Many people have a vision for their dream home, whether it’s a center-hall colonial or a classic example of mid-century modern architecture. Choosing the right style for your home is not as simple as finding a picture you like in a magazine. However, even if you don’t know much about architecture, design, or home styles, you can find a style that matches your needs.

Before you decide on a style for your home, you’ll want to consider factors such as your lifestyle, aesthetic preferences and your building lot. By carefully evaluating your needs and consulting with your architect, you should be able to find a home style that works for you and your family.

Common Architectural Styles

You can choose from a variety of architectural styles when designing your new home. Some popular options include:

• Cape Cod
• Colonial
• Contemporary
• French country
• Georgian
• Greek revival or neo-classical
• Modern
• Ranch
• Spanish/Mediterranean
• Tudor
• Victorian.

Choosing a Style

You may know the difference between a Victorian and a colonial, but how do you know which one is right for you? Depending on your budget, you may decide to work with an architect. Style and design are areas of expertise for architects, and a professional will know how to help you determine which design best suits you.

Whether or not you’ve hired an architect to design your house, you’ll want to develop some ideas about what kind of home you want. To generate ideas, you can bookmark web pages, tear images from magazines and check out library books. Think about homes you’ve visited in the past, and what you liked about them. You may also get inspiration from past vacations, movies and television.

Design Aspects to Consider

You will want to consider a number of elements before you settle on an architectural style for your new home. These include:

• Building techniques. If you are interested in green architecture (sustainable designs), you may find that some styles work better than others.
• Building lot. What kind of home will look best on your lot? Will a traditional colonial work, or should you go with more modern architecture?
• Your existing furniture. How will your existing furniture look in different styles of homes? Do you want a style that works with your current furnishings, or are you prepared to purchase new items?
• Your family’s living needs. Do you prefer large, open spaces, or smaller, distinct rooms? Do you need a large dining room for entertaining? Will accessing a second floor become difficult as you get older?