16 Essential Features of Classic Cape Cod Homes

You likely recognize a Cape Cod house when you see one, thanks to its humble, enduring style, but sometimes it’s nice to know what makes it so. Here are 16 specific features you can look for, from the roofline to the windows, that really define these homes.

Guide Guests With a Stepping Stone Path

Large, flat stepping stones are laid directly into your lawn. Their irregular placement defines the path.

Brighten Dark Shingles With a Turquoise Door

If your home has dark siding, a bright turquoise front door stands out against it. Flank it with simple planters to complete the entryway.

Frame the Entryway With Tall Planters

Tall, narrow planters can frame your front door. The dark, cylindrical pots work best when holding small, manicured trees, which help to draw the eye toward the entrance.

Red Chairs Add a Pop of Color to the Deck

Bright red Adirondack-style chairs are arranged on the deck. Their bold color sits against the natural wood tones of the deck and surrounding greenery.

Soften a Shingle Home With Naturalistic Planting

You can allow garden beds to grow into a wilder display, letting a mix of tall grasses and flowering shrubs spill over pathways to form a soft border around the home’s shingle exterior.

Define Landscape Beds With Layered Stone Walls

Tiered stone walls of rough-hewn stones can build up your garden beds. Their varying heights and textures form a layered foundation.

Define Porch Space With Sturdy Columns

To divide your porch into separate outdoor areas, use sturdy columns. The white columns break up the dark shingle siding with a clean, classic look.

Ground Entryway Gardens With Dark Planters

Dark, substantial planters sit on either side of your entryway, defining the entrance. These deep containers hold a mix of greenery and seasonal flowers.

Soften a Wraparound Porch With Mounded Hydrangeas

Plant large mounds of pink hydrangeas to fill the space between your wraparound porch railing and the lawn.

Border Water With a Stone Retaining Wall

If you have waterfront property, build a layered wall using large, rounded stones of varying sizes.

Lounge By the Pool With Wooden Chaise Lounges

Arrange wooden chaise lounges with green cushions on your deck. These provide a reclining area for enjoying the outdoors. Pair them with small side tables to offer a convenient surface for a drink or a book.

Frame a Bright Red Door With White Planters

Crisp white planters are placed on either side of your entryway steps. These simple containers hold low-profile flowers or greenery.

Define the Covered Entryway With White Columns

Substantial white columns can frame your home’s entrance, creating a well-defined porch area. These classic pillars work best when flanking the doorway, as their crisp white makes a clear line against natural wood siding. This helps draw the eye toward the front door.

Window Boxes Filled With Red Flowers Add Color

If your home’s gray shingle facade feels too plain, window boxes filled with bright red flowers can add that cheerful splash of color. Mounted just below the upper windows, their cascading greenery also softens the house’s architectural lines.

Awning Adds Striped Shade Over Dormer Window

An awning with a black and white striped pattern can be installed over a dormer window, casting shade and presenting a clear visual against the home’s siding.

Welcome Guests With a Red Door

For a memorable first impression, a deep red door forms a distinct center of attention at the house’s entry. It is visually balanced by twin white pillars and contrasts with a calm exterior finish.