Home 11 Ranch House Plans that Will Never Go Out of Style By Ellen Antworth Ellen Antworth Ellen Antworth is a graphic designer and self-proclaimed Interior Design aficionado. When she is not creating layouts in InDesign, you can find Ellen rearranging her furniture or searching for tips on how to hang the perfect gallery wall, still. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on October 14, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Southern Living Family-friendly, thoughtfully designed, and unassuming, it's no wonder that the ranch has been one of the most common home styles in many Southern states since the 1950s. "Ranch" is a broad term used to describe wide, U-shaped or L-shaped, single floor houses with an attached garage. The versatility and adaptability of the ranch is what makes this style so special and the reason we'll keep loving ranch-style houses for another 50 years.Ranches are designed with the family in mind. The laid-back floor plans and simplicity in design means you can focus less on upkeep and more on family and friends. Living spaces flow freely into the kitchen, and a wide back porch or patio sits off the living room to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. These uniquely American homes often have simple exteriors with little adornments, which gives the potential to adapt the façade to suit regional design preferences. Converted attic spaces, walk-out basements, and bonus rooms are common features found in ranches to expand living space. To show off these classic homes, we've rounded up 11 of our favorite ranch-style house plans that would make the perfect home for empty nesters and new families alike. 01 of 11 The Ridge, plan #1973 Southern Living Build your very own Texas Idea House! Our 2018 Idea House in Austin, TX, offers a wide front porch and grand staircase, giving this house the wow factor that carries on throughout the open living room and kitchen. 4 bedrooms/4.5baths 3,513 Square feet See plan: The Ridge 02 of 11 Sand Mountain House, plan #977 Southern Living Between the soaring ceilings, a stone fireplace, and a classic country ranch exterior, Sand Mountain House is a house plan we can’t get enough of. Another notable feature of this house is the friend’s entrance off the office with its own covered porch, how darling! 3-4 bedrooms/3 full, 2 half baths 2,853 square feet See plan: Sand Mountain House 03 of 11 Cyprus Lake, plan #1874 Southern Living This French-colonial ranch checks every box on your wish list with plenty of space for entertaining, room to expand, and a spacious master suite. What sets Cyprus Lake apart is the amount of outdoor living spaces; with 4 distinct outdoor living spaces, you’ll never be far from a breath of fresh air. 3-4 bedrooms/3.5baths 5,312 square feet See plan: Cypress Lake 04 of 11 Crabapple Cottage, plan #667 Southern Living Everything about this charming cottage feels like home. The exterior exudes a sense of warmth with the welcoming L-shaped porch and elegant, yet modest columns. Inside, Large, open rooms make up the shared living spaces and a private master suite occupies a separate wing of the first floor for plenty of privacy. 4-5 bedrooms/3 full, two half baths 3,945 square feet See plan: Crabapple Cottage 05 of 11 Shook Hill, plan #1266 Southern Living Shook Hill is one of our favorite house plans for its classic curb appeal that’s been outfitted in a showstopping combination of stone, cedar-shingles, and lap siding. The deep, wrap around front porch adds an outdoor living space to the friendly façade. Inside, details like coffered ceilings, exposed beams, and a grand fireplace add a touch of luxury. 4-5 bedrooms/3.5 baths 3,257 square feet See plan: Shook Hill 06 of 11 Pine Ridge, plan #1133 Southern Living This ranch stands out among the rest with its arts-and-craft details like the exposed gable framing, mixture of brick and shingled siding, and vaulted ceilings with exposed beams. A main level master, and two bedrooms in the walkout basement level provide plenty of space for the whole family. If that’s not enough, the plan includes a bonus area over the garage that can be converted into a guest suite. 3 bedrooms/4 baths 3,678 square feet See plan: Pine Ridge 07 of 11 River Run, plan #578 Southern Living The country-style ranch won our hearts with its spacious front porch and mansard style roof. Inside, an open floor plan between the kitchen and family room is the heart of the home. A spacious deck on the rear provides plenty of space for outdoor living. 2-3 bedrooms/2.5 baths 2003 square feet See plan: River Run 08 of 11 Forestdale, plan #792 Southern Living This classic American ranch makes the perfect home for a young family. Open common areas and plenty of porch space are perfect for entertaining a crowd and a bonus space about the garage provides room to grow. 3-4 bedrooms/3 baths 2,010 square feet See plan: Forestdale 09 of 11 Stewarts Landing, plan #024 Southern Living Modern, yet traditional, Stewarts Landing is a house that will always feel like home. The exterior is adorned with classical details like stately colums and a wide porch. Inside, an open floorplan has all the comforts and luxuries of modern living. 4-5 bedrooms/3 baths 2,691 square feet See plan: Stewarts Landing 10 of 11 Lakeside Cottage, plan #751 Southern Living A skylight porch, sprawling deck, and Jack-and-Jill bathroom are our favorite parts of this southern charmer. This plan includes a finished bonus room above the garage, perfect for hosting family and friends. 3-4 bedrooms/3.5 baths 2,370 square feet See plan: Lakeside Cottage 11 of 11 Bridlewood, plan #1429 Southern Living This home is perfect for entertaining. Your guests will love the open layout in the family room, dining room, and kitchen and the extraordinary vaulted ceiling. The back porch boasts over 450 square feet of covered outdoor living space, providing more room for entertaining or a place to relax by the fire on chilly falls nights. 4-5 bedrooms/4 baths 3,470 square feet See plan: Bridlewood Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit