A Buyer’s Guide to Home Styles (And Where to Find Them in Colorado Springs)

home styles

Depending on the neighborhood, Colorado Springs homes vary in era and style. Knowing your likes and needs in a home are important factors when beginning your house search. For example, if you need an attached garage, you probably want to focus on mid-century modern or mountain rustic homes. If having a large front porch or detached garden shed is at the top of your list, you will want to view bungalows and Victorian style homes.

Regardless of the home you choose, every style has something wonderful to offer to homeowners. Here are some of the four most popular architectural styles in Colorado Springs:

1. Bungalow/Craftsman Homes. Known for charm and curb appeal, old streets of Colorado Springs are lined with bungalow and craftsman style homes—specifically in Old Colorado City and the Old North End. Originating in the late 1800s to 1930s, these homes are characterized by low-pitched roof lines, covered porches, and exposed rafters. They are usually one or two stories and have a fireplace, as well as a separate garage or garden shed on the property.

2. Victorian Homes. Homes from the late 1800s were often Victorian architecture. Characterized by ornate trim, large porches, multi-faceted rooflines, and asymmetrical shapes, the Victoria home was designed to be beautiful, more than functional. Did you know that the large covered front porches in the late 1800s and early 1900s were called “sleeping porches?”  Many people migrated to Colorado Springs because the clean air was touted to cure tuberculosis.  Home owners would stay outside as much as possible, even sleeping on their front porch thus, why you see most of these older homes with porches are covered and wide enough for a single bed!

In Colorado Springs, this style of home can be found in older areas of the city such as Downtown, Old Colorado City, The Old North End, and Manitou Springs. If you ever wondering why there are so many big beautiful homes in the Old North End, it is because that is where the physicians lived who worked at Penrose Hospital. 

3. Mid-Century Modern/Ranch Homes. If you’re looking for clean lines and large windows, check out the Skyway neighborhood of Colorado Springs—just west of The Broadmoor. There are also mid-century homes scattered throughout Downtown North, Pleasant Valley, and Northeast Colorado Springs. This style of home is popular for its one-story, practical floor plan, and originated during World War II.

4. Mountain Rustic/Chalet Homes. Being that this is Colorado, many home buyers desire the Mountain Rustic or Chalet Home style. Characterized by the use of natural elements—such as logs and stone—this style often looks and feels like a cabin but includes all the modern features of the day, as well as capitalizes on the gorgeous views of the Front Range and Pikes Peak. We are also seeing renovations pop up here and there that resemble the mountain rustic look.

Homes like this originated in the last 20 years and can be found on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. Check out Black Forest, Palmer Lake, Woodland Park, and Cheyenne Mountain Canyon.