Bungalow: Everything You Need to Know

If you’ve heard the term bungalow before but don’t know exactly what it means, there’s likely a good reason: The definition is rather vague. A bungalow is typically a little, single-story house with a sloped roof, a porch, and an open floor plan—but it isn’t always. The only element that a bungalow always has is its small size. “A bungalow is a house with a petite footprint,” explains Redondo Beach, California–based interior designer Brooke Abcarian of Carian Design.

All the other features of a bungalow home are up for debate, perhaps because there are so many different types of this compact abode. The Craftsman bungalow was arguably the first of the architectural styles to emerge in America, in the early 20th century. From there, other varieties of bungalows quickly popped up throughout the country, each with its own aesthetic and set of quintessential characteristics. Which is why, as we mentioned above, the word bungalow is difficult to define. But we’ll do our very best.

Here, everything you need to know about the small—but mighty—bungalow.

What is a bungalow?

Even Merriam-Webster can’t decide on one definition of “bungalow,” as its entry reads, “a one-storied house with a low-pitched roof; also, a house having one and a half stories and usually a front porch.” Such lack of clarity means that many small single-family homes may be a bungalow. All a bungalow must be is small. But there are a handful of defining elements that most bungalows have in common.

What are the defining elements and characteristics of bungalows?

• One story or one and a half stories
• Balanced but asymmetrical façade
• Low-pitched gabled or hipped roof
• Covered front porches or verandas
• Wide overhanging eaves
• Support columns, often thick and tapered
• Lots of windows
• Dormers

• Small square footage
• Open floor plans
• Built-in cabinets and shelves
• Custom benches and window seats
• Attics
• Natural materials like wood, stone, and brick

What is the history of bungalows?

All of the bungalows that exist in America can be traced back to the single-story huts that were found throughout 19th-century India. The South Asian country was under British colonial occupation at the time and military officers were often housed in these easily constructed huts, which were called bangala, meaning “belonging to Bengal” in Hindustani. This compact style of home was then brought back to England in the late 1800s, where it caught on quickly.

In the early 20th century, the concept of a bungalow was imported from England to America, where the Craftsman style took hold. “Architects in California played a key role in popularizing the Craftsman-type bungalow, designing such homes as early as 1903 in Pasadena,” says Laguna Beach, California–based interior designer Lisa Berman of Studio Gutow. “The Craftsman bungalow became a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts movement, emphasizing craftsmanship, natural materials, and a connection to nature.”

In addition to serving as primary residences, bungalows also became vacation getaways. By the 1950s, it was common practice for Jewish families from New York City to spend their summers in bungalow colonies in the Catskill Mountains. These resorts offered all-inclusive amenities and camp-like activities along with the bungalow lodgings.

What are the different types of bungalows?

As Berman says, Craftsman bungalows are the product of the American Arts and Crafts movement, which focused on quality craftsmanship and natural materials. This type of bungalow was built all over the West Coast and Midwest in the early 1900s thanks to furniture maker Gustav Stickley’s magazine called The Craftsman, which supplied residential blueprints. Prefab bungalow kits were also sold by mail order retailers like Sears.

Craftsman bungalows are recognizable for their low-pitched gabled or hipped roofs; overhanging eaves; exposed brackets and beams; thick, tapered columns; abundance of windows; and front porches or verandas. Their wood siding and trim are typically painted in earth tones.

California bungalows are quite similar to Craftsman bungalows—both have gabled roofs, overhanging eaves, and sizable porches. The exterior of a California bungalow is often made of stucco, horizontal wood siding, or shingles. Neighborhoods like ​​Belmont Heights in Long Beach, Bungalow Heaven in Pasadena, Highland Park in Los Angeles, and North Park in San Diego are known for their high concentrations of California bungalows.

Found throughout California, Mission bungalows take cues from Spanish-style architecture. With their smooth, light-colored stucco siding, terra-cotta tile roofs, and arched windows and doors, Mission bungalows look like they belong by the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, they are sometimes called Mediterranean Revival bungalows.

According to the Chicago Bungalow Association, there are approximately 80,000 historic bungalows in Chicago. The bungalow style that’s associated with the Windy City is distinctively made of brick and includes one and a half stories above a full basement. Chicago bungalows also often have low-pitched hipped roofs, porches accessed by steps up from street level, and overhanging eaves. Sometimes, they have off-center front doors or side entrances. And while they’re rectangular in shape, they differ from wide-faced Craftsman bungalows with their narrow fronts.

Though markedly different from Chicago bungalows, Prairie bungalows also originated in Chicago, as the brainchild of Frank Lloyd Wright and his fellow architects at the Prairie School. Prairie bungalows are known for their strong, long, and low horizontal lines. They have hipped roofs with overhanging eaves, flat chimneys, contrasting exterior materials, narrow windows, and decorative doorways.

A departure from the simplicity of most bungalow styles, Tudor bungalows are whimsical and detailed in their designs, recalling medieval and fairytale architecture. Tudor bungalows frequently include steeply pitched roofs; ornate half-timbered façades; elaborate chimneys; tall, narrow windows; and intricately embellished doorways.

Modern bungalows are just what they sound like: small single-story homes built in the contemporary architectural style of today. Much like other new builds of the 2020s, modern bungalows are usually made of popular materials like concrete and glass and feature sleek lines and sharp angles.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a bungalow?

The benefits that bungalows offer are truly endless. Firstly, people with limited mobility appreciate bungalows for their accessibility. “One level living can be a game changer, especially for those who don’t want to deal with stairs daily,” says Berman’s Studio Gutow cofounder Melissa Rohani. Abcarian agrees, adding that bungalows “are good for smaller families or gently accommodating elderly people because they are single-story.”

For Abcarian, though, the perk of buying a bungalow is its patina and charm. “It’s owning a piece of history,” she says. “It’s always a good idea to preserve what we can and appreciate the quirks that come along with older homes. Another pro is that having a smaller space cuts down on maintenance costs.”

Berman is a fan of bungalows for their indoor-outdoor living capabilities. “With their characteristic porches, bungalows bring the outside in, creating a strong connection to nature,” she muses. “Bungalows are also cozy. The smaller space lends itself to a warm and intimate home.” Meanwhile, Rohani loves bungalows for their versatility. “Bungalows are like design chameleons—they can easily adapt to different styles, giving homeowners a lot of flexibility in how they want their space to look,” she says.

For some people, the petite size of a bungalow can be a drawback. “Small can be cozy, but it can also feel a bit tight, especially if you’ve got a big family,” Rohani admits. Abcarian points out that the limited space can be especially challenging in the kitchen, which many view as the heart of the home. “Older kitchens are smaller than what we’ve come to think of as normal and functional,” she notes.

Renovating a bungalow, especially one built over 100 years ago, to accommodate contemporary life can also prove to be difficult. “Updating older bungalows for today’s needs can be like solving a puzzle,” Berman says. “It’s not always straightforward and might need some creative problem-solving.”

Where are bungalows found today?

Bungalows can be found all over the world, from Bangladesh and India to the United Kingdom and the United States. Here in the US, there are far more bungalows in the Midwest and West Coast regions than there are anywhere else in the country. “They are usually grouped together, making exceptionally charming neighborhoods,” Abcarian says.

In addition to the California neighborhoods we named above, like Long Beach’s Belmont Heights and Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven, bungalows are clustered in enchanting areas like South Park Manor in Chicago, Seminole Heights in Tampa, Junius Heights in Dallas, and Far Rockaway Beach in Queens County, New York.