Beginner’s Guide to Southern Living Home Plans

Southern Living home plans are not easily characterized due to the variety of styles and features they may exhibit. There are some attributes, however, that nearly all Southern Living plans have in common. Whether a grandiose estate or a simple country cottage, here’s what you can expect to love about Southern Living home design.

Porches:

The air conditioning of the old south, porches are a time-honored tradition of southern living. From a wide, welcoming front porch to sprawling wrap-around versions, southerners love their porches and a good Southern Living home plan will include one – or more! To increase the level of enjoyment, look for screened-in porches which are so often a fixture at the back of the home.

Roomy Country Kitchens:

Always a focal point of the home, kitchens tend to be open and accessible in Southern Living designs. Larger homes may feature kitchen islands, walk-in pantries, and plenty of room for a breakfast table. Large, sunny windows fill southern kitchens with sunlight, while bay windows can often be found in breakfast nooks. A country kitchen isn’t necessarily synonymous with old-fashioned, though. There’s plenty of room for modern amenities and state-of-the-art appliances when you cook southern-style!

Appealing Symmetry:

Most Southern Living designs feature neat rows of windows on the exterior, nicely balanced across the facade. Rooflines tend to be basic, without multiple levels and points. Interior rooms tend to be arranged around a central foyer with the formal living and dining rooms placed to the left and right of the front door. Both aesthetically pleasing and budget-friendly, these clean, simple lines are a trademark of southern homes.

Brick or Wood Exteriors:

You won’t find anything fancy on display when you look at a southern home plan. Traditionally made from wood or brick, today’s Southern Living plans typically feature vinyl siding or brick exteriors. Homes with Victorian influence may include decorative woodwork, especially on porch railings.

Dormers and Shutters:

Although certainly not all Southern Living plans will include these features, they are extremely popular in southern designs. Dormers can often be found peeking out over porches that expand the width of the home, while once functional shutters now serve as a decorative touch.

Hospitality:

Technically not a design feature, gracious hospitality is nevertheless a staple of Southern Living home plans. It lies in the little touches that you will find throughout southern home plans. You will find it in the impressive entries that are just as prevalent in small cottages as they are in plantation-style estates. You will see it in the earthy warmth of a traditional brick fireplace nestled in a cozy family room or within the polished elegance of the formal dining space. It’s a quality that often defies description, but Southern Living designs have a way of feeling like home.

With such a wide variety of Southern Living home styles and plans available, there’s a southern house out there for nearly any taste. If you want a warm, welcoming home with classic country comfort and spacious outdoor living amenities, then there’s a good chance that Southern Living is for you.