The Styles of Homes Built in the '40s

Bungalow

• The small but economical bungalow style, which had an open floor plan and a single floor (or sometimes one and a half), was originally derived from cottage designs. The term is often used to refer to almost any small home style from 1900 to 1950 and includes subcategories like middle-western or Spanish. The popularity of the bungalow peaked in 1910 but continued well into the 1950s.

Prairie

• The Prairie home holds the distinction of being the first home style that is an American original. It is built using natural materials like stone and wood, consisting of one or two stories and a flat roof, making it cozy and cheap. Interiors are open and often include outdoor spaces like enclosed porches or patios. This was a departure from the older Victorian style with its numerous compact rooms and multiple floors. In the 1940s, Prairie style rose in popularity as a versatile single-family home.

Colonial Revival

• Colonial Revival refers to a number of related styles that were consistently popular from 1900 to 1960. These styles included Cape Cod, Dutch colonial, and the minimal traditional. Houses of these styles are symmetrical and rectangular, have one, two or more floors and are designed with an imposing facade that would often include columns or tall multipaned windows. Siding was often sold and square, consisting of brick or thick cut wood. Designs have remained generally uniform but were more restrained in the 1940s.

Foursquare

• The popular foursquare style evolved as a mix of the old Colonial and Prairie types, mimicking their simple design and economical prices. It is generally two or two and a half stories in a cube shape crowned by a pyramid roof. The entrance, which is often offset rather than centered, is also square and supported by two or four thick pillars. Interiors are equally organized and symmetrical, with communal areas on the first floor and private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor.