Welcoming wildlife is one of the best parts of having a thriving garden and there's no doubt having a birdhouse encourages more feathered visitors. They are also beautiful yard features – even more so when you can match your birdhouse to your home's architecture. Could there be anything more charming?
These birdhouses are miniature versions of period houses, and I cannot get enough of this trend. You can find Victorian, colonial, cottage and harbor styles of houses – we even included a lighthouse in our edit. There is an incredible range of architectural birdhouses to choose from, and lots are in Wayfair's Early Way Day Sale – from this Wayfair Victorian Manor Birdhouse to this Wayfair Kingsgate Cottage Birdhouse.
These elaborate and unique creations are among the best birdhouses you can get your hands on. And while they may be on the pricier side, many of these statement pieces are currently up to 35% off at Wayfair, so now is the time to get your hands on one. To help you out, I've compiled a list of the best architectural birdhouses on offer – each one is inspired by a different period style.
My top 6 architectural birdhouse picks
If you've been searching high and low for a bird house idea that will fit the aesthetic of your yard, then jumping on this architectural birdhouse trend won't disappoint.
'Let's be honest, plastic bird houses don't do much aesthetically in your backyard, so I love these more creative designs that allow you to match the style of your home (or your dream home) to your birdhouse,' says Homes & Gardens' Head of Interiors, Hebe Hatton.
This birdhouse is wonderful for those living in a colonial style home. A perfect miniature version of homes in New England, it has three storeys, offering birds plenty of room for perching and nesting, before encouraging fledglings to flee the nest (or house). It measures 16x16x11 inches and is best mounted on a post. Position it centrally in your yard to create impact, or place it among planting to dramatically emerge from surrounding shrubs.
This is perhaps one of the most impressive architectural birdhouses on offer. 'I adore period architecture, and especially Victorian style houses with their towering ceiling heights and intricate, decorative details, so the idea of matching a bird house in the garden with my home is a joyful one,' says Homes & Gardens' Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull. This 15x10x9-inch birdhouse is ideal for small birds, with the windows providing plenty of air circulation. It even has built-in drainage to help keep it clean and comfortable for the birds that come to stay.
For some nostalgia of Maryland, opt for this Annapolis Lighthouse. It perfectly depicts the lighthouse at Thomas Point, Annapolis, even topped with the USA flag. This birdhouse acts as an ideal residence for small birds, with a removable back so you can easily clean it to help birds during breeding season with a safe space for shelter and warmth. It measures 16x13x13 inches, working well on a pedestal or mounted on a post.
'This cottage birdhouse is my personal favorite – it would work perfectly in the laid-back cottage garden I'm trying to create at home,' says Hebe Hatton. With intricate details, like roof lines, a porch, and plenty of windows, this cottage birdhouse would make a delightful companion to tall cottage garden plants, like hollyhocks. It measures 10.5x11.5x7.5 inches and has a mount to be attached to a fence or a tree. Just take care to choose a spot that will avoid collisions into windows, the same as when deciding where to hang a bird feeder.
This Sag Harbor Birdhouse is ideal for those dreaming of Long Island, New York. With the classic scalloped roof tiles and stairs leading up to the front door, this is a decadent birdhouse for feathered garden visitors. It measures 11x10.5x13 inches, looking best on a grand pedestal, and it can house shorter birds, like wrens and finches. You can also remove a panel for cleaning to help garden birds in winter before they settle in.
This is my favorite architectural birdhouse on offer at Wayfair, with two-storeys of classic Cape Cod features. It's a great size for wrens, finches, chickadees, and other songbirds looking for shelter. This birdhouse also has ventilation, drainage, an unpainted interior, and an opening for birds to climb inside. I particularly love the real pine shake shingles which provide some warmth to the white exterior. It would look best on a post, perhaps in a quiet corner of the yard where birds can be left in peace.
These architectural birdhouses are a must-have for any home-proud gardener wanting to extend the joy of their home to birds. I know some of my friends and family would love to receive one that matches their house, so I'll definitely be adding a couple to my shopping cart for gifting - especially while the price is lower.
You can take it one step further by also placing a bird feeder camera nearby your new architectural birdhouse. Capture on camera the moment your feathered garden residents leave the front porch of the birdhouse to enjoy the nutritious food you've left for them.
