Although many ordinary samurai such as Hatamoto (direct retainers of the shogun) or Gokenin (lower-ranked vassals) had residences which differed little from folk houses, upper or middle class Samurai Yashiki had mud walls, Nagayamon (a gate and long house for vassals), and Shikidai (an entrance hall with a wooden floor), and even lower class ones had at least zashiki (a tatami-mat reception room) of Shoin-zukuri style (a typical traditional Japanese style house), attempting to display their high status.
旗本や御家人などの一般の武士の住まいは民家とそれほど変わらない規模の建物であったことも多いが、上級や中級の侍屋敷では土塀や長屋門、式台を構え、下級のものも少なくとも書院造の座敷を設けるなど、格を示すような特徴を持っていた。