Article takeaways
- Barndominiums are barn-shaped or barn-framed homes that offer open living spaces within the high-ceilinged structure of a traditional barn.
- Barndominiums are an aesthetically pleasing housing option, but they often lack attics, basements, and other common built-in storage areas that you’d find in a traditional home.
- Open floor plans reward empty space rather than sequestered, dedicated storage, which means excess furniture, seasonal items, and tools don’t have dedicated spaces from the get-go.
- Off-site storage is an easy way to keep a barndominium’s appealing, minimalist style fully functional without cutting into livable space.
- Climate controlled storage protects temperature sensitive items that metal barndominium frames can’t regulate as efficiently as standard home insulation.
Flip to any home design channel or social media profile and you’ll eventually land on one: sky-high ceilings, a sprawling floor plan, a trendy loft, and modern (or even farmhouse-inspired) features. This is the barndominium.
They’re alternative home designs built inside of, or modeled after, the barn structures of olde – with a few modern twists. Open floor plans, metal or post-frame shells, and characterized by a price tag that feels more accessible than traditional single family homes.
The barndominium is an attractive design for many – with its clean lines and open space. But therein lies its central problem: storage. With a design that boasts minimalism, most barndominium floor plans are unforgiving of clutter, excess stuff, and the casual leakage of organization that happens in everyday life.
If you’re planning a barndominium or already living in one and feeling the space problems we’ve mentioned, dive in for some ways to plan around storage woes and keep your home Pinterest-board worthy.
What is a Barndominium, Exactly?
Barndominium homes use a barn’s structural shell, typically a metal or post-frame building, and finish the interior with livable space. Crafty barndominium converters use existing barn structures to create their homes, while more modern builders start with new builds. Barndominiums are usually cheaper to fabricate than stick-frame homes, giving rise to their popularity in an era where economics are less favorable to home ownership than ever before.
Their post-frame construction costs less per square foot than traditional framing, and the lofted, high-ceiling living space is a natural fit on rural plots of land and semi-rural properties where zoning allows different agricultural-style structures. Many owners enjoy the versatility of the barndominium design, allowing them to affordably attach a workshop, garage, or equipment bay directly to their domicile.
What are the Downsides of Barndominiums?
Barndominiums are stylish, they’re affordable, and they offer open flexibility in terms of design and living space. So, what’s the catch? Storage space. These structures are built without traditional storage spaces like attics and basements, meaning those living inside need to get creative with where and how to store their stuff in the off-season.
It might not seem like a true deal breaker, until you see a side-by-side of dedicated storage spaces in traditional homes versus barndominiums.
Traditional homes layer in several storage solutions in their design, from attics above living spaces, to basements below it, with several closets, cubbies, and built-ins between. Barndominiums are usually one-level, the main living floor, with a few small enclosed areas built in by default.
The Barndominium Storage Problem
This isn’t a knock on barndominiums. They’re great housing options that afford families luxury living quarters at a fraction of the cost. But like anything else, these advantages come with trade-offs.
No Attic Space
Post-frame construction uses trusses and opening ceiling spans rather than joist and rafter framing that you find in traditional homes. Joist and rafter framing construction is what makes usable attic space. Where you’d find a pull down or walk-up attic in a traditional home, barndominiums offer only open space or the option to build a loft for higher-level storage and living space.
No Basement
Chances are that your barndominium will be built on a concrete slab, which prevents basement construction. This keeps construction costs down, but is prohibitive in expanding storage space down below.
Open Concept Living is Great in Theory, Tough in Practice
The soaring ceiling and open floor plans that define the barndominium aesthetic limit the amount of dedicated storage space you can build into your floor plan. For many families, especially those with children, the concept of open concept living is better than the reality.
It’s easy for little messes to accumulate, and for stuff to pile up throughout the home without closets, pantries, and built-ins that you’d find in a more traditional home build. Of course, you can make accommodations to include these in your barndominium build – but they may come at additional cost.
How to Plan for Storage in Your Barndominium Build
Looking for creative ways to inject more space into your barndominium build? Here are 6 ways to ensure your build considers the typical space and storage needs of your average homeowner.
| Build in a mudroom or utility room. A small enclosed space at the entry way of your home will do little to detract from your open concept design, while doing a lot to add functional storage space to your home. Creating a place to store shoes, coats, and every day essentials that would otherwise pile up throughout the home is a great way to stay organized and build habits that will keep your barndo looking clean and inviting. | |
| Add a loft. The tall ceilings that define a barndominium’s appeal support loft construction to either expand livable space or create a second level of dedicated storage. | |
| Consider closets during the framing phase. In the case of a barndominium, it’s better to frame out a closet during construction than decide what you want to add-on later. It’s much cheaper to frame a closet or include built-ins before finishing touches go in, so you’ll save money while creating extra space in the home. | |
| Say yes to an attached garage or storage shed. It’s pretty common for barndominium floor plans to include a detached garage or small shop. Consider keeping this in your plans to afford yourself some extra wiggle room and functional space on the property. | |
| Consider hybrid framing. This might cost you a little extra, but builders may be able to incorporate a partial attic truss or small crawl space in the barndominium. Consider how much extra space you might need for storage before deciding if it’s worth the premium. | |
| Think twice about open shelving. Much like the open concept, minimalistic look, open shelving works best for those who are intrinsically neat and tidy. It doesn’t take long for open shelving to appear cluttered and overwhelming. |
How Offsite Storage Units Work Best for Barndominium Dwellers
Even the best planners are bound to encounter space limitations in their barndominium home. This is when a storage unit comes in. Storage units offer an entire room’s worth of extra storage space away from the home, creating convenience, separation, and ample room to breathe and go with the flow throughout the seasons.
Barndominium owners, who often build their homes on large plots of land, are also likely to own multiple vehicles, RVs, trailers, and large equipment like tractors – all of which may need secondary storage at some point. A dedicated vehicle storage space, whether it be a drive-up unit for a trailer or a covered outdoor vehicle storage, keeps equipment from cluttering up the outside property while keeping them accessible.
You need space in your home to live, and you need space on your land to build, expand, and most importantly, play. Storage facilities can help fill in the storage gap inside your home and out, making them an incredibly versatile tool for those seeking more flexibility within their lifestyle.
Climate-controlled storage matters more for barndominium owners than traditional home owners. Metal barndominiums are not as well insulated as their counterparts, making it difficult for them to regulate humidity. This can create a harmful environment for things like electronics, furniture, photos, and any items sensitive to temperature and moisture swings. Offsite climate controlled or heated storage keeps those items stable and protected, giving you one less thing to worry about.
What To Store & What To Keep in Your Barndominium
You know renting a storage unit is the best thing to do for your barndominium living situation…but what should you keep on hand, what should you store, and when? Here’s how to make the most of your home, your storage space, and your newfound peace of mind.
- Take Inventory of Your Stuff: This is good advice whether you’re moving, downsizing, or just trying to figure out what you actually need on hand. Take inventory of every room and its contents, from the pantry to the primary bathroom and everywhere in between.
- Take Note of Seasonal Items: Big fan of Christmas lights? Assess how many you have, and for how long you actually need them in a calendar year. This will help with your seasonal supply rotation schedule.
- Don’t Wait Too Long: Even a little storage planning is better than none. Once boxes start stacking up, overwhelm will set in and you’ll have trouble figuring out where to start.
Once you know what you have and when you actually need it, you can separate your stuff into two piles.
Plan for Your Barndominium Storage Needs with Storage.com
A barndominium trades in built-in storage for affordability, a sleek aesthetic, and a flexible layout. It’s a fair trade, but one you might need some help with. Storage.com helps you plan for your big barndominium move, home remodel, or declutter session by putting you in touch with the best storage units in your area, letting you search, compare, and reserve with the click of a button – all in one place.
