Are you eager to gain some architectural knowledge before designing an exterior or space of your own? Or maybe you're just looking to learn something new. Either way, acquainting yourself with these widely-used architectural terms might come in handy. Knowing how to describe structures and their details makes it easier to articulate your vision for your own home. Delve into these common terms and see how they appear in residential architecture.

Source: JOHN MERKL

A cupola is a small dome-like structure that protrudes from the top of a building. These structures serve a purpose—they're sometimes used as lookouts or provide air and ventilation to the building below. They also provide visual interest to an otherwise plain roof and are often seen on barns or sheds.

Source: KEYANNA BOWEN

Perfect for outdoor living and entertaining, a veranda is an open-air hallway with a roof and often a railing. Unlike a typical porch, a veranda takes up either the entire front or back of the house, usually wrapping around the sides.

Source: ED GOHLICH

An eave in architecture is the part of the roof that hangs over the side of the house or building structure. This integral part of the roof helps run water away from the walls and foundation, resulting in fewer repairs and a longer life for the house.

Source: KIM CORNELISON

Bay windows often make for a cozy reading nook and allow extra light inside a home. These unique windows jut out from the home's interior and extend from the exterior. They often consist of one large window in the center with two smaller windows on each side.

Source: ANTHONY MASTERSON

Rather than a hip roof (a roof in which all four sides gently slope from the peak), a gable roof features two sloped sides that meet at a peak. The triangular part of the wall between the pitched roof is what's called a gable. Gables allow for more attic space and better rainfall and snow shedding.

Source: STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG 

Add visual interest to plain exterior or interior walls with board and batten. This siding and paneling style uses thin strips of molding (battens) and places them vertically over wide wood boards. Painting the boards and battens one color creates a cohesive look.

Source: EDMUND BARR

Inspired by medieval castles, turrets are small tower-like structures that extend from a house. They're often seen in Victorian-style homes, where they typically serve as parlors, studies, or other cozy and quaint areas. If the turret is large enough, it can provide a round room on each floor of the home.

Source: HELEN NORMAN

A portico is a small roofed porch near a home's doorway. It's often held up by columns or brackets, offering a classical look to the house's exterior. Porticos also help protect guests from rain or snow when entering or leaving the house.

Source: HELEN NORMAN

Parapets are essentially small walls or thick railings around the outside of a roof. They are usually extensions of the walls that project slightly higher than the roof. These short walls can help protect the roof from wind, water, debris, and fire.

Source: JEAN ALLSOPP

You've likely heard the word facade before, but do you know what it means? A facade is the front or "face" of a house's exterior. This side of the house will likely face the street or front yard, making it the first part of the house guests see when they arrive.

Source: STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

A dormer is a roofed vertical window set on a slanted roof. These small additions allow for more space and light on the top floor or in the attic of a home. They also add dimension and interest to the roof.

Source: LAUREY GLENN

Wainscoting is a wall treatment that adds extra texture and interest. The decorative wall covering is usually installed over the lower part of a wall and painted to contrast the rest of the room. It has multiple styles, such as raised-panel, flat-panel, and beadboard, and is often placed in high-traffic areas to prevent scuffs on the walls.

Source: JOHN GRANEN

Colonnades are large rows of columns that support the ceiling in a feature like a covered walkway or porch. They can also be seen indoors to show the divide of a room. A classical-inspired colonnade is the perfect addition for extra drama in a space.

Source: JULIE SOEFER

Cornices add a decorative element to a home. Whether found outside on eaves, around the ceiling of a room, or on the trim of furniture, cornices are the crowns or caps that finish off a space or structure. They are always horizontal and often help create a beautiful transition from the wall to the ceiling.

Source: JOHN BESSLER

Often seen lining staircases, porches, balconies, and terraces, balustrades are a popular structure used both indoors and on home exteriors. Balustrades are railing systems consisting of a row of columns (balusters or spindles) held together by a top rail. They serve both decorative and functional purposes.

Source: 15 Residential Architecture Terms Every Homeowner Should Know Better Homes & Gardens (April 19, 2024) Halee Miller