On our website, you will find photos of our over 15,000 house plans. Every home is represented by a rendered image created by the designer of that house plan. Renderings depict a digital representation of what the home will look like once built. These images give you a thorough idea of the exterior of the house and help you visualize your future home.

Craftsman Plan 5445-00067

Some of our house plans also include real photos of the finished home. These unique images are provided by our lovely customers. Taking the time to snap photos of your completed home doesn’t just help us as a company but it also helps our customers imagine living in that very home. Having the ability to see real-life photos makes a huge difference for our customers and we are thankful to every person that has sent in photos of their completed homes.

Mountain Plan 699-00065

Because each house plan can be modified, some of the real photos may have been altered to fit the customer’s needs. Always review the floor plan and renderings to see the original layout. You can explore our over 3550 house plans with photos on our website.

If you have recently built one of America’s Best House Plans and would like to send your photos to us, we would love to have them. Email us at information@houseplans.net.

Craftsman Plan 041-00156

As you begin the process of finding the perfect house plan for your family, you might feel overwhelmed with the numerous choices in today’s homes.

• • Should you go with a 2 story over a 1 story?
  • Farmhouse or Modern?
  • Three or four bedrooms?
  • Courtyard garage or side entry?
  • Vaulted ceilings?
  • Open floor plan?

The number of decisions can be mind-blowing!

We took those concerns and created advanced search features, which make searching our website easier, more efficient, and less stressful for everyone. Whether you know exactly what you want or you’re wide open to suggestions, our advanced search features allow you to fully design your dream home.

 
 
Using the top search navigation bar, you’ll find spots to dictate the square footage you desire, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and so much more. Next to the Search button is a More drop-down menu. This list of options gives you every possibility imaginable from the width and depth of the home to the number of stories, from the garage, porch, and foundation types to home features and architectural styles; we have it all. You can add or deselect features to broaden your search criteria! To revisit these options, just save the search and come back any time to continue looking.

 
 
Finding the right home for your family just got a whole lot easier with our advanced search features. We also make it simple and affordable to modify any of our house plans to better fit your needs. Does that perfect house plan need an extra bedroom or a different garage layout? Just follow these easy modification steps and that perfect house plan will be yours before you know it.

To learn even more about our advanced search features, check out this handy video:
 

When you think of lofts, you might imagine a hipster living in a big city, painting in their large, one room loft. There are still many people that live in exactly those kinds of homes but there is also another way to look at these unique areas.

In a single family home, a loft is usually an open concept area on the second floor that overlooks the downstairs living areas. Instead of a closed bedroom, the space is wide open. Lofts are essentially viewed as flex space and can be used for a variety of purposes.
 

Mountain Plan 341-00168
 

By building your own home, you are able to customize the space according to your needs and wants. Some house plans come with a loft space and if you choose to keep that area open, there are countless ways you can use that space.
 

• An office
• A play area
• Crafting space
• Music room
• Library
• Lounge
• TV space
• Homework station
• Gaming room
• Sitting area

Loft areas also increase the open concept feeling of a home, giving you an airy space instead of yet another closed off room. These spaces also allow homeowners to truly express their personality by creating an area that shows their style as well as emphasizes the unique uses of that space. For example, if you or your children happen to be artistic, your loft area could become a big art studio that not only shows off your creativity but also develops a one-of-a-kind space and feel in your home. Lofts also create a more open look from the first floor. Instead of seeing a door, you’ll see the open space and that’s very appealing to today’s homeowners.  

Craftsman Plan 8504-00079
 

While in the past, more bedrooms meant more opportunity for resale, the demands of modern families have changed and the need for a more general area that can be an office or a TV room has grown in popularity. As always, it’s important to set the loft up to fit your long-term needs so it can remain useful for years to come.
 

We have over 1,900 house plans with lofts so start searching today for your perfect home!

 
Farmhouse style homes have been around for decades and thanks to the growing desire to get back to the basics of life, the farmhouse style is now considered one of the most popular styles of houses and decor. There is also an emerging popular style that combines the unique design details and conveniences of contemporary homes with the familiarity and simplicity of a vintage farmhouse. The Modern Farmhouse style is a fairly new house design that is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Bringing a touch of class and uniqueness, this style is a lovely combination of striking and comforting. These two styles of homes have many similarities and unique differences.
 
Farmhouse Homes
 
Known for their simplicity, practicality, and functionality, Farmhouse homes are very similar to the country house style. Built to last, these homes indulge our sense of comradery by offering large gathering rooms and plenty of outdoor space for the ultimate in family get-togethers and entertaining friends.
 

Farmhouse House Plan 286-00011
 
 
Common characteristics of Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse homes include:

 
• Simple, rectangular or square floor plans with one or two stories
• Rural or suburban locations
• Light colored exteriors
• Large or wrap around porches
• Overhead dormers
• Exterior chimneys
• Formal front rooms with common rooms and a large kitchen at the rear of the home
• Large kitchens
• Neutral colors 
• Natural textures and materials

Farmhouse House Plan 4848-00183
 
Modern Farmhouses
 
A delicate combination of comfort and style, Modern Farmhouses intertwine luxurious conveniences along with the familiarity and natural elements of the farmhouse style. One of the biggest differences between a Farmhouse home and a Modern Farmhouse is location. Modern Farmhouses can be found anywhere from the country to the city while Farmhouse homes are usually found in rural or suburban areas.
 

Modern Farmhouse House Plan 963-00153
 
Common characteristics of Modern Farmhouses include:

•  
  • Light colored exterior, usually white
  • Black trim on exterior
  • Sleek lines
  • Open floor plans
  • Rectangular in shape
  • Large windows
  • More 2 stories than 1
  • Large square footage
  • Porches and/or decks
  • Pitched gable roof, often with dormers
  • Bold, clean design details like metal lights

Modern Farmhouse House Plan 041-00169 
 
 
While Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse homes have lots of similarities, these two styles create a very different look and feel, giving comfort and simplicity to some and a bolder, more unique feel for others. If these styles speak to you, explore our Farmhouse homes and Modern Farmhouse house plans on our website to find the perfect home for you.

A one-story home may seem limiting but in reality, a ranch-style house has countless possibilities for customization. The benefits and conveniences of a 1-story home are numerous. To learn the pros and cons of a ranch house, read our previous blog post where we discuss these popular style homes in more detail.

If you’ve settled on a one-story home and you’re looking to make the space better for your specific needs, there are many ways you can customize this limited style to create a more cohesive home for your family.

If extra space is what you seek, there are multiple ways to add more room to your ranch style house plan.

• Add a bonus area above the garage: It could be an extra bedroom, playroom, even a loft area.

Plan 699-00050 

• Add an in-law suite: If there’s a possibility of elderly and/or handicapped relatives living with you, an in-law suite is a helpful and private area specifically for them. Learn more about house plans with in-law suites here.

• Create an outdoor area: Build a large patio, screened in porch, or even a lanai to give your family an outdoor oasis.

• Add a basement: If possible, add a basement, which can include another bedroom and bathroom or just a large usable space for your family to use however they wish.

Plan 4195-00019

• • Build in your favorite style: A ranch style home can be any style you want from Farmhouse to Contemporary.

• • Create personality with unique landscape: Because ranch style homes are usually linear and straight, create curves and other shapes using landscape.

Plan 5633-00172

• Go with a raised ranch: Creating steps leading up to the front door creates the illusion of a taller home.

• Open the indoors to the outdoors: Add french doors or a sliding glass door to create a more open feel between the indoors and outdoors.

Plan 9401-00096

 
 
Searching for the perfect ranch home can be a daunting task but personalizing your 1 story home shouldn’t be. We have over 2,600 different ranch style house plans for you to choose from and by using the More button next to Search, you can filter the results to find the exact home you want. And remember, you can always modify your house plan to make it uniquely yours.