Colonial house plans may reflect any of the architectural styles common in America's original European settlements, from traditional New England saltbox and Cape Cod houses to the Georgian homes built by the Southern gentry. Most colonial house plans offer ease of construction, with square or rectangular footprints, symmetrical massing, and side-gabled or hipped roofs. Windows are aligned both vertically and horizontally and are never paired in the original Colonial styles, although they may be in less-faithful Colonial Revival homes. Decorative details are clean and elegant, generally limited to door and window surrounds. As the most classic and familiar of American architectural styles, Colonial house plans fit well in any setting.

• Easy to build
• Fits in any neighborhood
• Clean, elegant details