Pole Barn Ideas | Wick Buildings

Darren B. initially had his sights set on a four-car pole barn garage. But when he realized the additional possibilities of a pole barn, he began to envision a lot more than just a garage.

Ultimately, Darren and his family seized the opportunity to create a fantastic multi-use building, one that not only has a super-spacious garage but also a kitchen, living area, an upper level schoolhouse, and even a large porch overhang for outdoor gatherings.

Maybe your pole barn ambitions are nothing like Darren’s. But his experience exemplifies the vast potential of a pole barn. It also shows why it’s so important to open your mind when thinking about the possibilities for your own pole barn.

To help you do that, we’ve compiled a long list of pole barn ideas—plus example photos.

Check out this video, which showcases a wide array of pole barn ideas.

Pole Barn Design Ideas

How do you plan to use your pole barn, and what goals would you like to achieve with it? Sure, these are big picture questions, but they’re also where you need to start when thinking about pole barn design ideas.

Let’s dive into examples, starting with the inside and working our way to the outside.

Pole Barn Interior Ideas

Unlike conventional stick-frame houses, pole barn homes are built with post-frame construction, which doesn’t require load-bearing interior walls. This allows for a wider range of interior possibilities—everything from more conventional options to unique designs made possible with an open floor plan. Check out the following examples.

Cabin Style Living Room

Living Room with Fireplace

Home Gym Room

Home Gym

Modern Style Kitchen

Wall of Windows

Game Room

Indoor Pickleball Court

Pickleball Court

Master Bedroom and Bathroom

Master Bedroom With Bathroom

Open Floor Kitchen and Dining Room

Open Floor Kitchen & Dining Area

Rustic Kitchenette

Shop Room

Shop Area

Winery Tasting Room

POLE BARN LOFT IDEAS

The spaciousness of a pole barn interior also enables you to easily incorporate features like lofts (and mezzanines). These have a variety of potential uses and can be great for maximizing square footage potential.

Trophy Display Loft with Office Space Underneath

Loft

Mezzanine for Office and Extra Storage

Mezzanine And Office Space

Bar and Lounge with Storage Above

Wooden Loft in Airplane Hangar

POLE BARN STORAGE IDEAS

One of the benefits of a pole barn is that it doesn’t require pouring a continuous foundation, like a basement. This can simplify the construction process and lower overall costs. But without a basement, you’ll want to include additional square footage in your pole barn for storage, especially if it’s a residential pole barn. Here are examples. (Be sure to check out the loft ideas above as well.)

Bonus Storage Area (Less Expensive Than Expanding Floor Plan)

Bonus Storage Area

Second Story Storage/Workshop Area (Can Also Be Used As A Finished Room)

Second Story Storage/Workshop Area

POLE BARN CEILING IDEAS

Expansive, beautiful, and even breathtaking ceilings—that’s what you can achieve with a pole barn’s post-frame construction method. Here’s just a sampling.

Vaulted Ceiling and Stairway to Upper Story

Vaulted Ceiling and Stairway

Gorgeous Ceiling for Event Center

Decorative Trusses For Raised Center Ceiling

Decorative Trusses

POLE BARN MAN CAVE IDEAS

When planning your new man cave workshop, or she shed, remember that this is your space. So have fun with it and include things that you truly love. Just don’t forget that your space may also be a great place to entertain others.

Full Kitchen and Living Area

Tool Chest and Built-In Cabinets (and Classic Pick-up)

Tool Chest and Built-In Cabinets

Dropped Ceiling and Cozy TV Room

Car Lift for Maximizing Space

Man-Cave-Appropriate Restroom

Restroom

Man Cave Game Room

Indoor Archery Range

POLE BARN HOUSE IDEAS

A pole barn house is the ideal alternative to a conventional stick-built house when you want to combine a living space with a multi-use toy shed, workshop, or extra-large garage for boats, RVs, and more. Sometimes called a shop house or a barndominium, this unique type of building can take lots of different forms. Here are some ideas to see what we mean.

Living Area Above Extra Garage Space

Gable Style with Second Floor

Modern Style

Shop House with Extensive Porch Overhangs

Extensive Porch Overhangs

Lake House Style

Log Cabin Style

Another great way to see pole barn house ideas is to check out our for more than a dozen types of residential pole barn homes.

POLE BARN PORCH IDEAS

Creating an attractive porch area can be achieved with overhangs off of your pole barn. These not only look great but also add shade, create an ideal area for outdoor seating, and keep rain and snow away from the walls and foundation.

Porch Overhang for Family Gatherings

Porch Overhang

Porch Area with Wainscoting and Matching Columns

Sliding Glass Door Opening to Pergola Area

Extended Porch Overhang for Lawn Care Company Storefront

POLE BARN COLOR IDEAS

Familiarize yourself with possible pole barn paint colors. You may be surprised because there’s been an explosion of new pole barn color options. And don’t forget about the various color combos you can create with the walls, trim, roof, and doors.

Modern Red Siding and a Hunter Green Roof

Modern Red Siding

Beige Walls, Brown Garage Doors, and Hunter Green Roof

Beige Walls, Brown Garage Doors

Charcoal Gray Walls and Roof

Red Walls and Charcoal Gray Roof

Smoke Gray Walls, Aspen Gray Novabrik® Wainscoting, and Charcoal Gray Roof

Smoke Gray Walls

Beige Roof and Wainscoting, and Ivory Walls

Ivory Walls

Special Red Stain Applied to Cedar Siding

Black Roof and Doors with Red Walls

POLE BARN DOOR IDEAS

Doors have come a long way, so make sure you’re familiar with your options. And when it comes to storing large items like boats, RVs, or even combines, don’t just think about your height needs now. Make sure you consider what you might need in the future.

Garage Doors with Room to Spare

Bi-fold Door

Hydraulic Door

Ivory Walls w Hydrolic Door

Sliding Doors

Make the Next Move: Start a Conversation with an Experienced Builder

You’ve just seen a lot of different pole barn ideas. But in actuality, we’ve only just scratched the surface for what’s possible!

If you’re serious about a new pole barn, we recommend you start the process soon because these projects can take longer than you think. Building a pole barn is no small undertaking. The right design, the appropriate materials, and smart construction practices are essential for a functional, durable, and cost-efficient building you’ll love for years to come.

To take your pole barn ideas to the next step, be sure to contact Wick Buildings. And while you’re at it, check out our Design 3D™ tool, where you can start to see your design ideas come to life right before your eyes!

	Yes	No
You understand that barndominium/shouse pricing is comparable to studwall home construction, particularly those with traditional 2-3 car garages and basements. Interior finishes are the same in either building type, and the advantages of a barndominium/shouse largely go away when the garage/shop space is modest and a basement is required. In many cases, you can expect to pay the same as studwall construction (i.e., somewhere between $175 - $250 per square foot depending on your market).
You want an attached garage and/or shop space > standard 2-3 car garage (i.e., > 1,200 square feet). Using post-frame building design, a barndominium/shouse is able to create large usable spaces cost-effectively in ways that traditional studwall construction cannot.
You like the aesthetic of steel (for the roof and sidewalls) typically used in a barndominium/shouse. Alternate materials may be used on the exterior, but they add cost.
You are comfortable using a concrete floating slab (or equivalent) to meet your foundation needs. A barndominium/shouse can be built on nearly any concrete foundation, including traditional basements. However, traditional basements are not necessary with a barndominium/shouse and having one increases cost.
You want to do some of the interior work yourself (such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fixtures), or you want to be the general contractor for that scope of work. While some builders will do full turnkey projects, most prefer to perform work through completion of the building shell.

	Yes	No
You understand that barndominium/shouse pricing is comparable to studwall home construction, particularly those with traditional 2-3 car garages and basements. Interior finishes are the same in either building type, and the advantages of a barndominium/shouse largely go away when the garage/shop space is modest and a basement is required. In many cases, you can expect to pay the same as studwall construction (i.e., somewhere between $175 - $250 per square foot depending on your market).
You want an attached garage and/or shop space > standard 2-3 car garage (i.e., > 1,200 square feet). Using post-frame building design, a barndominium/shouse is able to create large usable spaces cost-effectively in ways that traditional studwall construction cannot.
You like the aesthetic of steel (for the roof and sidewalls) typically used in a barndominium/shouse. Alternate materials may be used on the exterior, but they add cost.
You are comfortable using a concrete floating slab (or equivalent) to meet your foundation needs. A barndominium/shouse can be built on nearly any concrete foundation, including traditional basements. However, traditional basements are not necessary with a barndominium/shouse and having one increases cost.
You want to do some of the interior work yourself (such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fixtures), or you want to be the general contractor for that scope of work. While some builders will do full turnkey projects, most prefer to perform work through completion of the building shell.