This Hot Home Style is Trending Coast to Coast
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Top-of-the-line barns have always been a top priority for equestrians, but these days, hot-to-trot sheds and stables are often outfitted with luxe quarters for two-legged folks as well. There’s even a name for it: The barndominium. You’ve probably come across these rustic forms of architecture on Instagram and Pinterest and admired their peaceful pasture settings and their signature sloping roofs, wide-open floor plans, roughhewn finishes, abundance of windows, and pretty porches.
Still, the word “barndominium” can mean many things to many people. To some, it’s a hybrid form of headquarters that’s all business (stables, shop, or even a commercial enterprise) in one section and all party (or a place to eat and sleep anyway) in another—but all under the same roof. But, now, more and more often, it is a fully residential structure that merely resembles a hardworking place to make hay.
No matter if you’re planning to work, play, or both in your new home, there are some definitive elements that make a barndominium different than any other residence. Allow us to share what those are, exactly, as well as some ideas for raising a barn(dominium) of your very own. After all, don’t you deserve a home that brings you and your nearest and dearest non-stop unbridled joy?
What Exactly is a Barndominium?
Believe it or not, a barndominium is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a combination of the words “barn” and “condominium.” More often than not, it’s a fully residential structure that has all the charm of a country barn but provides all the luxuries of a well-shod lifestyle inside. The most common forms of barndominiums are metal or steel-framed structures, but there are plenty of builders like Montana-based Back Forty Buildings that also create stick-built, and post-frame barndos. (In fact, you can point and click on a plan on the Back Forty website or Instagram page and make tweaks or work with them to create a totally custom design.)
What are the Interior Characteristics of a Barndominium?
Just as there is no one-size-fits-all barndominium exterior, interiors can vary wildly, too. Many are super sleek and modern, but other owners favor more traditional rustic finishes. What you won’t find? Tiny, dark rooms closed off by lots of doors. Barndos are known for their spacious great rooms that combine flowing living, dining and kitchen spaces; soaring ceilings; exposed beams; large windows; sprawling porches; and single-sloped rooflines.
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Why are Barndominiums So Popular?
While the term “barndominium” was coined in the 1980s, a recent New York Times article notes that the popularity of the home style has surged since the Pandemic. In fact, the structures were featured in a survey of home builders for the first time in 2024, and 7 percent of those polled reported that they had constructed a barndominium in the last year. And it’s not just happening in one part of the country A rep at Back Forty says they have designs that went up in 47 states in the last year or two.
So why the surge? In part, that can be explained because barndos are fun! Stylish examples are showing up all over design blogs, magazines (including Country Living!), and Instagram, and people are seeing all the possibilities (including the prospect of throwing barnburners!) that come with living in one of these things.
On a more practical front, steel structures also incredibly durable and energy efficient, especially when they’re outfitted with reflective roofs and solar panels. Sometimes, it comes down to dollars and cents, too. Depending on where you live and the finishes you choose, building a barndominium can be cheaper than building a more traditional-style home.
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How Do I Get a Barndominium?
Because barndominiums have grown in popularity in the last five years, there’s a chance you can search “barndominium for sale in Alabama” (or any state for that matter) on Zillow or other real estate site, and find one that’s finished to the nines, on the market, and ready for move-in.
But if you have your heart set on building one of your very own, you’ll have to start with finding the perfect plot. (If you plan to work and live in the same spot, make sure that it’s zoned appropriately.) Then do your research. Ask friends for recommendations. Poke around Instagram. And the good news is, there are plenty of companies that offer kits, which tend to be less expensive than a totally custom build.
Metal building makers like Texas Barndominiums offer a few standard floor plans, and from there, clients make choices about everything from flooring and paint to cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and more. Once everything is in place, residents tend to choose hardworking-yet-handsome furnishings made to withstand both the forces of nature and young children.
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Another Texas-based company, The Barndominium Company has a surprising number of “luxury barndo” post-frame and steel-frame plans that you can scroll through and even search by your desired number of bedrooms, baths, or stories, along with specialty features like fireplaces, safe rooms, and home gyms. The company can also put together designs for a totally bespoke barndominiums, as well as party barns, guest houses, granny pods, and even chapels.
Before you sign on the dotted line with any company, be sure to ask for references and ask if you can tour some of their finished projects. Find out if they have a preferred list of general contractors and vendors with whom they work on the regular. And don’t be afraid to ask a million questions (including realistic price estimates) so that building your dream barndominium on the range doesn’t come with unwanted stress and unhappy surprises.
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