Category: Outdoor Space

Between the symmetry and rich history, it’s easy to see why homes from the colonial era are still so beloved. Even if you don’t have a fondness for historic homes, this architectural trend is far from dying off.

You can still find colonial home plans inspired by architecture from centuries past. Many of these homes combine the best of both worlds. That is, contemporary luxury and historic style.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a home with an up-to-date interior hidden by a stunning brick facade, it’s never been easier to make this vision a reality. Keep reading for the best colonial house ideas that will show you how to preserve your home’s traditional charm in the modern era.

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1. Go for a Brick Exterior

Colonial houses have a unique charm that can easily be added to with a few thoughtful interior design upgrades. If your colonial house has brick exterior walls, you can think about using the exposed brick to create a visual impact – consider painting the wall for a color pop or use it as an accent feature in other rooms. Another draft-proofing idea is to install colonial window shutters, which will add to the colonial aesthetic while keeping your property warm.

Add colonial furniture and finishes like wicker chairs and raw wood pieces throughout your house for a rustic feeling. Whatever ideas you pursue, be sure to bring an element of colonial style throughout the house for a genuinely cozy atmosphere.

2. Don’t Forget About The Covered Front Porch

Are you looking for ways to breathe new life into your colonial-style home? One of the best ideas is to add a covered front porch. It’s an uncomplicated way to instantly inject some character and charm into your house’s façade.

Not only that but covered front porches offer a place of refuge from the heat of summer and the chill of winter – adding functionality to your design. With architectural elements like framed panels, posts, columns, balustrades, and railings, you can have fun experimenting with different elements that reflect your individual taste while giving your home a unique feel.

3. Colonial House With Composite Elements

If you’re looking to modernize an old colonial house, there are some great decorating ideas out there. Homeowners can give their modern colonial house an updated look while still preserving that classic, rustic feel.

Composite materials like wood and stone help maintain the classic appearance, while modern upgrades like contemporary kitchen appliances create subtle modern touches throughout the home. Warm color palettes are perfect for a modern colonial house as they keep true to the heritage of the home without sacrificing style or elegance.

Complementing your modern colonial house with a bungalow roof will provide it with some charming character and also boosts curb appeal from every angle. With simple modern touches and traditional design elements, any modern colonial house can be brought up to date in no time!

4. Add A Walkpath With Stone Pavers

When trying to spruce up the look of your colonial house, one fun and creative idea is to create a walking path with beautiful stone pavers. Not only are they great for adding a touch of character to your outdoor walkways, but they can also be the perfect way to direct guests where you want them to go.

Pavers come in a wide range of colors and styles, making it easy to customize your walk path for any occasion! With careful consideration and thought put into your walk path design, you’ll have an amazing-looking colonial house in no time.

5. Install A Traditional Picket Fence

If you’re searching for ideas to spruce up your colonial-style home, traditional picket fences are a timeless classic. Not only are they a great way to add curb appeal to your home, but they also create a wonderful traditional look that adds character and charm.

To take it one step further, you can paint the picket fence in bright colors such as red or yellow, or plant flowers around the feet of the fence to give it a pop of color.

6. Maintain A Grass Lawn

If you are looking to maintain the classic look of a white colonial house, there are plenty of creative options to consider. A simple but powerful statement piece can be achieved through a grass yard surrounding your home. This timeless and natural design can withstand all types of weather, while also providing a lush canvas for flower beds and shrubs.

To complement such a lawn, focus on adding some color with other features such as fencing or window frames, or perhaps planting some greenery along the walkway. In addition, working in subtle details such as flowerpots and decorative items can help maintain the traditional charm of your white colonial house and ensure a look that will never go out of style!

7. Pick A Warm White Exterior

An excellent place to begin when considering potential wall exteriors for a colonial house is by picking a warm white color. This adds a touch of old-Bell-charm while also keeping the overall look modern. Incorporate this warm, neutral palette in your landscaping as well, adding shrubs or trees that will complement the warm tones and complete the look.

When decorating inside the house, go for warm furniture such as cozy couches and inviting armchairs in natural fabrics – getting creative with color accents from pillows and artwork to curtains too. White colonial houses can be beautiful no matter where you live, so try these ideas for achieving a warm yet stylish look!

8. Opt For Shiplap Walls

A shiplap wall exterior is a popular design trend for white colonial houses that add an eye-catching yet subtle texture to the home. To execute this look properly, shiplap can be installed horizontally or vertically, depending on what catches your eye.

White accents also bring out the textured appearance of the shiplap and create dimension – think of it as adding pops of white within your shiplap pattern! Have fun with colors and materials too – why not add some black shutters or play around with light fixtures? Even small touches can give your white colonial house a completely unique design.

9. Contemporary Colonial-Style

Combining contemporary and colonial house exteriors can bring a unique flair to your home. Instead of adhering to a strict modern or colonial style, why not take elements from both, while staying true to the home’s historical origin? For example, you could pair contemporary materials such as stainless steel and glass with a colonial-style brick wall.

Also, consider installing a minimalist porch with contemporary finishes. Both of these elements will provide an unexpected visual contrast that is sure to turn your house into an eye-catching display of contemporary meets colonial living!

10. Consider Landscaping

When it comes to colonial house ideas, think outside the box while remaining true to the colonial style! Consider adding a beautiful garden landscape to your colonial home – include an array of vibrant flowers, and contrasting foliage and add seating to create an outdoor oasis.

Not only will this give you a great place for entertaining guests or a peaceful reflection nature lovers are sure to appreciate, but it will also bring a timeless charm and added value to your colonial house. The combination of traditional colonial architecture and modern landscaping is sure to be breathtaking.

11. Natural Stone Walls For A Rustic Look

If you are looking for a unique exterior design for your colonial home, consider incorporating stone walls. Whether it be made from local boulders or manufactured stone veneer, the addition of exterior stone walls to a colonial house can make any residence look striking and timeless.

For a more rustic look, create the exterior walls with boulders that were salvaged from in and around your property; alternatively, you can give your home a more contemporary feel with carefully designed manufactured stone veneer.

With the exterior of your home done in this fashion, you will have an amazing look that will make your home stand out while remaining true to its colonial charm.

12. Add Posts To Your Patio

If you’re looking for unique colonial house ideas, consider incorporating patio posts into your design. This is a great way to differentiate your colonial home from the rest and create a truly personalized space.

Adding patio posts can be done either as part of an extended patio outdoors or inside near a window. Posts adorned with opulent fabrics or delightful flowers can truly upgrade your patio to star-level quality. And don’t forget added comfort!

Patio seating with an array of lush cushions will not only make you feel luxuriously cozy, but will also create an inviting atmosphere for gatherings and relaxation. Make this patio dream come true with patio posts — and watch your colonial home come to life in beautiful new ways!

13. Hard Wood Door Accent

When it comes to colonial house ideas, give your front entrance an update with a wooden door. Or opt for a more modern look and choose one made of steel. This can breathe life into the look of the colonial home while still maintaining its historic ancestry.

Accessorize with a knocker and coordinating trim colors to complete the look. Add window boxes for an elegant touch, or consider hanging pots and plants to draw attention to the entryway. With these colonial house ideas, it’s easy to create a stylish entrance your visitors will appreciate.

“Marseilles, Barcelona, Trieste, Istanbul—each romances the Mediterranean in its own fashion, mostly by embracing the sea in sweeping C-shaped bays that date back to antiquity.” – Andre Aciman

The Mediterranean region encompasses all countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea. Regardless of location, many of theses homes share similar architectural characteristics that began emerging in the 10th and 11th centuries.

Mediterranean home design includes rough stucco exterior finishes, tile roofs, central courtyards, and a warm color palette.

Mediterranean architectural style started appearing in the United States in the early 1900s and slowly became a popular house plan in warmer climates.

It continues to be a favorite home style in Florida, California, and throughout the Southwest. Look through this gallery and find out why the warm, welcoming design of a Mediterranean home may be the best for you.

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1. Explore Colorful Accents in Mediterranean Homes

While the basic color palette of Mediterranean houses is traditionally neutral—with white, off-white, natural wood, and terra cotta finishes—the details are usually colorful.

Neutral toned tile floors are often decorated with colorful tile accents and borders. Cobalt blue, mustard gold, earthy red, and hunter green all appear frequently in Mediterranean inspired textiles and décor.

Of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules on colors you can use on your Mediterranean house. Bright yellow, green, or even hot pink can be used to turn a traditional Mediterranean home into a festive hacienda.

If bright colors aren’t your thing, pastel colors also work well with the simplicity of a Mediterranean home plan. Muted apricot, soft coral, mint green, and powder blue are all impressive Mediterranean house paint colors.

2. Personalize Your Mediterranean Exterior

Columns and rounded arches are hallmarks of Mediterranean style. In addition, detailed metal work adorns balconies, windows, and courtyards.

Each of these Mediterranean architecture features can be tweaked to reflect your own style instead of directly mirroring classic Mediterranean details. Add shutters or stone accents to further personalize your Mediterranean house.

Many people feel that the best part of a Mediterranean home is the outdoor living space.

A strong connection between the indoors and the outdoors is not only valued in warm climates; it is a sought-after feature by many homebuyers. Further increase your outdoor space appeal by adding a fire pit to your patio, a fountain in your courtyard, and a canopy over the outdoor dining table.

Don’t skimp on landscaping, as a colorful, healthy garden holds true to the luxury resort feeling of many Mediterranean homes.

Palm trees, flowering shrubs, and manicured hedges also improve the view through your windows as you relax inside. Mediterranean inspired landscaping also greatly enhances your home’s curb appeal.

3. Embrace Luxury in Mediterranean Home Design

Mediterranean homes fit well into a luxurious lifestyle. Mimicking the sprawling Mediterranean villas in Europe, Mediterranean homes built in the United States exude a leisurely vibe reminiscent of a seaside holiday.

Warm wood finishes are a must in any Mediterranean design, but in the luxury home they are likely made of mahogany, teak, or other high-end lumber.

Luxury Mediterranean house exteriors often feature turrets, wrap-around first floor porticos, and multiple balconies.

Luxury tile flooring is not usually limited to the kitchen, as travertine and other high-end floor surfaces are durable and beautiful. Bright, colorful tiles are everywhere now, and painted blue-and-white Moroccan tiles are a classic Mediterranean house feature. With a generous budget, these tile accents look amazing used in both your indoor and outdoor space.

4. Designing Waterfront Mediterranean Homes

Because every original Mediterranean property is located around the sea, the waterfront is the perfect place to build a Mediterranean home. If you are building by a body of water, be sure your home plan includes plenty of large windows to capture the view. Make sure that your landscaping doesn’t block the line of sight from any of your windows.

Instead of a traditional interior Mediterranean courtyard, you may prefer a courtyard that turns into a rear patio to make the most of your waterside access. If you build a dock or boathouse, keep to Mediterranean style. Use the same colors and finishes that you use on your home’s exterior. Link the structures with a brick or stone pathway if possible.

Don’t be alarmed if you see a Mediterranean house gecko in your courtyard or even inside the garage. They are a beneficial species that help keep your beautiful Mediterranean villa free from insects. They are such common creatures in warm climates that you often find wall art, sculptures, or other artistic representations inside Mediterranean homes.

5. Modern Touches in Mediterranean Houses

At first glance, Mediterranean home design may not seem like it merges well with modern décor. However, because both design styles focus on simplicity, they go well together.

The modern Mediterranean house elevates an open floor plan that works well for families and entertaining. Modern Mediterranean homes magnify outdoor living space into newly inspired indoor-outdoor living areas.

While a modern Mediterranean home plan usually includes balconies with metal railings, they are updated. Instead of traditional metal scrolls and curves, a modern Mediterranean house will have straight, angular railings.

Instead of arched doors and windows, you may see rectangular openings with more subtle Mediterranean touches.

6. Classic White and Blue Mediterranean Styles

Santorini, Greece is known for its gorgeous white and blue seaside homes. Originally made of dark stones that absorbed the intense Mediterranean sun, they were painted white to help reflect the heat.

Brilliant blue accents were added because of the availability of loulaki, a blue cleaning agent used in every household. This clean, cool color combination is a beautiful way to bring original Mediterranean style to your own home.

White walls look stunning with Mediterranean architecture, whether paired with blue, terra cotta, or another color palette.

Stucco not only helps keep a warm climate home cool, but its clean simplicity is also a perfect background to show off rich wood and metal accents. White Mediterranean house walls also provide a clean canvas to showcase colorful garden landscaping.

7. Old-Fashioned Mediterranean House Ideas

If you live in an older Mediterranean house, it may seem a little dark for today’s lighter aesthetics. Many older Mediterranean homes have lower ceilings and fewer windows than newer houses on the market.

You can hire a builder to add skylights or extra windows to allow more natural light indoors without changing the overall Mediterranean feeling of your home.

Old Mediterranean style houses also tend to be smaller than many other house plan ideas. If you decide to build on to an older home, be sure to keep a cohesive appearance between the original home and your additions. Repaint the home with white or off-white shades to brighten up the yellow tones used on older homes.

8. Stone for Authentic Mediterranean Feel

Stone is a popular material that is used in both the interior and exterior of Mediterranean style homes. Stone Mediterranean homes are more common in Europe than in the United States.

While you may sometimes see a Mediterranean home in America with a full stone exterior, stone is more commonly used as an accent material. For example, a staircase or retaining wall may be made of stone while the home’s exterior walls are made of stucco.

Stone pavers are common worldwide for Mediterranean patios, courtyards, sidewalks, and driveways. Inside the home, stone fireplaces are common in Mediterranean design. Cantera stone, limestone, and manufactured stone veneers are just some of the stone surfaces to use in authentic Mediterranean home design.

9. Grandeur of Large Mediterranean Houses

When Mediterranean floor plans come to mind, we tend to think first of the classic, low profile, single-story home. However, some of the most memorable Mediterranean houses are the large, grand haciendas and estates built in Spanish or Tuscan style. With a giant foyer, sprawling central courtyard, and a two-story living room ceiling, these multi-storied Mediterranean house plans make an impressive first impression.

A large Mediterranean house will usually have multiple balconies on the second floor, fenced with wrought iron railings. A double-story arched window may illuminate the foyer or dining room, or there may be tall arched windows beside a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. A guest suite is a must in a huge Mediterranean house. If your guest suite’s bathroom or master bathroom needs sprucing up, see how amazing it looks to paint the cabinet in Mediterranean style:

10. More Mediterranean House Ideas