Interior

• The ranch floor plan is either standard, with a cluster of bedrooms, or a split bedroom design. Since the home is a straight line, the interior also flows horizontally in contrast to colonial or cottage homes that often have rooms connected in a circular pattern. The main rooms are often open, connected spaces with each room leading to only one other room. The floor plans vary but usually exhibit long hallways that allow passage to additional living spaces.
  
  

History

• Cliff May introduced the ranch style in 1932 in San Diego, California. The development company, Abram Levit and Sons embraced the design in the 1940s because of the ease and economic efficiency with which they could build the design. They began to create housing developments and planned communities, varying the style little as they progressed. By the 1950s, the company had cornered the housing market, and the ranch style became immensely common do to the affordability of the homes.
  
  

Benefits

• The ranch style offers affordability in the housing market. The main benefit is that the straight, horizontal lines are easier, faster and cheaper to build than the alternatives, such as the European, Victorian and colonial styles. The ranch floor plan also separates the sleeping areas from the main areas of the home, providing additional privacy for the bedrooms and encouraging the family to gather in a single, central location in the home.
  
  

Drawbacks

• The main drawback of the ranch floor plan is the necessity for hallways to get from one side of the home to the other, but the split-bedroom design reduces the amount of hallway space needed. Some individuals also find the lack of architectural detail and interest on the home's exterior unappealing.