According to Clay Lancaster's The American Bungalow, the word "bungalow" originated in India--from their word "bangla" for temporary or portable thatch-roofed dwellings. These temporary homes were used mostly by British traders or soldiers during the 1600s and 1700s. The shelters were "purely utilitarian"useful for travelers, but not considered particularly stylish or comfortable.

In the late 1800s, the English began to build a more permanent version of the bungalow. Materials for constructing early English bungalows were available for purchase, unassembled, during the Industrial Revolution. These materials could be transported to a desirable location, where they could then be assembled according to the floor plan. The early English bungalows were built as vacation homesusually near the ocean or in a remote countryside spot. These new bungalows were more comfortable and more stylish than the first Indian bungalows, though they were not yet seen as fit for primary residences.

Bungalows soon appeared in the United States, also as vacation homes. But, according to Bungalow Nation by Diane Maddex and Alexander Vertikof, following the Arts and Crafts movement in Britain, the U.S. middle class called for more affordable homes reflecting democratic, middle-class values. Gustav Stickley, owner of The Craftsman magazine, began to feature favorite bungalow house plans in his monthly publication. Companies such as Sears and Montgomery Ward began to offer their own mail-order bungalows in ready-to-assemble kits. Bungalow plans and specifications were readily available and very affordable.

The bungalow became very popular with home-builders across the country, especially during the 1920s. In fact, Bungalow Nation calls the bungalow Americas first national house type. A percentage of the U.S. population today are still enjoying some of these turn-of-the-century bungalowssimple, yet efficient homes that are still charming all these years later.

Bungalows come in different shapes and sizesthough most were designed to use space efficiently and are not especially large. We are, perhaps, most familiar with the style of the California bungalow. But, according to a website titled Bungalow Style, (www.bungalow-style.info/House-Plans/Cotton-Lumber/115.htm) there were a great variety of house plans, designed to meet many different situations. This website features numerous illustrations and information about the many styles of bungalows.

Despite the differences in styles, bungalows are generally characterized by a gabled roof, a sweeping, covered porch, an open floor plan, and efficient use of spaceoften with built-in storage. Maddex and Vertikof claim that bungalows often include: room dividers, bookcases, cabinets with art glass doors, fireside benches and inglenooks, window seats, radiator enclosures, buffets, wainscoting, plate rails, kitchen cupboards, a windowed breakfast nook, a folding kitchen table and ironing board, bedroom and linen closets, disappearing beds, medicine cabinets, a niche for the telephone. A few manufacturers even offered furniturespecially designed for the compact space.