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From the sun-washed Pacific coast to the glorious deserts of the Southwest, from vibrant Florida to the rustic wilderness of the mountains, from serene New England to the heartland of the Midwest, the different regions of the United States are known for having distinctive home styles.
Whether you live in one of these locations—or you just wish to make your home look as though you do!—here are some helpful tips for achieving these attractive regional looks on the outside of your home.
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Southwestern Adobe
Largely influenced by the Native American and early Spanish cultures, the Southwest is known for its use of warm, earth-toned hues, rough textures, and natural, rustic materials.
Adobe is both the name of a material (unburnt, sun-dried brick) and a very popular and traditional type of home that's been built for centuries in Mexico and the Southwestern areas of the United States.
Sitting low, with flat roofs, soft, rounded edges, earth-toned colors and thick walls, adobe-styled homes have a look that is rustic and pleasingly natural.
Colors
Southwestern homes are decorated with the colors of the natural desert landscape—pinks, soft and golden yellows, sandy taupes and many shades of beige.
Accent colors for these homes are also very natural, inspired by colors of the earth and sky. Brilliant blues and turquoises, rusty reds and terracottas are very common throughout this region.
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Tip: Wrought-iron detail work is a characteristic element of the Southwest style. To help create this look, hardware (both inside and out) should be solid, bold, functional and—ideally—weathered.
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California Spanish
From the romantic, mist-shrouded hills of San Francisco, to the rolling Los Angeles valleys, to the glorious beaches of Southern California, West Coast residents are no strangers to sunny skies and a mild and temperate climate.
 Apart
from the weather, the California look has also been
greatly influenced by its rich Spanish history—most
notably, the architectural style of the beautiful
missions that can still be seen throughout the state.
The Spanish Colonial look is reflected in the many Spanish-inspired homes, both new and old. Often featuring richly toned terracotta-tiled roofs and textured stucco exteriors, these homes are ideal for the sunny climate of this region.
Colors
West Coast colors are warm and welcoming. Homes are generally decorated with warm, neutral tones, which work very well with the bright, California sunshine.
Main colors for homes in this region include shades of soft yellow, warm beige, cream, taupe, golden wheat and muted peach.
Accent colors for these homes are also very warm, complementing the temperate climate. These include shades of brown, rust, terracotta and sage.
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Tip: The colors you choose should reflect the style of the home you have. For example, while the color terracotta is a perfect match for a Spanish style exterior, it might look completely out of place on a New England Colonial style home.
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 Mountain Rustic
Surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and the serenity of miles of majestic woodlands, homes found in the mountain regions of the United States are natural and rustic, livable and peaceful.
The architectural styles most often associated with the mountain regions include log cabins and Craftsman-styled homes—an architectural style that originated with the Arts and Crafts movement. (see The Arts & Crafts Movement feature)
Ideally, owners of mountain homes should let the natural surroundings dictate what colors and architectural elements will be used to decorate the exteriors.
For example, natural elements—stone, brick and wood—are the ideal choice to create a harmonious fusion between the home and its surroundings.
Colors
Mountain schemes often gravitate towards honey-colored woods, gray rock and black metals. The main colors tend to include natural hues, such as browns, taupes, beiges and sage greens.
Popular accent colors include brick red, terracotta, forest green and navy, though cream, gray and other tones can be used to coordinate with this rustic style.
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Tip: In mountain-style homes, the exterior accessories should reflect nature and an outdoor way of life—such as furnishings made of roughly hewn woods and hardware with a rustic patina finish.
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Midwestern Farmhouse
The Farmhouse-styled homes of the Midwest are charming and gracious, without being in the least pretentious.
 With
origins tracing back to both the Colonial and the
Cape Cod styles of New England, the American farmhouse
represents a classic, practical and picturesque county
house.
Predominant architectural features of the style include gabled rooftops, large front porches, wood siding, windows with wooden shutters and a substantial amount of trim detail.
Colors
In the heartland of the Midwest, traditional colors rule the palette. White is the most common color selected to decorate homes of this style, though subtle shades of cream, yellow and beige are also frequently seen.
The most predominant accent colors for this style include deep burgundies and dark forest greens, which are frequently used to accentuate doorways, window trim and shutters.
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Tip: Roof ornamentation is a characteristic and endearing detail of the Midwestern Farmhouse style. For an authentic look, add a decorative element to your rooftop, such as a cupola, topped with a simple weathervane.
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Miami-Deco
Bright, vibrant and colorful, the Miami-Deco look makes bold use of crisp, colorful pastels. This distinctive regional look—popularized through television shows like Miami Vice—takes the classic Art Deco style (see The Arts & Crafts Movement feature) and imbues it with its own idiosyncratic flair.
Known for its curious mixture of modernism and naturalism, suffused with tropical influences, the Art Deco style is evident in the sleek, streamlined shapes of the architecture, accentuated by a flamboyant and sometimes whimsical use of color.
Although Art Deco buildings can be found throughout Florida, no place is quite as synonymous with the style as South Miami Beach. Architectural elements include such features as rounded corners, banded stripes, porthole windows and lots of glass block.
Colors
Crisp, clean pastel hues exemplify the exciting Miami style. Colors include various shades of pink, peach, yellow, green and aqua blue.
Accent colors often include rich corals, warm peach tones, citrus yellows and vivid lime-greens.
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Tip: Use glass block to replace a viewless window. Glass blocks provide natural light and privacy, as well as reduce outside noise, and offer an authentic, streamlined and very Deco look.
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 New England Colonial
Traditional home styling, complemented by the serene landscapes of the surrounding hills and seascapes, is the familiar imagery associated with the New England style.
New England is rich with Early American history, making it common for homes in this region to be built in a traditional Colonial style. (see Colors of the 13 Colonies feature)
Architectural traits of this style include a pitched roof, a central chimney and entryway, evenly spaced windows that sit directly beneath the roofline, and shutters. Over two hundred years later, it is still one of the most popular styles nationwide.
Practical, classic and conservative, the colors and design elements associated with the Colonial look are enduring, elegant and highly appealing.
Colors
White exteriors are a common choice for New England-style homes, providing a bright contrast to the surrounding landscape. However, don't feel limited to white. The New England look is also noted for its use of farmhouse red tones, slate blues and greens, yellows and classic tans.
Accent colors for these homes include forest greens, blacks, browns and deep muted blues and reds. White is often used as an accent on homes painted in darker shades.
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Tip: Install lighting fixtures that enhance the style of your home. For example, a Colonial lantern-style fixture or lamppost near the street, can be very effective in creating an authentic New England ambience.
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Try the ColorSmart™ by BEHR interactive program to experiment with thousands of different color combinations and see how they look in actual room settings.
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