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Although the name “bungalow” comes from India, this style of house is an entirely American architectural style.  Bungalows are single-story houses with a low-pitched shingle roof.  They were popular during the 1910s and 1920s.  The bungalow exterior paint was earthy and muted in tone.

The bungalow had an unusual floor plan.  In most cases, particularly in the early years of this style, there was a main central living area.  The remaining rooms – kitchen, dining area, bedrooms, and bathrooms – clustered around the central area.  The house had plenty of windows and a welcoming front porch.

Similar in style to the Craftsman and Prairie style houses, the bungalow is best suited to those who enjoy a simple or informal lifestyle.  Those that enjoy the outdoors will enjoy this type of house because has wide porches that create additional outdoor living space.  The bungalow helps the homeowner to embrace the outdoors as they use the various porches and open the many windows.

It is very common to see a bungalow among trees and shrubs which helps the home to remain as private as the homeowner prefers.  Of course, the Bungalow Exterior Paint may help the home almost disappear among the foliage depending upon how the house is painted.  Most bungalows have earth-tone shingles that contrasted with the muted shades of the bungalow’s exterior paint.

Historical colors for bungalow exterior paint include walls that were painted gray, trim painted deep green and accent colors in copper red.  Other combinations included walls painted in bronze green, trim in Birdseye maple, and accents painted in hammered silver; wall color suede, trim in brass, and accents painted in polished mahogany.

Many first-time homebuyers are interested in bungalows because they allow the homebuyer to learn about homeownership without becoming overwhelmed.  The size of the home means there is less upkeep than there would be for a larger home.  They are also a good choice for people who have mobility impairment because there are no steps to contend with.

There are a number of variations on the bungalow concept.  These include the ranch bungalow that has the bedrooms separated from the remaining living areas similar to the ranch style house, raised bungalow which actually has a basement that is partially above ground, and the chalet bungalow which offers a second story loft area.

No matter the layout of the bungalow, exterior paint combinations are most likely similar.  Of course, this could depend upon the location of the house.  When repainting the home, it is probably best to leave the color of the house as close to the original as possible.  Historically accurate bungalow exterior paints can be purchased from suppliers such as Sherwin Williams, Pittsburgh Paint, and Lowe’s.

Check out these great books on:

Bungalow Colors Exteriors

Bungalows: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New

photo credit: roarofthefour

How do you decide about adding on to a 50s ranch house? If you currently live in a ranch style house built in the 1950s, chances are you have between 1,500 and 1,800 square feet. Those were common sizes at the time. Some home owners have decided to add on but have found that it may not be worth it.

One way to help you decide about adding onto your house is your likelihood of remaining where you are. Do you plan to stay in your ranch house for a while or do you plan to remodel it and then sell it right away?

Sometimes life surprises us and our current homes aren’t large enough. If you’re going to stay in your home for a number of years you may not be that worried about how much money you’ll recoup. You may need the room now and that’s your sole reason for considering the remodel.

If you plan on buying a newer home soon, you’ll be more concerned about making back the money you spend adding on to your ranch house. Before making a final decision, it would be best to do some research into the houses around you. Have any of them recently had additions made and then been sold? If so, did they recoup the money they spent? The answers you get may help you decide about your own addition.

What type of additional footage do you need? Do you need a larger kitchen, master bedroom, or master bathroom? These are usually good choices for additions because people are interested in these rooms being larger in a house. If you want to add on a room for recreation purposes, that may not be a wise choice. You may not make all the money back for the addition.

It makes sense that people want to get the biggest house they can, especially if they have a family. They may need the extra room and therefore be more willing to buy a larger house.

There are a few Mistakes to Avoid when Remodeling a Ranch Style Home.  You need to keep the other houses in the neighborhood in mind as you think about adding on to a 50s ranch house. You won’t want your house to stand out from the others in a negative way. If it’s too large, compared to the other houses around it, it may not be a good selling point.

Normally adding on to a 50s ranch house is a good idea if you consider the houses around you and how long you plan to stay in the home. Take your time and think about your reasons for adding on. Then you can make the decision and not worry too much about how much you’ll recoup on a future sale.

New Rooms for Old Houses: Beautiful Additions for the Traditional Home

photo credit: Velo Steve

What paint colors go well with pink brick ranch houses? Do you need help choosing colors for a brick ranch style house? Recently got just this question.

House Colors: Exterior Color by Style of Architecture

“I need help. buying a ranch style home in tx built in 1974 and it needs a paint lift bad. It’s painted chocolate brown now. looks pretty bad. Brick is light pink. Any suggestions for color?”

She hadn’t sent a picture yet, so I took a stap in the dark at paint color choices:

“If the brick is a light pink try taupe or lighter sage greens for color choices.”

Then… she sent over a picture, you know how they are worth a thousand words.

What a great yard! This house is so classic ranch style… and the fact that all the natural green work so well with the light pink brick is fantastic. But I can see where the brown trim and shutters just don’t have much life. Let’s see if we can’t spark up the color a bit!

Of course, the trim could all be painted a light creamy white. That would lighten everything, but it’s a bit boring.

So here is my suggestion - Paint all the trim (except the shutters and doors) in Benjamin Moore - Storm Cloud Gray. This color looks like milk chocolate on my computer monitor but I know it’s a mid-tone green/gray color.

For the shutters - let’s add some drama. Benjamin Moore “Black Forest Green” is almost black, but not a stark black. This color works really well with the “Storm Cloud Gray” and the pale pink brick walls.

Now… If you really want to step it up a bit… (and if you can get rid of that hideous screen door), see if this doesn’t peek your interest? Paint the door Red! Yep… I know. It seems like a bit much with all that pink brick and of course I’m not suggesting you use a fire engine red.

Choose a red that looks like an old red… not orange in any way. Think of a Persian rug red. And, hopefully you can add a bit of color with flowers. That landscape is gorgeous and so inviting, but it does need some color and personality.

Where did I find the help I needed choosing colors for a brick ranch style house? Right in one of my favorite books of course. All the colors were listed and it makes it so easy to see your home in a new color way.

House Colors: Exterior Color by Style of Architecture

More Exterior Paint Color Ideas