Top 10 Ideas to Transform Your House into a Craftsman-Style Home

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One of the most well-known architecture types is Victorian with its grand accents from the late nineteenth century. However, there was another movement that was in stark contrast to the Victorian look. Craftsman-style homes came about at the same time as Victorian properties, but with decidedly different appearances. The Craftsman movement focused on distinct accents that were unique to each structure.

If you’re interested in transforming your home into a Craftsman-style house, try these top 10 ideas that range from simple to complex. 

1. Installing the Columns 

Craftsman-style homes will typically have columns. You aren’t looking for those Romanesque-type columns either. Square columns with tapered, top sections are your architectural goals. They add definition to any front porch while maintaining simplicity in the design. Stick with a pair of columns unless you have a particularly large porch. There’s no need to create too much of an ornate appearance. 

2. Decorating With Gable Accents 

The peak of your rooftop doesn’t have to be a mundane transition point. Add character by decorating with gable accents. Beautiful, cedar wood arranged in a half-moon, sunburst shape creates interest just under the roof’s gables. Craftsman-style homes are known for these natural-wood accents. Simply measure the angle of your roof’s pitch. Most accents can be installed as customized pieces, which is what the Craftsman movement is all about. 

3. Covering the Porch 

A covered porch is a telltale sign that your home is from a Craftsman-inspired mindset. In the late nineteenth century, air conditioning wasn’t available. People built their homes with functionality in mind. The covered porch created a cool reprieve for residents. 

This addition may be an investment on your home if it doesn’t have a partial covering already. The new cover should be made entirely of wood with a few rocking chairs to complete the look. 

4. Exposing Those Rafters 

Renovate your home by pulling some wood from the structure. Craftsman-style homes have exposed rafters. They might be painted or just covered with sealants to let the wood shine through. The rafters should be exposed under the eaves and within the porch. These accents give the home real character and depth. The light and shadows cast by the structural shapes will bring new life to the property. 

5. Accenting With Corbels 

The eaves on your home are basic. They’re part of the roof’s design. You can give the area more definition, however, by incorporating cedar corbels into the architecture. Corbels are accents that appear to support the eaves. Place them several feet away from each other as you dot the roof’s lower edges. The rolled ends are distinctly Craftsman in shape. 

6. Trying out Window Seats 

Inside of the home should contain some nooks that are accented with window seats. Allow the home’s shape to dictate your remodeling changes. A window seat in the living room might work, but a hallway may offer more versatility for this quaint addition. Don’t forget to add comfort with padding and pillows. They’ll entice people to sit and enjoy the reprieve. 

7. Considering Window Boxes and Shutters

The windows must have certain accents in order to reveal a Craftsman-style home. Think about adding window boxes and exterior window shutters to each view. The shutters should contrast with the exterior’s color, such as dark-green shutters against a light-green house. 

Get creative with the window boxes. They might be white in color, but the plants within can change with the seasons.

8. Choosing Forest-Friendly Colors

Updating the exterior color of the home is a great way to dive into the Craftsman movement. Ideally, choose colors that are akin to a forest decor. Green, brown, tan, red and gray are perfect colors that reflect this period home. The colors allow the artisan-like accents to take center stage 

9. Updating the Garage Doors 

If you’re in the market for a new garage door, it can be a major Craftsman addition to the architecture. Consider a natural-wood door with recessed accents. Opt for a door with windows lining the upper section too. In most cases, you want a front door that matches the garage door as well. These design choices bring the architecture together into a cohesive unit. 

10. Detailing With Light Fixtures 

Change up your lighting fixtures to Craftsman-style shapes. Lantern designs that flank your garage door, for instance, are great accents to the home. Think about adding more light fixtures around the porch area too. During the Craftsman movement, the fixtures were typically full of candles topped with flames. Although you might have a modern LED bulb within the fixture, the illumination gives off the right tone around the house. 

Continue to add to your Craftsman-style home because the extra accents only define it more prominently. The home’s value rises, and your personality is solidified into the architecture. Live on forever with your style emblazoned into a Craftsman-style property.


Author Bio

Matt Buquoi works at FlowerWindowBoxes.com, a company that offers premium-quality, no-rot flower window boxes and outdoor planters at affordable prices.

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