Dollhouses come in a wide variety of styles that mimic the styles of real world houses.  Some of the more popular styles are the Cape Cod, the Victorian, the Colonial, and the Plantation Style. 

The Cape Cod style of home, like many other styles, came about for reasons of necessity rather than aesthetic considerations.  Winters in New England are notorious for their harsh blizzards and massive amounts of snowfall.  Therefore, early settlers in the Cape Cod region built their dwellings with a sharply slanted roof (reminiscent of the house designs of Scandinavian and Alpine countries that must also contend with large amounts of snow) to keep snow from building up to a dangerous amount.  Most Cape Cod homes feature a large centrally located fireplace which served the obvious task of keeping the inhabitants warm throughout the unforgiving winter months.

Like the Cape Cod houses, houses of the colonial period were designed with functionality in mind.  Colonial houses often feature a narrow design which made it easier for residents to receive lighting through the windows in all points of the house.  The layout of colonial houses was often asymmetrical, and the decor was generally sparse and austere.  Those who enjoy working with miniatures also have a love of colonial American history and culture.  This results in some extremely creative and authentic colonial miniatures.

Unlike the Colonial and Cape Cod styles, Victorian homes were designed more with an eye on form than on function (though they were of course fully functional).  Victorian era homes (and, hence, dollhouses) were originally designed as a reaction to the austerity and simplicity of home design from previous eras.  Instead of the clean geometric shapes of Georgian homes, Victorian homes feature extreme angles and ornate decoration.  Many hobbyists collect Victorian era doll houses for the sole enjoyment of reveling in the flamboyant design of the period. 

Plantation style dollhouses reflect the genteel character and slower pace of life that was found in the ante-bellum American south.  Large balconies were featured prominently in this type of house and served to take advantage of the cooling breezes that are so necessary on a summer day in the Deep South. 

There are dollhouses available in any type of home style that one can imagine.  Also, period-specific miniature furnishings can provide a rich level of detail and authenticity.