A bungalow is a small cottage-type home, usually built as a one-story house without stairs. Bungalows typically feature sloped roofs, open floor plans, large front windows, and broad front porches. Popular as single-family homes, bungalows typically have a living room, kitchen, and bedroom within a one to two thousand square-foot space.

Bungalows originated in the Bengal region of South Asia during the British colonial occupation of India in the nineteenth century. The Arts and Crafts movement ushered the American-style bungalow into prominence during the early twentieth century, and variations of this style continue to be sought-after by homeowners around the world.

Bungalows are a small type of house, while a house is a more general term for many types of single and multi-family dwellings. Bungalow-style homes are ground-level detached structures often featuring sloped roofs, dormer windows, built-ins, and front porches with overhanging eaves. Unlike traditional two-story homes, most bungalows have minimal square footage and lack a second story. 

While the Craftsman bungalow (also known as the American bungalow) refers to the classic bungalow-style house, there are a variety of different bungalow housing structures that a homeowner can buy or build.

1. __California__: California bungalow design uses stucco and wood, often with shingle siding. This one-story bungalow-style features a sloping roof, a sizable porch with overhanging eaves, and an open floor plan. Builders do not typically use bricks to construct this housing style. Stucco and wood are the preferred building materials and are often covered with shingle siding. Architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mathis Greene pioneered the California bungalow-style homes to suit Southern California’s climate.
2. __Chicago__: Brick-built Chicago bungalows usually feature one-and-a-half stories above a basement, with stairs leading up to the porch from the street level. Chicago bungalows may feature dormer windows and an enclosed front room, while the stairway entrance is located on the side of the house. This housing style is rectangular and usually features a full-size basement.
3. __Mission__: With broad, overhanging eaves and exposed rafters, a Mission-style bungalow has a hipped or gabled-type roof. They may also feature smooth stucco or plastic siding and a Spanish-style tiled roof.
4. __Tudor__: Seemingly contradictory to the bungalow theme, the Tudor-style bungalow features more intricate design work, such as elaborate chimneys, detailed doorways, and wall cladding. Tudor bungalows have steep-pitched, gabled roofs, and tall, narrow windows with half-timbering. Tudor bungalows blend medieval architectural design with the simple layout of a standard bungalow.
5. __Prairie__: Developed by a group of Chicago architects known as the Prairie School (including member Frank Lloyd Wright), this style has piers to support the porch roof, flat chimneys, contrasting wall materials, and Prairie-style windows. The interior may feature ceiling beams and horizontal woodwork.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of buying a bungalow.

1. __Low maintenance__: Bungalow roofs are lower to the ground, making them more easily accessible for cleaning out gutters and other architectural renovations.
2. __Ease of mobility__: Since bungalows often don’t have stairs, they offer ease of mobility for people with limited movement. The stairless design is also beneficial for homeowners with younger children who want to avoid any staircase-related accidents.
3. __Lack of privacy__: These types of homes feature large windows at ground level, which can create privacy issues for some homeowners. Some homebuyers place shrubbery and other foliage around the low-set property to enhance privacy.
4. __Limited square footage__: Bungalows are small homes best suited for single-family homeowners. With open floor plans, bungalows can present challenges for multiple roommates or families with children. Some homeowners may screen in the front porch to create additional living space. 
All investments, including real estate investments, come with inherent risks which may involve the depreciation of assets, financial losses, or legal ramifications. The information presented in this article is for educational, informational, and referential purposes only. Consult a licensed real estate or financial professional before making any legal or financial commitments.

All you need is a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and our exclusive video lessons from prolific entrepreneur Robert Reffkin, the founder and CEO of the real estate technology company Compass. With Robert’s help, you’ll learn all about the intricacies of buying a home, from securing a mortgage to hiring an agent to tips for putting your own place on the market. 
A bungalow is typically a small, single-story house with an open floor plan and a simple architectural style.

A bungalow is typically a small, single-story house with an open floor plan and a simple architectural style.

What Is a Bungalow? Pros and Cons of Living in a Bungalow

A bungalow is a small cottage-type home, usually built as a one-story house without stairs. Bungalows typically feature sloped roofs, open floor plans, large front windows, and broad front porches. Popular as single-family homes, bungalows typically have a living room, kitchen, and bedroom within a one to two thousand square-foot space.Bungalows originated in the Bengal region of South Asia during the British colonial occupation of India in the nineteenth century. The Arts and Crafts movement ushered the American-style bungalow into prominence during the early twentieth century, and variations of this style continue to be sought-after by homeowners around the world.

What Is a Bungalow?

Bungalows are a small type of house, while a house is a more general term for many types of single and multi-family dwellings. Bungalow-style homes are ground-level detached structures often featuring sloped roofs, dormer windows, built-ins, and front porches with overhanging eaves. Unlike traditional two-story homes, most bungalows have minimal square footage and lack a second story.

What’s the Difference Between a Bungalow and a House?

While the Craftsman bungalow (also known as the American bungalow) refers to the classic bungalow-style house, there are a variety of different bungalow housing structures that a homeowner can buy or build.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. California: California bungalow design uses stucco and wood, often with shingle siding. This one-story bungalow-style features a sloping roof, a sizable porch with overhanging eaves, and an open floor plan. Builders do not typically use bricks to construct this housing style. Stucco and wood are the preferred building materials and are often covered with shingle siding. Architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mathis Greene pioneered the California bungalow-style homes to suit Southern California’s climate. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Chicago: Brick-built Chicago bungalows usually feature one-and-a-half stories above a basement, with stairs leading up to the porch from the street level. Chicago bungalows may feature dormer windows and an enclosed front room, while the stairway entrance is located on the side of the house. This housing style is rectangular and usually features a full-size basement. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Mission: With broad, overhanging eaves and exposed rafters, a Mission-style bungalow has a hipped or gabled-type roof. They may also feature smooth stucco or plastic siding and a Spanish-style tiled roof. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Tudor: Seemingly contradictory to the bungalow theme, the Tudor-style bungalow features more intricate design work, such as elaborate chimneys, detailed doorways, and wall cladding. Tudor bungalows have steep-pitched, gabled roofs, and tall, narrow windows with half-timbering. Tudor bungalows blend medieval architectural design with the simple layout of a standard bungalow. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Prairie: Developed by a group of Chicago architects known as the Prairie School (including member Frank Lloyd Wright), this style has piers to support the porch roof, flat chimneys, contrasting wall materials, and Prairie-style windows. The interior may feature ceiling beams and horizontal woodwork. </li></ol>

5 Types of Bungalows

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of buying a bungalow.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Low maintenance: Bungalow roofs are lower to the ground, making them more easily accessible for cleaning out gutters and other architectural renovations. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Ease of mobility: Since bungalows often don’t have stairs, they offer ease of mobility for people with limited movement. The stairless design is also beneficial for homeowners with younger children who want to avoid any staircase-related accidents. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Lack of privacy: These types of homes feature large windows at ground level, which can create privacy issues for some homeowners. Some homebuyers place shrubbery and other foliage around the low-set property to enhance privacy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Limited square footage: Bungalows are small homes best suited for single-family homeowners. With open floor plans, bungalows can present challenges for multiple roommates or families with children. Some homeowners may screen in the front porch to create additional living space. </li></ol>

Pros and Cons of Bungalows

All investments, including real estate investments, come with inherent risks which may involve the depreciation of assets, financial losses, or legal ramifications. The information presented in this article is for educational, informational, and referential purposes only. Consult a licensed real estate or financial professional before making any legal or financial commitments.

A Note on Real Estate Investment

All you need is a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and our exclusive video lessons from prolific entrepreneur Robert Reffkin, the founder and CEO of the real estate technology company Compass. With Robert’s help, you’ll learn all about the intricacies of buying a home, from securing a mortgage to hiring an agent to tips for putting your own place on the market.

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A bungalow is typically a small, single-story house with an open floor plan and a simple architectural style.

A bungalow is typically a small, single-story house with an open floor plan and a simple architectural style.
