Building a barndominium is a rewarding experience. One of the most exciting things about them is their unique look and durable materials. This allows for a fantastic blank canvas that you can use to create your perfect custom home that looks exactly how you have pictured. With this myriad of possibilities, you can build yourself a home that is perfectly suited to your individual style and needs.
Barndominium is a combination of the words barn and condominium. This is because they are usually built out of new or existing metal pole structures. This allows you to create interesting designs and floor plans that may not otherwise be available to you as a home builder. Because of this, barndos are a great option for people with interesting taste and artistic eyes.
In this article, we will cover the top 7 barndominium exterior ideas to help you get started on your dream home. Here, you will find inspiration and ideas for your own custom home that will get you thinking about what your perfect barndominium will look like. If you finish this article and would like some more tips and ideas, be sure to check out the ebook, Build Your Dream Barndominium by Don Howe.
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Barndominium Exterior Idea
Two-Tone Exterior Paint
Barndominiums are usually built with metal siding that is extremely durable and able to be shaped and painted into many different combinations. The siding is also extremely easy to maintain and can be cleaned yearly for a much lower cost than other materials. This opens up lots of options for you as a homeowner as far as paint goes.
We love this gray and red two-tone paint job illustrated here. It is a fantastic example of the kind of unique coloring that you can achieve with a barndominium. Since metal pole structures don’t have to have the traditional trim pieces that are present on a regular house, you are not just limited to painting certain areas of the exterior with bold colors. You can add accent areas wherever you feel is appropriate.
We love this gray and red two-tone paint job illustrated here. It is a fantastic example of the kind of unique coloring that you can achieve with a barndominium. Since metal pole structures don’t have to have the traditional trim pieces that are present on a regular house, you are not just limited to painting certain areas of the exterior with bold colors. You can add accent areas wherever you feel is appropriate.
As long as it matches your idea of what you want your custom home to look like, you can make it happen. Not to mention, it will be much easier to clean and the bold colors will be less likely to deteriorate and dull over time due to weather and other outdoor elements.
Covered Porch
One of the things that everyone dreams of when thinking about a custom home is somewhere to relax outside that is protected from the sun, rain and other less than desirable weather. Perhaps the best way to do this is to build a covered patio around the perimeter of your barndominium. Many southern homes have a wraparound porch that extends all the way around the length of the home. This gives you a massive amount of space to set up things like tables and chairs and even hammocks.
You can also install things like carriage lighting and even fans in the covered area of the porch. This allows you to keep the breeze blowing even on hot days. This can be a perfect combination when the temperature outside is just too much to handle. Keeping cool air flowing around the covered porch will help keep the area desirable and comfortable no matter what the weather is like.
One of the best things about a covered porch is that you can bring a touch of your interior design taste to the exterior of the house. Since the porch area will be protected from the elements, you are able to have furniture and other accessories out there that you normally wouldn’t be able to have outside. This is one of the reasons why we think a covered porch is one of the best barndominium exterior ideas.
The whole point of building a custom barndominium is to create it to your exact specifications. By showing a bit of your own character and taste in an area that might otherwise have to be sparsely decorated, you can give off exactly the kind of vibe you want.
Combined Textures
One of the best barndominium exterior ideas is to create an interesting look through different textures. Since the metal siding of the pole structure can be decorated in almost any way you can imagine, this opens up a world of possibilities for different design elements that can contrast and complement each other in unique ways. This is illustrated especially well in this barndo that has utilized the metal siding of the traditional pole structure and combined it with the cedar stained pine.
The stark contrast of the black paint with the natural wood color is a perfect example of what we mean when we talk about great barndominium exterior ideas. Since the black paint is more industrial and utilitarian looking, it provides a great backdrop for the wood elements to really pop and draw the eye. We love the way it stands out and feel that it is a perfect use of contrasting colors and textures.
Barndominiums are, by nature, a combination of rural country style and modern, contemporary homes. Because of this, combining organic textures like wood or brick with utilitarian metal siding is a great way to really drive this point home design-wise.
The organic elements and contrasting textures of these barndominium exterior ideas create a signature look that is much easier to pull off with the rustic nature of the barndo. Bold ideas are what they are all about and you can create something that is truly unique by utilizing contrasting elements like these.
Covered Balcony
The best thing about building your own barndominium is that you can choose the floor plan and what that entails including your own barndominium exterior ideas. This means that you can create something that is completely unique to you. This can include elements that might not otherwise be available to you with a traditional home. One of these elements is a covered balcony like the one pictured below.
We think this covered balcony is one of the best barndominium exterior ideas we have seen. It is completely unique to this specific owner’s individual taste and is unlike anything that is usually seen on a traditionally constructed home. This covered balcony is a perfect place to get a good view of the property and the landscape without having to be exposed to the outdoor elements in the process. It is a perfectly logical extension to the covered porch that we highlighted above.
This covered balcony also features an area that is not covered by the awning for catching extra sunshine when the weather is nice. Being able to choose between these two options is what makes it a truly unique feature and makes it one of the best barndominium exterior ideas we have covered in this article.
Screened In Porch
Anyone who has lived in the midwest of the United States knows that one of the biggest problems in the summertime is mosquitos and other bugs. Nothing is worse than having a pleasant summer evening ruined by these pests. That’s why this screened-in porch is one of the best barndominium exterior ideas we have seen. It is a great way to ensure that you will be protected from the annoyance of bugs while still being able to enjoy a cool breeze on a summer night.
The corner placement of the screens on this barndominium is stylish and unique. One of the things about screened-in porches is that they are often not very sleek-looking or modern. However, by putting the screens on the corner like this, you can create some very interesting angles that might not otherwise be available on a traditional porch.
The fact that the screens are installed on a corner like this gives the porch a more modern and contemporary look. However, on the inside, you still get the open feeling that comes with the porch without sacrificing any of the style and modern look that you might be going for with your barndominium. This best of both worlds scenario is exactly why this is one of the best barndominium exterior ideas.
Triangular Arch Doorway
A large, inviting archway at the entrance of your home can be a fantastic feature that gives it an elegant look and a grandiose feeling upon walking up to it. Going with a more angular approach fits the barndominium style so well and that is why we have the triangle arch doorway as one of the best barndominium exterior ideas. It gives you a large, opulent feel without sacrificing the rustic heart of the barndo’s design.
The triangle arch doorway is also yet another reference and nod to the barndominium’s original purpose. The angular design fits in perfectly with the barn style that is so key to the barndo’s exterior. These sharp angles work well to create a homey and rural look while their high arches suggest a hint of something more sophisticated and contemporary.
They can also be used as another way to add contrasting textures and complementing colors to the barndo’s exterior design. That’s why we think they are one of the best barndominium exterior ideas. They can serve many purposes both structurally and superficially. By using the triangle arches as an accent piece, you can create a bold and unique look for your barndominium.
Beam Columns
Because of the pole structure of the barndominium, you have the benefit of some elements that can be used to your advantage. The beam-columns that sometimes have to be used in the construction can be taken advantage of design-wise as well. Using these beam-columns as a design feature is one of the best barndominium exterior ideas. They can be made of different kinds of material and can be texturized or painted to give the exterior an eye-catching accent piece.
One of the most important things to remember in home exterior design is that you should use structural elements to your advantage. Things that may otherwise be an eyesore can be reworked to be incredibly unique and bold. These front beam-columns are a perfect example of this. By using black hardware on the stained wood, they quickly go from being structural necessities to stylish pieces.
The angle of the archway that these beam-columns support is another way to use them to your advantage. By angling them and offsetting the horizontal beams, this barndominium has a modern look that might otherwise be clunky or crude-looking if they were not so carefully designed and thought out in the design process.
Conclusion
Barndominiums are a great way for people who may not be able to build their own custom dream home to finally achieve their goals. They tend to be much cheaper and can be an easier build if they are properly planned out. Because of this, you have more room to play with bold design ideas and accents that could be a bit of a risk but could also pay off.
By reading this list of the best barndominium exterior ideas, you should hopefully have some interesting ideas for your own custom barndo. The whole point of building a home is to make it exactly as you have planned and have it showcase your own point of view and artistic inclinations. The exterior of a home is incredibly important and making interesting design choices can be a major game-changer.
If you would like more tips and ideas, make sure to get the Barndominium Life Program. There, you will find all kinds of tricks and inspirational design ideas for your own barndominium. You will also find floor plans and expert advice that can help you get on the right path toward your perfect home.
If you would like more guides like this one, check out the rest ofBarndominiumLife.com. There, you will find more helpful tips and tricks from the pros. You will also findfeatured barndominiums, barndominium floor plans, and information on financingand insurance. Knowing as much as you can will help you get the best results for your dream home.
Michael O'Connor
Michael O’Connor is a seasoned barndominium writer passionate about creating unique and innovative barndominiums. With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Michael has established himself as a leading expert in barndominium design and construction.
His work has been featured in several respected publications, including Barndominium Life, where he frequently contributes articles on best practices and emerging trends in the field. Michael’s ability to blend traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology and design concepts has earned him a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable writers in the industry.
