As the old adages go, "a man's home is his castle" and "there's no place like home." What type of house a person chooses to call home can say a lot about his or her personality and priorities.

There are many different types of housing styles, each with unique features, benefits and detriments. When shopping for a new home or thinking about updating a current place, it can be wise to keep housing style in mind before signing on any dotted lines or making any renovations.

Colonial

Colonial homes were developed during the colonial period of the United States and remain one of the most popular housing styles to date. Colonials generally have a distinct square or rectangular shape and are often large and stately. Main rooms are on the first floor of the house, with bedrooms on the second level. A centre-hall colonial can have a staircase or hallway splitting the home into two distinct sides.

Ranch

Ranch-style homes became popular in the 1960s, when families were flocking to suburban areas. Long, spacious homes were first seen on ranches. As they cropped up in different areas, they were still referred to as ranch-style homes or ranches. Ranch homes are very popular with seniors because most are one-level homes.

Tudor

Tudor-style homes are reminiscent of the Tudor architectural style popular in England between 1485 and 1558. These homes are characterized by an asymmetrical floor plan, tall, thin windows, a large chimney, decorative half-timbering, and steeply pitched roofs.

Craftsman

Craftsman architecture and furniture design came out of the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1800s. Craftsman homes are built from stone or stucco and are meant to blend into the surrounding landscape. Oftentimes one storey, the Craftsman may have one dormer over the roof and feature thick pillars on a front porch.

Contemporary

A contemporary or "modern" house has little ornamentation and may be asymmetrical in design. It uses glass extensively and other modern building materials. Contemporary homes are often designated by sleek, unadorned lines.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod homes were built from the 1930s through the 1950s. The style originated in colonial New England, then spread to other areas of the country. The homes are usually compact and feature a centre hall layout with rooms branching on either side of the hallway. Capes may be one-or two-storey dwellings with small rooms and dormers that protrude out of a sharply pitched roof.

Split-level

A split-level home is a multi-levelled dwelling with a small staircase that leads up from the main level and another that leads down from the main level. A sidesplit may be visible when looking at the front of the home, where a backsplit may only show when looking at the side elevation of the home. A bi-level home only has two levels.

Mission

This style became popular in the southern U.S. between 1485 and 1558. It was inspired by Mexican mansions. Mission style homes are distinguished by exterior stucco walls and parapets, or a low wall that runs at the perimeter of the roof. Mission homes may have an arcade, or a series of arches supported by large square columns to form a large, shaded porch.