If you have always wanted to have a Craftsman home but are living in a bungalow, a two story, or perhaps even an older home that is one of those commonly-repeated styles in urban neighborhoods, you can add design elements to create a look.

This won’t give you a complete Craftsman, but it will have the general style. If you are willing to renovate a bit further, over time you can make more substantial, and costly, changes to give your home more of the authentic look you want to create.

Wide Front Entrance

One of the most noticeable elements or design components of a Craftsman home is the use of a wide front entrance, typically with steps up to the porch area. However, even if you don’t have a porch or your entrance is not raised, you can still give that open look.

Starting at the curb create a very wide walkway. This can be cement, stone, pavers, blocks or whatever look you wish. Bring this wide walkway up the home, and extend the width of the stairs, or continue on to the door area for a home without steps. The porch should include columns or pillars with a wood railing between each pillar.

Add a Craftsman Door

Adding the traditional look of Craftsman doors is a must to create the design element you want. Consider the very traditional look of the natural wood, stained from a medium to darker color, combined with the dentil shelf and the set of three rectangular lites or six small square lites.

To add more style, artisan types of glass can be used on the lites on Craftsman doors, it is still traditional, but it just adds a bit more detail. You will also want to keep the hardware very traditional with a brass, black iron or vintage handle set. Sidelites are also an option to consider for a larger entrance, and they are a classic addition to Craftsman doors in both the very traditional and the more modern designs.

White Trim

While Craftsman doors and frames were typically left stained with the look of rich, natural wood, it isn’t uncommon or unusual to then have the windows, the pillars or columns, as well as the railing, all painted white.

The rest of the home can be painted any color you like, with traditional colors being those found in nature such as sandy beiges, gray colors, muted blues and greens, mustard yellows and rust to red colors.

This makes a very striking look on any style of home. It is a great idea to simply browse the internet and look at how this design style has been incorporated into existing homes; you will be amazed at the options possible.