Residential dwellings can be built in a large variety of configurations. A basic division is between the house/single-family home and the flat/apartment, but there are also many subdivisions, listed below. Some of the terms listed are only used in some parts of the English speaking world.

Houses

A shack is a small, often run-down building, not necessarily used as a dwelling.

• A-frame, so-called because of the appearance of the structure

• Brownstone: see rowhouse

• Bungalow

• Caravan

• Cape Cod : Popular in the Northeastern United States

• Cape Dutch : Popular the Western Cape , South Africa

• Colonial house: a traditional style house in the United States

• Cottage: Usually refers to a small country dwelling, but weavers' cottages are three-storied townhouses with the top floor reserved for the working quarters.