Italian homes differ from North American residences in many ways. While every house has its peculiarities and there is no such thing as a 'typical' Italian home, there are several common features of Italian homes that prospective buyers should be aware of. Here we've rounded up our top 10 quirks of Italian homes (in no particular order) to familiarize yourself with.
1. Smaller property size
One feature that surprises most foreign buyers is that Italian homes tend to be rather small. The average Italian home is around 40% smaller than the average U.S. home. This statistic is partially explained by the fact that the majority of Italian real estate is located in cities and comprised of condos rather than single-family homes. Italy, after all, is much more densely populated than North America.
If you have your heart set on finding a larger property, don’t despair! There is no shortage of single-family homes with spacious interiors and expansive green space. In our experience, it is easier to find an existing large property than to expand a smaller property into your desired square footage. This is because local rules often limit an owner’s ability to expand existing residential structures.
2. No wooden homes
One feature that surprises most foreign buyers is that Italian homes tend to be rather small. The average Italian home is around 40% smaller than the average U.S. home. This statistic is partially explained by the fact that the majority of Italian real estate is located in cities and comprised of condos rather than single-family homes. Italy, after all, is much more densely populated than North America.
If you have your heart set on finding a larger property, don’t despair! There is no shortage of single-family homes with spacious interiors and expansive green space. In our experience, it is easier to find an existing large property than to expand a smaller property into your desired square footage. This is because local rules often limit an owner’s ability to expand existing residential structures.
3. Gated yards
If you are looking to buy a single-family home rather than a condo, be aware that the average lot will look very different than in the U.S. Private yards in Italy are always surrounded by a gated fence. This makes single-family homes more private, but also somewhat isolated from neighbors.
4. Tile flooring
Tile is Italy’s preferred flooring material. Easy to clean and durable to some, hard and cold to others—this surface is not America’s favorite, but it is predominant in Italian real estate. Wood flooring (for which Italians use the French word parquet) is sometimes used in condos and bedrooms of single-family homes, but comes at a cost. If you intend to replace your old tile floor with brand-new parquet, expect some serious construction work in your home: contractors will have to literally break the floor in order to make room for the wood.
5. Shutters
The typical Italian home has windows that open outwards rather than up and down. Screens are uncommon in most of the country, with the exception of swampy areas that are heavily affected by mosquitos during summer. Shutters, on the other hand, are very common. These have the dual purpose of controlling the amount of light coming into the house and keeping a stable internal temperature during hot summer months. Wooden shutters (pictured below) are common in Italy's Center-North, where the climate is more temperate, while metal shutters are more typical in the South, where extreme heat can last for months out of the year. Roller shutters are a more affordable alternative that is typical of city condos.
6. Heating and Cooling (or lack thereof)
Most Italians use air conditioning to combat the peak heat of summer days but do not use it to control their homes’ temperature throughout the day. Centralized air conditioning systems are very rare and only present in recently constructed apartment buildings. Air-conditioning units, on the other hand, are very common and easily installed. These can still be used to maintain a cool temperature throughout the day, but would result in a substantial electricity bill (energy is about twice as expensive in Italy than in the U.S.).
Heating systems, on the other hand, are common throughout Italy. Cast iron radiators are the most traditional method of heating Italian homes, but radiant floor heating systems are becoming more common in home renovations.
7. Kitchen appliances
Italian kitchen appliances are generally smaller in size to better fit in smaller Italian kitchens. Washing machines are often located in the kitchen as well when there is no dedicated space for a laundry room. You won't find garbage disposals in any Italian home as they are illegal in the country.
8. Bathrooms and bidets
While Italian bathrooms are not dissimilar from their American counterparts, one large difference stands out: the famous bidet. Whether you consider it to be a useful, interesting or mildly embarrassing appliance, you will not find a home without it.
Another difference is the design of toilets. Italian toilets use a limited amount of water, which can make them a little smellier than American toilets. The toilet tank is often concealed inside the wall which frees up room, but may complicate maintenance.
9. Dryers?
Dryers are not widely adopted in Italian homes. Due to Italy’s temperate climate (and the cost of energy), Italians are accustomed to hang-drying their clothes throughout the year. Dryers have, however, become increasingly more common, and are easy to find and install if you have sufficient space.
Fun (or not-so-fun) fact: It is likely that most of the clothes you will buy in Italy are not dryer-friendly.
10. Power outlets
If you have ever been to Italy, you will have noticed that outlets are different than in America. What you might have missed, however, is that there are multiple types of outlets, often in the same room. There are in fact FOUR different types of outlets in Italy, which have different amperage and can be used for different types of home appliances. That also means every Italian home has a number of power adapters readily available at any given time.
