Barndominium Interior Design Styles & Inspiration - Barndominium.org (2024)

Thinking of building your own modern barn house? Barndos are fast and cost-effective to construct, durable and low-maintenance, and easy to personalize.

In fact, no matter your personal style, you can make the interior of a barndominium a perfect representation of your aesthetics.

If you are looking for inspiration, you are in the right place. In this post, we are going to explore the interiors of half a dozen breathtaking barndominiums.

How Do You Choose the Right Style for Your Barndo Interior?

The sky is the limit as far as interior design styles go for barndominiums: minimalist, contemporary, rustic, mid-century modern, industrial, farmhouse, alpine—so many styles can look great in these open, expansive homes.

To choose the style that is right for you, here are a few quick tips:

  • Consider the structure, shape, and materials of the house itself. If you have gone with a really modern look for the barndominium, it might clash to have a rustic interior—or vice versa. Then again, sometimes a contrast of styles can produce a mesmerizing effect. You will have to decide.
  • Think about where the windows will be, and what kind of connection you want with the outdoors. If you are in an especially scenic area, you are going to want to appreciate the views through your barndo windows to the fullest, and to create a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors. That could mean choosing a rustic interior design style with natural materials—or it might mean going with a minimalist aesthetic that keeps the focus entirely on the structure of your home and the views outside.
  • You might build a style around your existing furnishings and décor. If you have the budget for it, you might be planning on starting over from scratch when it comes to interior design. But maybe you don’t have that kind of money, or you just do not want to part with the items you already have and cherish. If so, you may want to just build from what you have. If you have mid century modern furniture, consider an MCM aesthetic. If you have a lot of homespun décor, consider a rustic look, and so forth.
  • Choose a unified style, or mix and match elements you like. Picking a single style and making sure all of the elements in your home fit that style can provide a really unified look and feel. But a lot of people enjoy mixing together diverse elements these days, so that is always an option as well.
  • Go with a style that uplifts you. Whatever you decide to do, the most important rule is this: just make your barndominium beautiful! Whatever uplifts you and makes you feel at home every day is going to be the perfect look for your interior.

The best way to visualize the possibilities is to take a look inside a barndominium—or rather inside of several! Let’s check out barndominium interior pictures which beautifully showcase different design styles.

6 Barndominium Interior Ideas You Will Love

1. Georgia Style

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Going for a contemporary, open look, that still has some rustic touches? You should feel inspired by the interior shots of this gorgeous Grey barn home located in Martha’s Vineyard by Hutker Architects.

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The home features a simple color scheme dominated by white and wood tones. The open interior with its vaulted ceiling is unbelievably spacious. The wood beams, railings, and window frames provide an elegant contrast with the white walls.

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The stone doorway in the loft, together with the exposed beams, bring textural interest to the main living spaces.

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The bathroom wall of windows offers incredible views, bridging indoors and outdoors from the master bedroom.

Architect: Hutker Architects - Construction: Holmes Hole Builders - Photos: Eric Roth 

2. Modern, Yet Cozy

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For a completely different style, we can turn to this Aspen barndo built by Studio B Architects.

You can tell from the façade alone that this house has a very different look. It is much more modern than the home we looked at in GA.

The interior features a much steeper pitch to the ceiling, drawing the eye upward, while the front end of the home is all windows. Alcoves in the walls house window seats, simple, minimalist cabinets, and a fireplace.

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As this photo shows, one doesn’t need to sacrifice coziness for a modern look. The seating in front of the TV and fireplace looks super comfortable.

Architects: Studio B Architects - Photos: James Florio

3. Scandinavian

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Love the Scandinavian style?

Then you will adore House EFFE-E in Italy by Archiplanstudio.

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The eye-catching exterior shows off huge windows, complete with shutters that can be pulled across them when desired for privacy or protection from the weather.

While the barndo we checked out in Aspen was modern, it wasn’t necessarily minimalist.

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But this interior definitely qualifies.

In the kitchen, we have cabinets that are integrated into the walls, and a counter that is essentially a floating slab. The kitchen table is a thin wedge, making for a clean look with minimal obstructions.

Upstairs, we have an open floor plan that unites the bedroom, bathroom, and study all in one space. There are little “nooks” built in on the left to help separate the functional spaces, but you can look straight across the standalone tub to the bed from the desk. Light spills through the windows on the right, illuminating the entire area and offering beautiful views.

Architects: Archiplanstudio Photos: Davide Galli

4. Modern Minimalist

The next barndo we have to share is Casa Ry, a residence in Denmark by Christoffersen & Weiling Architects.

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The barndo’s exterior definitely shouts “barn.” But the metal roofing and the elegant cladding does a good job drawing attention to simple geometric forms, immediately conveying a minimalist modern aesthetic.

As you will see, that aesthetic continues in the interior.

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Here we have the living room and kitchen, which are combined into one space. This barndo’s main living area isn’t as spacious as some of the others we have looked at, but the feeling is still one of openness.

This is achieved through the minimalist furnishings and sparse décor. Indeed, aside from a rug underneath the coffee table, almost everything we see is entirely functional in its design.

There is a strong focus on horizontals. Notice how the back wall of the kitchen is a darker color than the wall and ceiling above. It lines up exactly with the windows that span the walls on either side. This pulls the eye down from the ceiling to this flattened “slice” that runs through the center of our vision. In doing so, it also draws the eye through the windows to the great outdoors, making it feel like they are also somehow a part of the living room.

The choice in furnishings adds to this effect. Notice how low the sofa is, and how this adds to this emphasize on horizontal lines.

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The distinctive light fixture you see next to the sofa is from the AJ Collection by Louis Poulsen. While integrating well with a modern minimalist interior, we think this light would also probably be at home in an industrial barndo interior.

Architects: Christoffersen & Weiling Architects Photos: Tina Stephansen

5. Contemporary

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Also on the minimalist side of things, we have The Barn House by BURO II.

This home started out as an “old barn.” That is pretty impressive, considering “old” is about the last thing it looks like. Both inside and out, everything looks contemporary and fresh.

How do you make a barndominium look like a house?

Contemporary décor is one way to do it.

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This beautiful shot of the main living space shows the night sky through the big windows in stark contrast to the white walls and sofa. A single red pillow on the couch adds another pop of vivid contrast.

Decorative touches in this interior are minimal, and as much floor and wall space has bee left wide open as possible.

Architects: Buro 2

6. Rustic

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While we have focused mostly on modern interiors in this list, you might be looking for something that is a bit more rustic for a more farmhouse-inspired look.

This barndominium by Carney Logan Burke Architects is simply and aptly named “The Barn.”

It is one of our go to builds when someone asks us for an example of rustic barndo.

Indeed, the outside of the home looks very much like a classic barn—except of course for the huge section of glass windows at one end, offering a peek inside.

You can see from this shot that this home is surrounded by beautiful fields and trees. So, the occupants are able to enjoy breathtaking views.

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Now you can check out the view through the windows for yourself.

Wow …! It is even more amazing than you might have guessed, right? On the right, we see some rustic kitchen cabinets. Directly in front of the window is an exercise area. What an incredible spot to work out.

You will notice that even in this more rustic barndo, decorative touches are minimal. This makes sense, being as it helps keep attention on the structure of the barndominium itself, as well as the fantastic scenery outside. The gambrel shape of the ceiling combined with the wood panels, beams, and supports, is decorative in its own right.

While the materials used in this interior are rustic, there are still some undeniably modern aspects to the design. We see a lot of clean lines here.

Here is a look at the bedroom. While the furnishings add a modern edge, the overall look and feel is bucolic.

Interior Designer: WRJ Design - Architects: Carney Logan Burke - Photos: Audrey Hall Photography

Now that you’ve had a chance to check out some stunning examples of barndominium interiors, you probably can’t wait to get started decorating your own project.

Barndominium Interior Design Styles & Inspiration - Barndominium.org (2024)

FAQs

What are the negatives of barndominiums? ›

If you're considering building or buying a barndominium, consider this list of downsides before you sign your name on a dotted line:
  • Location Limitations. ...
  • Financing. ...
  • Corrosion. ...
  • Noise. ...
  • UV Exposure. ...
  • Wiring Challenges. ...
  • Reselling.
Oct 19, 2022

Why are barndominiums hard to insure? ›

While a barndominium is very similar to a traditionally built home, insuring them can be much more difficult. There can be several reasons why insurance companies are hesitant to insure these structures. The primary reason is that these homes are non-standard construction, which means they lack historical data.

How to design the interior of a barndominium? ›

Carve out a large kitchen island that opens into a family room, typical of farm houses. Since a barn home is spacious, use a few pieces of larger furniture instead of cluttering the space with lots of tiny pieces. Instead of building walls and breaking the open flow, use colors to unite spaces.

Are barndominiums worth the money? ›

Pros of barndominiums include a cheaper cost, fully customizable space, and lower maintenance. They're also highly durable with lots of extra room and are a more eco-friendly housing option. Meanwhile, cons include higher upfront costs, difficulties finding financing, and not all cities allow them.

Are barndominiums prone to mold? ›

By being made out of metal, barndominiums have similar durability to steel structures with resistance to: Mold. Mildew. Rot.

What is the life expectancy of a barndominium? ›

The average lifespan of a barndominium is between 50 and 150 years. The lifespan difference is based on what it's made of, how well it's maintained, and extreme weather. Wood barns tend to last longer; however, they can also be more susceptible to damage from natural disasters, dampness, insect damage, or rot.

Is it hard to get a mortgage for a barndominium? ›

Getting a home loan for a barndominium can be tricky since many lenders are unfamiliar with these types of structures. However, it is far from impossible. You just need to be able to fulfill your lender's requirements as well as the stipulations set out by your particular loan program.

Why can't you finance a barndominium? ›

Many USDA lenders are unfamiliar with these structures and may be reluctant to finance their purchase. Borrowers may also experience added difficulty when seeking a USDA construction loan to build a new barndominium, as some USDA lenders, including Neighbors Bank, do not offer this loan type.

How well do barndominiums hold up in hurricanes? ›

A barndominium is more likely to survive a Category 3 hurricane compared to a regular home. Similarly to tornados, while the structural integrity of your barndo is sound, the windows may not be.

How thick are barndominium interior walls? ›

To be on the safe side, assume 5 inches for interior walls. Exterior walls for a barndominium can range from 5 inches to 20 inches depending on building style. If you have a 40×40 living area and 12-inch thick walls, your interior space is 38×38.

What architectural style is a barndominium? ›

Barndominium house plans are country home designs with a strong influence of barn styling. Differing from the Farmhouse style trend, Barndominium home designs often feature a gambrel roof, open concept floor plan, and a rustic aesthetic reminiscent of repurposed pole barns converted into living spaces.

What is the best foundation for a barndominium? ›

Slab Foundation

This type of foundation is suitable for areas with stable soil conditions and is often used for barndominiums in Texas. The slab should be a minimum of 4" thick, with a concrete strength of at least 2500 psi. Fiber mesh reinforcement or #3 rebar on 24" centers should be used to strengthen the slab[3].

Is it cheaper to build a 1 or 2 story barndominium? ›

Single-story barndominiums are generally perceived as less expensive due to several factors: – **Foundation Costs**: The foundation of a single-story barndominium typically costs less than that of a two-story structure since it bears less weight. This can lead to savings in both materials and labor.

How much does it cost to build a 2000 square foot barndominium? ›

The cost to build a barndominium is $65 to $160 per square foot or $130,000 to $320,000 on average for a 2,000 SF home. Barndominium prices depend on the size, materials, and interior finishes chosen. Barndominium kit prices are $20 to $35 per square foot for materials only.

Are barndominiums safe in a tornado? ›

Yes, they are incredibly safe structures. In many ways, the typical barndominium is safer than a regular home.

What do I wish I knew before building a barndominium? ›

Here are the most important things to know about building a barndominium.
  • Obtain a permit for your project. Photo by Bridger Steel, Inc. ...
  • Test the paint. Photo by Justin Doyle Homes. ...
  • Prepare for surprise costs. ...
  • Plan for electrical work. ...
  • Choose your windows and doors wisely. ...
  • Add insulation—it's important.
Mar 14, 2022

Are barndominiums bad investments? ›

If you are purely looking for a quick resale investment, a Barndominium may not be your best option. But, if you are hoping to build a long-term home for yourself or to invest by renting out your Barndominium, a Barndominium could be an excellent choice and long-term investment.

Why are barndominiums hard to finance? ›

Many USDA lenders are unfamiliar with these structures and may be reluctant to finance their purchase. Borrowers may also experience added difficulty when seeking a USDA construction loan to build a new barndominium, as some USDA lenders, including Neighbors Bank, do not offer this loan type.

Do barndominiums have moisture problems? ›

By ensuring proper ventilation, using moisture-resistant materials, maintaining consistent indoor temperature and humidity levels, and being vigilant about potential moisture sources, you can create a healthy and mold-free living environment in your new barndominium.

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