I have been searching the web for different home plan styles and the term Bungalow keeps on appearing. When I think of a Bungalow style home I think of a 3-sided open-air home with palm trees and hammocks in the yard. I now know that this style of home is much more than that.

Bungalow style gets its origin from India. They were typically single family homes that were small, had only one-story and a wide veranda. Usually more than one family unit populated homes in India so this style of home was a change to their way of living. They were small, free standing, modest and inexpensive to build. They gained their popularity among the lower middle class that could afford moving from an apartment into their own private home. Of course this style caught on quickly in the United States as everyone was searching for “The American Dream” of owning his or her own home.

Some of the first home plan books illustrated and sold Bungalow style homes. They could be built with local materials and were the perfect answer to those that lived in rural areas far, far away from large construction companies and local builders. Some of the plans sold in these books came with the option to purchase some mass produced materials such as windows and doors, bookcases and desks, and folding beds. Since all the living areas are located on one floor, this style of home was perfect for people with wheelchairs and other disabilities.

I have found that there are many variations that are built throughout the United States. Some of the most popular styles are the Ranch, Raised, Chalet, Craftsman, California, Chicago, Milwaukee and the Michigan Bungalow homes.

The Ranch is where all the living areas are on one side of the home and the sleeping areas are on the other. Normally two of the bedrooms are situated at the rear of the home.

The Raised Bungalows have part of the basement above grade so light can enter the home and many of the basements also double as a drive-under garage. The way the home is designed allows for the foyer to have a higher ceiling.

Chalet Bungalow is where the living areas are still all on the first floor but there is a second story loft.

During the Arts & Crafts movement the Craftsman Bungalow emerged. This is a common style that has low-pitch rooflines, a hip or gable roof, eaves that overhang, decorative exterior brackets and a covered front porch.

From 1910 to 1924 the California Bungalow was very popular. It is a 1 ½ story version of the traditional bungalow home.

The Chicago Bungalow is another variation of the traditional style. It has 1 ½ stories, a brick exterior, a full basement and its narrow width allowed it to fit perfect on the smaller city lots.

Milwaukee also has its own unique style. It is similar to the Chicago style, but the gable is perpendicular to the street and on the bottom half of the home white stucco is applied.

The Michigan style bungalows were popular in Detroit from 1910 to 1925. These are along the Arts and Crafts style and are still all over the area today.

In the history books different eras are explained and timelines are drawn out. Through architectural expression and the dream of wanting to own a home, the Bungalow Style Home emerged. It is an economical style to build and easily fills the basic needs of a family. With the recent decline of the economy the overall need to “simplify” – this style begun to resurface. Many homeowners today are returning to the efficient home plan blueprints of the Bungalow design and making it fit their needs.