Relatively affordable, quick to build, and with down-to-earth appeal, barndominiums are rapidly growing in popularity with new-build homeowners. The barndominium’s flexible design options align with what homeowners want: work/live space, a blend of indoor and outdoor living, and a warm, welcoming aesthetic.
“Barndominium house plans are definitely hot right now. They make up over 11% of our sales, second in popularity only to farmhouse, and up from 8% at this time last year,” says Aurora Zeledon, director of digital content and marketing for Zonda House Plans, including Houseplans.com.
Stylistically, the barndo is closely related to the much-loved modern farmhouse, but has a more industrial edge, striking the balance that homeowners seek between rustic and contemporary. Barndos can be sprawling or scaled down depending on available space, budget, and design priorities. However, with so many options, it is important that homeowners make a specific wish list and stick to it throughout the design and building process to balance beauty with budget.
Here is what is trending in barndominium design, and what homeowners need to remember when they are planning their new home.
How to Keep Your Barndominium Affordable
Homeowners love barndos for their affordability and flexibility, but those cost savings will quickly disappear without careful planning and prioritization.
“One potential pitfall that I have seen in the thought process with homeowners is when they say, ‘This could be a cheap build, so let’s make it really big.’Suddenly, the home is too big to be practical for cost saving,” says Brad Graber of Custom Home Designs, LLC.
Commonly, bardo design might include a bay or a shop to house an RV or something similar, requiring height, so “the rest of the building gets bigger and can get super-sized pretty quick,” he says.
Remember, even though the structure is cheaper, interior finishes, like flooring, tile, and cabinetry still have a cost per square foot. More square footage = higher cost.
To keep your build affordable, go as big as you need to, but be smart about design, considering functionality and flexibility of the spaces.
6 Trending Barndominum Design Features in 2025
Barndominiums typically feature open concept living, focusing on multi-purpose spaces, lofty ceilings, and often with an integrated garage or workshop. Here are trending ideas to inspire your barndominium design.
1. Style Over Structure
Traditionally, barndos are built with prefabricated metal structures, but wood stick framing is becoming more popular too. What type of structure you choose will depend on the overall design, and on climate (wood is more resilient in colder climates, while steel is better in storm-prone, humid regions).
Metal or wood, homeowners now have lots of options for their new build. As barndominiums become more mainstream, it’s more about housing style versus construction method.
“The term ‘barndominium’ doesn’t necessarily mean a metal-framed building,” says Zeledon, noting that many of their plans have conventional stick framing and that homeowners are drawn by the rustic look, the simplicity, and the open layout of the housing style.
2. Large Porches
From wrap-around porches to a wide front veranda, the porch is an idyllic and trending feature, enhancing the barndominum’s curb appeal.
Graber says that porches play a role in fostering a strong indoor/outdoor connection, a strong component of barndo design.
3. Open, Airy Floor Plans
Floorplans are flexible, but most commonly, the living room, dining room, and kitchen are one big space, according to Graber.
“This open space has tall ceilings and almost no walls in the kitchen or dining room. It’s common to see staircases and lofts open to these central areas, too,” says Graber.
4. Embracing the View
Because a lot of barndominiums are in rural settings,. "you typically have a nice view to capture. Take advantage of that by having lots of glass and windows,” says Graber. Placement of the home on the lot can help frame views, too.
5. Exterior Trends
Homeowners are opting for a variety of roofs, from traditional barn-style gambrel to gables to sleek, industrial- looking rooflines. Graber reports seeing a lot of simple rooflines, which can be more cost-effective from a construction standpoint. He says roof choice often is related to the size of the home, for practicality.
In terms of exterior finishes, “We’ re using a lot of vertical steel siding products, and typically mix in a few wood accents, and a little bit of stone, but not too overdone,” he says.
6. Fun, Custom Touches
Homeowners love barndominiums because of how seamlessly they can customize them to support hobbies at home, especially when the shop/garage area is converted or the outdoor space just beyond the shop is incorporated. Graber says creative uses include:
Batting cage.
Pickleball or basketball court.
Display/hobby garage with hoists for car collectors and enthusiasts.
Outdoor space for hosting, so guests don’t have to come inside.
With the inclusion of a second garage door, drive-through storage for a fishing boat or RV.
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Hero image photo credit: Houseplans.com, courtesy of Custom Home Designs, LLC
