11 Spanish-Style Homes That Are Warm and Inviting

What is the difference between Spanish-style homes and Mediterranean-style homes?

Spanish and Mediterranean homes have some common features, such as ornate architectural elements. That said, Mediterranean-style homes and Spanish-style homes do have some differences, mainly relating to their exteriors.

Spanish-style homes have stucco walls, tile roofs, and bright tiles. Mediterranean homes, on the other hand, have plaster walls and red clay roof tiles. Mediterranean-style homes typically have more than two stories and incorporate elements such as balconies.

Where did Spanish-style homes originate?

Spanish-style homes originated in 16th-century Spain, during Spain’s colonization of the Americas. From there, the style began to become more prevalent in the 17th century, mainly in areas that shared similar climates to Spain, such as modern-day Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Nevada.

What are the different styles of Spanish-style homes? 

Spanish-style homes are known by several different names, such as Spanish Colonial Revival, Mission Revival, and more. The following are the most common types of Spanish-style homes in the U.S.:

• Spanish Colonial Revival houses became popular in North America during the early 20th century, based on Spanish Colonial architecture that originated in Spain in the 1500s.
• Mission Revival homes are typically found in California and the Southwest, a late 19th-century style built to emulate elements of Spanish missions that include features like arched entryways, stucco walls, tiled roofs, and bell towers.
• Pueblo Revival (also called Santa Fe Style) is a 20th-century variation on 18th- and 19th-century Adobe-style houses that render the rounded forms of the original style using modern materials such as brick or concrete. 
• Spanish Eclectic is a blanket term for homes that incorporate various Spanish elements to create a modern mashup that can be applied to many of the Spanish-style homes found throughout the U.S. today.