The first American Colonial-style homes developed during a period of British colonial rule. The homes were timber-framed wood houses with simple windows, decorative shutters, and symmetrical forms anchored by a central door and a chimney or two.

American Colonial homes are generally characterized by a square or rectangular facade, a central entrance and windows symmetrically placed on either side of the entrance. They are typically made of wood, stone or brick and will generally have uniformly sized doors and windows with shutters. The roof is typically side-gabled and dormers are common.