When you customize a new-construction modular home, you’re in complete control of how it looks. Modular houses offer the same styles as standard ones, with each architectural theme displaying unique characteristics. As you think about which aesthetic would be best for you and your family, you’ll want to find one that accommodates your daily routine and style preferences. Here are some of the most popular modular home designs to help you find the best one for your lifestyle.
Types of Modular Homes
Consider these different modular home styles to figure out how to choose yours.
Luxury
If you enjoy the mansion-style but would rather live in a more modest dwelling, consider building a luxury modular home. It’s typically a large, impressive dwelling with numerous rooms to accommodate leisure activities and growing families. This style features high-end materials and distinct architectural details that’ll make your property stand out on the block.
Compared to building a conventional luxury home, you’ll save a ton of money by constructing a smaller modular house. Even though it often takes up fewer square feet than a traditional mansion, this style gives you all the space you need to entertain guests and live in luxury.
Colonial
The colonial design aesthetic features characteristics from 16th-century colonial America. Its exquisite, symmetrical design features a steep roof, centrally-located chimney, dormers and double-hipped roof. As you walk past the great white columns and large porch outside, you’ll typically find a formal entryway, cozy fireplace and open concept inside.
Colonial modular homes are prevalent in the Southeastern United States, but they’re also gaining popularity in other parts of the country. These dwellings provide a visual appeal that’s unlike most modular styles. You could install a colonial modular house if you have a large plot of land and want more space.
Cape Cod
The Cape Cod design style originated in New England from 17th-century Puritans. This style is typical in colder climates, especially the Northeast region of the United States because its low ceilings and natural materials help keep the property warm. It’s usually one and a half stories high, with the option to add more floors, and has minimal design ornamentation.
The exterior of a Cape Cod modular home has a broad frame with a steep gabled roof and an oversized, centrally-located chimney. The roof’s pitch creates an attic or half story for extra storage. To make your house’s design more unique, consider customizing your dormers, shingles and window shutters.
Ranch
A modular ranch home is usually one story, and the asymmetrical layout is broad rather than deep. The exterior usually has a rectangle, “U” or “L” shape, and it features little ornamentation. As a result, you can save money on designing your property by choosing simple materials outside.
You’ll most likely find this design aesthetic in warmer climates, but it’s also prevalent in other regions. If you want to build your house in an area that experiences colder weather, consider installing a steep roof to protect your property against heavy snowfall. You could also add a level or a separate addition to the floor plan if you need more space.
Chalet
A chalet is a design style that gets its inspiration from the common construction themes seen in the Swiss Alpine region. This style typically features wood siding and a heavy, gently sloping roof with eaves that create a right angle at the front of the house, making a pathway for the snow to fall instead of accumulating on your roof.
Floor-to-ceiling windows allow as much light into the house as possible, making your cold space even warmer and brightening up an otherwise dreary area. This design style is suitable for vacation homes near the mountains, but you may even find some chalets near the beach.
Cabin
A log cabin modular home is a popular style for properties in vacation spots because of its laid-back atmosphere. With a warm fireplace and an inviting open floor plan, the house provides a natural, rustic appearance for a living space that’ll help bring the whole family together. You could use artificial or natural log siding to your modular home to enhance its cozy charm and feature exposed wood beams in the ceiling to create a distinct point of interest in the room.
Craftsman
The Craftsman style emphasizes hand-crafted materials and ornate designs throughout every part of the home, allowing you to put a personalized stamp on your property. Create a modular house with horizontal lines, low-pitched gabled roofs and exposed beams. The over-extended roof provides a covering for your wraparound porch, including tapered columns to enhance your home’s curb appeal. You may also want to use natural, local materials to decorate the interior living space, with distinctive, ornamented features that demonstrate your attention to detail.
Green
Like luxury homes, green homes are an intention for your property rather than a distinct style. All modular homes comply with green building codes, so you can be confident that you’re using sustainable materials and emphasizing a resource-efficient lifestyle. However, a green modular house takes eco-friendliness to the next level, exceeding current green building code standards.
Consider installing solar panels on your modular home to cut down on energy costs and use fewer resources. Your modular builder can also give you options about how to reduce your property’s energy expenditure.
Two-Story
A two-story house features two above-ground levels, with the kitchen, dining room, living room and other shared areas on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second floor. You might want to consider this plan if you’re growing your family on a smaller piece of land. Building up allows you to save space on your property, allowing you to have a larger backyard. Consider where you want to put the staircase so it flows with the rest of your floor plan.
Choosing the Right Modular Home Floor Plan
As you navigate through the various modular house plans available, you might want to ask yourself the following questions:
- How large would you like each of your rooms to be?
- What would you change about your current home’s floor plan?
- What size kitchen do you want?
- Do you have a floor plan that you’ve liked in other homes, including those of friends and family?
- Do you want a walk-in closet or pantry?
- What type of house plan would blend in well with your new neighborhood?
- What kind of modular home would accommodate your lot’s topography?
- Do you want an exercise room somewhere on the property?
- Which floor plan will allow the most natural light into your home?
- Where do you want to put the washer and dryer?
- What is the ideal budget that will enable you to have some money left as a contingency fund?
- Do you need a home office or study?
- Do you want to have all the space you need right away, or do you want to leave space to expand later?
- Do you prefer an informal breakfast nook or a formal dining room?
- Would you rather have a one-story or two-story house?
- Would you like a casual or formal family room?
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
View Our Modular Home Plans for Inspiration
At Design. Build. Modular., we help you create your own modular home in any unique style that you prefer. With our turnkey solutions and custom design options, you can add distinctive features to your house to make it stand out in your neighborhood. Reach out to us or call 617-941-4891 to get started building your property.