Key Takeaways

• Early decision matters – Choosing between a 1-story vs a 2-story house is one of the first and most important steps in the custom home building process.
• Factors to consider – Budget, lot size, slope, location, lifestyle needs, mobility, climate, and long-term goals all impact whether a single-story or two-story home is the better fit.
• 1-story advantages – Ranch-style homes offer easy accessibility, energy efficiency, seamless indoor-outdoor living, and lower maintenance.
• 2-story advantages – Two-story houses maximize smaller or sloped lots, provide better mountain views, offer privacy between floors, and can reduce foundation and roofing costs per square foot.
• Colorado-specific considerations – Terrain, elevation, and snowfall make the 1-story vs 2-story decision more critical in Colorado than in many other states. 

When building a custom home in Colorado, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face early on is whether to design a 1-story or 2-story house. While budget and square footage matter, the choice often comes down to lifestyle, lot size, and how you want your home to connect with the land around it.

Do you picture a sprawling ranch-style home that flows seamlessly into the outdoors, or a two-story design that maximizes space and captures sweeping Rocky Mountain views? Both options have unique advantages and a few trade-offs that are especially important to consider in Colorado’s varied terrain and climate.

With more than 35 years of experience building custom homes across Douglas, El Paso, and Elbert counties, Murphy’s Custom Homes has helped families weigh these pros and cons to create homes that truly fit their lives. In this guide, we’ll break down the benefits of 1-story vs 2-story houses in Colorado so you can make the right choice for your dream home.

Why This Decision Matters More in Colorado

Numerous factors influence home design, including budget, location, terrain, lot size, lifestyle, and climate. In Colorado, the state’s unique topography and climate have an oversized influence on choosing between a one- or two-story home compared to most other states. Consider that mountainous terrain creates smaller, sloped lots that frequently make two-story homes more practical. From an aesthetic standpoint, a two-story house may be more desirable on a flat lot as the elevated second floor can better capture the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains. On the other hand, if the terrain allows, the surrounding vistas may make a one-story home with open floor plans and large windows more desirable. 

When it comes to climate, cold winters and the area’s snowfall give rise to two considerations affecting the one- or two-story decision-making. First, single-story homes are generally more energy efficient and easier to heat than two-story ones. Second, homes sited in higher elevations need to account for potential heavy snowfalls. Two-story homes require less roof area, alleviating some snow load concerns, but a steeply sloped roof provides even more peace of mind. One-story home designs can incorporate such a roof, though you’ll need to find a big enough mountain lot for the house and pay more for the roofing. 

Benefits of a One-Story House

OK, now that you’ve begun considering the factors that will help you decide whether to build a one- or two-story home, let’s look at the benefits of each, starting with the single-story one:

• Accessibility: With no stairs, a one-story home is ideal for aging in place, those with mobility issues, and families with young children.
• Lot utilization: Spreads out on larger lots for broader curb appeal.
• Energy efficiency: With single-level heating, single-story homes are usually more energy efficient than two-story ones.
• Easy outdoor access: Single-story homes allow for greater seamless indoor-outdoor flow. 
• Ease of maintenance: With only one story, these homes are easier to maintain and usually have lower exterior maintenance costs than two-story houses. 

Benefits of a Two-Story House

And here are the benefits to consider when building a custom two-story home:

• Small footprint: Allows the home to be built on small lots found in urban neighborhoods and on sloped mountainous lots.
• Elevated view planes: A second floor can better capture stunning Rocky Mountain vistas, especially from homes located in urban areas, foothills, and the mountains. 
• Cost Efficiency: Two-story houses typically have lower foundation and roofing costs per square foot than an equivalent-sized sprawling single-story home. 
• Space separation: Upstairs bedrooms help create separate living and sleeping zones for privacy.

Things to Consider Before You Decide

The respective benefits of a one-story versus a two-story home are not etched in proverbial stone. For example, while a two-story home may have lower foundation and roofing costs, its square footage may lead to higher framing and stair costs. Additionally, a skilled custom home builder can incorporate features that provide additional benefits, for example, using an open floor plan and large windows to enhance vista views in a single-story home. 

As you narrow down the pros and cons of whether to build a one- or two-story home, keep these factors in mind: 

• Lot size and shape: Is your land better suited to build out or up?
• View planes: Will a second story give you better views of Pike’s Peak or other stunning scenery?
• Mobility Needs: Do you need to account for aging in place and other accessibility or mobility considerations? 
• Resale value: Which style seems to be most popular in your chosen home site area?
• Budget: You should thoroughly discuss this with your custom home builder if there are any concerns. 

Still Deciding? Start with a Custom Builder

Deciding on whether to build a one- or two-story home in Colorado Springs may prove daunting. However, an experienced custom home builder, like Murphy’s Custom Homes, can prove invaluable in helping you come to a perfect decision aligned with your lifestyle and long-term goals. Your custom home builder will also help you navigate the numerous other challenging decisions you will need to make to bring your dream home vision to life. Thus, the sooner you begin working with your chosen home builder, the sooner you can start living your dream.  

With 35-plus years of building exquisite custom homes in the Colorado Springs Front Range region, we look forward to discussing your emerging home-building plans to see if we’re the right builder for you. To learn more, review our portfolio of award-winning custom homes and contact us at (719) 488-8818.  

 

FAQs: 1-Story vs 2-Story Homes in Colorado

Q: What’s more affordable to build, a 1-story or 2-story house in Colorado?
A: While one-story homes can be simpler to construct, two-story homes may reduce foundation and roof costs by stacking square footage. In Colorado, factors like excavation, elevation, and land availability also influence pricing.

Q: Are two-story homes better for mountain views?
A: Yes, adding a second floor can maximize your lot’s potential for sweeping mountain views, especially in Colorado Springs neighborhoods near the foothills, such as Peregrine, Black Forest, Flying Horse, and Cathedral Pines. These elevated areas often offer stunning perspectives of Pikes Peak and the Front Range that are best captured from a second story.

Q: Is a single-story home better for aging in place?
A: Absolutely. Many buyers in Colorado choose ranch-style homes to avoid stairs and allow for future accessibility features.

Q: Does the size of the lot affect whether I should build a 1 or 2-story house?
A: Yes. If your lot is narrow or small, a two-story home helps maximize square footage. On larger or rural lots, a single-story layout can feel more open and connected to the land.

Q: Can I change my mind after purchasing land?
A: In many cases, yes. As long as your chosen layout fits local zoning, a custom builder can adjust your design plan to suit your preferences and property.