of the house.

You can spot a French colonial by its roof and windows

Take a stroll through neighborhoods in New Orleans, and you’ll see many French colonial houses. These homes usually have a steeply pitched roof and wide overhangs, and all four sides of the roof slope down from the center pitch. French colonial homes often feature tall, skinny windows. The home above even has French doors on either side.

Wood and brick are the most common building materials

Historic colonial homes, especially colonial farmhouses, are usually built from easy-to-source materials like brick and wood. While wood siding is a timeless building material, some historic homes with wood siding might need new siding altogether. However, you can still select a replacement siding that matches the home’s style while adding a modern twist, like in the example above.

Their rectangular shape makes them great add-on candidates

Thanks to their simplistic structure, these box-shaped homes are very easy to add on to. Most colonial homeowners choose to build additions on either side of the front, which prevents stealing space from the backyard and further compliments the symmetry. When building an add-on to a historic brick colonial home, you might find it hard to color match brick. If this is the case, you may consider painting your brick.

Spanish colonials often feature clay tile roofs

Spanish colonial homes stand out the most from other colonial homes, and this architecture style is very popular in areas with warmer climates like California. These homes commonly display clay tile roofs and adobe outer walls. You can also usually spot an arch or two on these homes, whether that’s above a door or a window.

Many colonial homes have small porches

Aside from French colonial homes and colonial farmhouses, most homes built in this historic style only display a small porch or no porch at all. However, you can easily add one on with the help of an exterior designer and some trustworthy contractors. With their expertise, you can even make a portico blend seamlessly into a front porch design.

A modern colonial home

Now that we’ve covered some of the signatures of colonial-style houses, it’s time to show off a few more design examples.

First up is this modernized colonial home. Painting the brick instantly brings this property up to date. A new front door, light fixtures, and porch columns also add a modern touch. Our designers made the garage stand out as a separate entity with dark, interesting garage doors and industrial lights in an attempt to play up the home’s stunning symmetry. The copper awning and wooden fence add warmth and a classic touch to an updated exterior.

A classic colonial color scheme

A colonial home is such a timeless structure, so why not honor its beauty with some classic tones? Off-whites, pale beiges, and grays are all safe paint choices for historic colonial-style houses. Before painting your historic home, check with your city or home owner’s association about regulations in your area.

Skip the shutters

This homeowner wanted simple. Sometimes, shutters overwhelm colonial-style houses with numerous windows. Such was the case with this one. In fact, many colonials feature shutters that aren’t quite the right size. If this is the case, you can choose to remove the shutters altogether and not even replace them.

Shingle siding for the win

Many colonial homes feature shingle siding. We’ve found painting is one way to honor a home’s history and style while updating the look. This home was missing a base to keep it looking grounded. One way to fix that is by adding a stone watertable or trim board before your home meets the landscape.

Paint it white

If you’re considering updating your colonial home with a new coat of paint, white paint is usually a safe bet. Some of our favorite off-white paints for outdoor applications are by Benjamin Moore, including Swiss Coffee, Simply White, and White Dove.

Highlight the entrance with a porch gable

Houses built between the end of the Great Depression and the end of World War II are known as minimal traditional homes. These homes were built on a budget, so they feature a simplistic frame with so much potential. Since most of these houses also display colonial characteristics, like symmetry and a centered door, adding architectural details can play into that look. Notice how the porch gable with layered architectural details makes this home look more colonial!

The bottom line on colonial-style houses

Colonial-style houses are steeped with history and incredibly versatile. They make great canvases for add-ons, and they can also look great with a modern flair. Overall, there is something timeless and classic about a colonial home that is not easily forgotten. We hope this post answered the question ‘what is a colonial house’ and provided you with plenty of inspiration for your own renovation project.

An exterior home design can help you reimagine your colonial home’s potential. Order a design online by brick&batten to get started on your curb appeal project today!

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