Everything You Need to Know About Chalet-Style Homes
Enjoy a lifetime of getaways in one of these cozy vacation homes
Highlights
Chalet-style houses originated in the Alps and have become popular in the U.S.
These homes have classic wooden construction and a signature A-frame shape.
Chalet homes can be found in almost any vacation area.
Born in the mountains of Europe, chalet-style homes are now staples of mountain towns and lakeside homes in the U.S. It’s easy to see why—their simple structure of wood and stone, plus their large windows, is the perfect place to take in the scenery and enjoy nature.
What Is a Chalet-Style House?
Designed for areas with heavy snowfall, charming chalet homes were initially used to provide shelter for dairy cattle herders. Chalets have become a destination for skiers, hikers, and other outdoor adventurers in the decades since.
Pros and Cons of Chalet Homes
These holiday homes are popular in resort areas and places where people go to get away. If you’re thinking about buying or building a chalet home, be sure to take the advantages and drawbacks into consideration.
Pros
Chalet homes are an excellent option for families who vacation in the same area year after year. They offer more privacy than hotels and may even give you additional income if you rent out the chalet when you aren’t using it. These cozy homes are often found in remote, picturesque places and have a small footprint, so they don’t disturb the surrounding natural beauty.
If you’re building a chalet-style home from scratch, the good news is that you can save on the cost of an architect, as plans for chalet-style houses are standard and easy to find. Just be sure to ask your builder plenty of questions to ensure they have experience with this home style.
Cons
Chalet houses do come with some downsides as well. Because these homes are constructed primarily of wood, you’ll need to stay on top of maintenance to ensure your chalet is protected from water damage, rot, and pests like termites and rodents. The steep-pitched roof is a key feature of these homes and is designed to keep snowfall from settling, but it can make heating the home more complex and is costly to replace when the time comes.
In addition, because these homes are smaller and primarily designed to be vacation homes, they don’t often offer enough space or amenities for full-time living. If you’re interested in building a chalet-style home as your primary home, you may want to consult a local architect to ensure your home has everything it needs to be a year-round residence.
Key Elements of a Chalet-Style House
Chalets have many unique interior and exterior features that create a cozy vacation vibe.
1. Constructed With Wood and Natural Materials
A signature feature of a chalet-style home is that it’s constructed with natural materials, including wood and stone. Typically, wooden planks are carefully cobbled together like a log house or cabin, often with a stone foundation and timber framing.
2. A-Frame Architecture
Chalets have an A-frame structure that, along with its staple gabled roof, traditionally allowed heavy Alps snow to slide off the roof easily. Inside, the wooden structure’s cozy interior creates the perfect relaxing space—and the A-shape means you get great attic space or even additional sleeping space!
3. Overhanging Eaves
Along with protecting a chalet-style home’s foundation and siding, overhanging eaves allow snow to fall from the roof to the ground.
4. Multiple Balconies
Chalets often feature multiple balconies. Not only do these balconies give you another way to enjoy the outdoors, but they act as decorative elements, too, by featuring ornamental carvings and moldings that resemble a gingerbread house.
5. Large, Expansive Windows
Chalet-style homes are often designed with grand windows. The windows allow for ample natural light and gorgeous panoramic views—a must in the mountains!
6. Open-Concept Layout
The open floor plan of a chalet is perfect for a family getaway—allowing everyone space to relax while still feeling together and connected.
7. Central Fireplace
If you peer into the large windows of a chalet-style home, you will most certainly see a central fireplace burning logs. The fireplace provides a welcome meeting place to watch a movie, have a family game night, or enjoy a romantic evening.
8. Vaulted Ceilings
The chalet interior often centers around an open space on the main level with high ceilings, thanks to its A-frame construction. The second floor is often a loft area with low ceilings.
How to Incorporate Chalet-style Design Into Your Home
Incorporating elements of a chalet-style home into your design plan can bring joy and relaxation into your home, no matter what style of home you have and whether you live in the mountains, on a lake, or in a city.
Open Floor Plan
Joining rooms together is a great way to improve traffic flow, share light, and create an open ambiance. It also encourages a sense of togetherness without making the whole family crowd around and be on top of each other.
Use Natural Materials
Using natural woods, stones, and reclaimed materials creates a connection to nature. Unstained wood, tumbled stones, and cobbled walls seamlessly fit into natural settings. Whether you use tumbled stones to create a walkway or shower floor or have a coffee table crafted with reclaimed wood, you will enjoy the natural feeling.
Keep the Design Simple
A no-fuss feeling is the essence of a chalet-style home. A peaceful color palette, plenty of light, raw materials, and minimal furnishings create the perfect retreat.
Install a Fireplace Inside and a Fire Pit Outside
Fireplaces are the heart of a chalet. Install a fireplace in your great room or outdoor patio to create great family memories.
Why Choose a Chalet House?
A chalet-style house offers a vacation getaway that is always available for you and saves you the hassle of a hotel stay. These small homes are more affordable than traditional single-family homes and are a solid choice for a seasonal or vacation home. They also make a good investment opportunity if you use your chalet home as a weekly or monthly rental when you aren’t spending time there.
Frequently Asked Questions
The word “chalet” comes from Franco-Provençal, the language historically spoken in the European Alpine regions of Switzerland and France, and refers to the huts used by dairy farmers and herders. In modern times, “chalet” can refer to several different tiny vacation homes, but a chalet house is most commonly used to describe the small traditional A-frame wooden home.
Chalet-style homes are often found in mountain resorts, wooded areas surrounding lakes and ponds, and beachfront locations. While this type of home was traditionally only found in the mountains, over time, the style has gained popularity in any area where people like to vacation, and these homes can be found from coast to coast in vacation areas in the U.S.
Chalets and cabins have many common elements, but what sets chalets apart is the classic Alpine-inspired shape, including the A-frame roof. Cabins, while also made of wood with simple construction, are often less elaborate than chalet-style homes. Another differentiating factor is that cabins are often only one story, while the chalet’s steeply pitched roof creates a second story.