Looking for barndominium floor plans with loft space that is comfortable and practical? You have come to the right place. At HousePlans USA, we draw custom barndominium homes from scratch for owners and builders nationwide. Therefore, your loft is planned around your family, your lot and your local code.
A barndominium already offers tall walls and a wide, open shape. As a result, a loft can turn unused overhead volume into real living space. It might hold an office, a guest room, a reading nook or a place for the kids. Moreover, it preserves the dramatic open feel that draws many people to this style.
However, a loft has to be more than a platform under the roof. Headroom, stairs, guards, heating and cooling all need careful thought. For that reason, this guide covers the choices that matter most. When you are ready, you can start your barndominium design online.
Why Add a Loft to a Barndominium?
Barndominiums usually have simple, rectangular footprints and generous wall heights. Consequently, they can suit a partial second level very well. A loft can add space without widening the building. Furthermore, it can overlook the main room rather than closing it off.
Extra Space Under the Same Roof
A loft adds usable area within the shell you are already building. For instance, a 40-foot-wide barndominium could hold a loft above its bedrooms while the great room stays open. By contrast, adding a ground-floor wing needs more foundation and roof. Your builder can price both options for your site.
That said, a loft is not free space. Floor framing, stairs, finishes and extra conditioned volume all add cost. Therefore, it helps to define the purpose of the loft first. Our pricing page shows plan costs by size, so you can compare layouts.
Dramatic Volume and Natural Light
A loft overlooking a tall great room can become the signature feature of your home. Tall gable windows can bring daylight into both levels. Similarly, exposed trusses or wood beams add character overhead. See our barndominium gallery for style ideas.
Popular Loft Layouts for Barndominium Plans
Every loft should have a clear job. The right layout depends on who will use it, and how often. Additionally, any of these can be adjusted during design, because customization is free with us.
The Overlook Loft
This is the classic choice. It sits above the bedrooms or kitchen and looks down over the great room. Consequently, it works nicely as a lounge, library or casual family space. It also keeps the home feeling connected, although sound will carry between levels.
The Bedroom Loft
Some owners want a true sleeping space upstairs. For example, a loft can serve as a guest room or a teen retreat. However, a room used as a bedroom must generally meet code requirements for emergency escape and ceiling height. We draw these details early, so the plan does not need changes at permit review.
The Office or Studio Loft
Remote workers often like being one level away from daily activity. An enclosed loft office can reduce noise, while a glass wall can preserve the view and light. Likewise, a loft above a shop gives hobbyists and business owners a separate workspace. A separate exterior stair is also worth discussing in that case.
The Bonus Loft Over a Garage or Shop
Many barndominiums include a garage or workshop with tall walls. Therefore, the area above it is a natural place for bonus space. It can hold storage, a playroom or a future apartment. Fire separation rules may apply between a garage and living space, so we plan for them from the start.
Our Services: Barndominium Floor Plans With Loft by Location
We draw barndominium plans for all 50 states. Below are examples of how local conditions change a loft design. Each plan is tailored to your site and can include floor plans, elevations, sections, roof plans and foundation details.
Custom Barndominium Loft Plans in Texas: Houston, Dallas and San Antonio
Texas is a natural home for the barndominium, thanks to its many rural and acreage lots. Near Houston, heat and humidity make insulation and air sealing especially important. Meanwhile, soils around Dallas can include expansive clay that affects the slab design.
Around San Antonio, owners often enjoy big views and long covered porches. For instance, an overlook loft can line up with tall gable windows that frame the Hill Country beyond. We can also add a shop bay to the same plan.
Read our Texas barndominium guide for more detail. Additionally, the Texas house plans page explains state requirements and local options.
Barndominium Plans With a Loft in Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee
Tennessee offers rolling farmland, wooded lots and steep mountain sites. Around Nashville, an acreage barndominium can sit comfortably among pastures and fence lines. By contrast, a site near Knoxville may need a stepped foundation or a walkout level.
A loft can pair beautifully with mountain views. Tall windows on one end wall can open the upper level to the scenery. Consequently, the loft may become the best seat in the house. Rules can differ between counties, so we confirm your site before drawing details.
See our Tennessee barndominium guide for more local insight. You can also review the Tennessee house plans page for state information.
Storm-Conscious Barndominium Floor Plans in Tampa, Florida
Florida buyers need a plan that takes wind seriously. Near Tampa, large doors and tall gable walls need careful structural attention. Therefore, the address of your lot should guide the design from the start. Coastal flood zones can also affect the floor height.
A loft can provide a comfortable space above the main living area. However, warm air rises, so the loft needs its own cooling plan. Ask your mechanical contractor whether a separate zone makes sense. Our Florida barndominium guide covers other regional details.
Barndominium Home Plans With Loft Space in Oklahoma City
Wide lots around Oklahoma City can suit a long barndominium with a shop. Severe storms are a real concern across the region. Consequently, many owners ask about including a safe room or storm shelter in the plan. It is much simpler to include one before construction starts.
A loft can sit over the bedrooms, leaving the shop and great room with full height. Furthermore, it offers room for an office without enlarging the footprint. Learn more on our Oklahoma house plans page. We can coordinate the plan with your builder's chosen structural system.
Loft Barndominium Blueprints in Columbus, Ohio
Ohio's cold winters shape a barndominium in several ways. Near Columbus, foundations must reach below the local frost line. Additionally, the roof must handle local snow loads. A shell with careful insulation also helps a tall room stay comfortable.
A heated mudroom near the shop can keep snow and tools out of the home. Meanwhile, a loft over those utility spaces makes good use of their ceiling. Read our Ohio and Midwest barndominium guide for more regional advice.
Barndominium Designs With Lofts in Charlotte and the Carolina Mountains
North Carolina owners can build in very different settings. Around Charlotte, rural edges offer room for shops and long drives. By contrast, sites near the Blue Ridge Mountains often slope. Therefore, a walkout level may suit the land better than a slab.
A loft can face the best view on your land, whether that is a pond or a ridge line. Similarly, a rear porch can extend the same view outside. Read our North Carolina barndominium guide for local details. It also links to the requirements that matter most for permits.
Barndominium Shop and Loft Combinations in Any State
A shop with a loft above can make one building work much harder. For instance, you might keep a tractor or a boat below while using the upstairs for a studio. Likewise, a home-based business can separate its work area from family life.
Our barndominium plans service explains what each order includes. You can also compare options in our nationwide barndominium guide. Browse all of our home styles if you are still deciding on a look.
Design Rules to Check Before You Finalize a Loft
A loft looks simple, yet small mistakes can be expensive to fix. Therefore, review these points before you approve your drawings. Local amendments can change the details, so your permit office has the final say.
Ceiling Height
The International Residential Code generally requires habitable rooms to have at least 7 feet of ceiling height. Sloped ceilings have their own rules, and those can limit how much floor area counts. As a result, a loft under a low-pitched roof may feel tighter than expected. We check the section drawings to confirm the real headroom.
Stairs Versus Ladders
Stairs are the practical choice for any loft you will use every day. Under the International Residential Code, stairways generally need at least 36 inches of width. By contrast, a ladder may suit only limited storage areas. Thus, decide on the access early, because a stair uses significant floor space below.
Guards and Open Edges
Open loft edges need protection against falls. Guards are generally required where a walking surface is more than 30 inches above the floor below. These are typically at least 36 inches high, with openings limited so a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through. Consequently, a cable or metal railing must be chosen with those limits in mind.
Heating, Cooling and Sound
Warm air rises, so a loft can become hotter than the floor below. For that reason, ask your mechanical contractor about zoning, return air and ceiling fans. Sound also travels through open volumes. Therefore, an office loft may need glass or a door if you make many calls.
Structure
Metal and post-frame buildings carry loads differently than conventional framed homes. A loft adds floor load to the structure, so it must be included in the engineering. Consequently, tell your building supplier about the loft before ordering the shell. Engineer stamps are available through our service for every state.
How to Choose the Right Barndominium Floor Plans With Loft Space
A loft works best when it answers a real need. Otherwise, it can become an expensive spot for storing boxes. These questions will help you decide what size and location make sense for your home.
Decide How You Will Use It
First, picture a normal week in the loft. Will one person work there each day, or will the whole family gather there at night? For instance, a desk and bookshelves need far less room than a sofa and a large television. Similarly, a guest space needs privacy, storage and easy access to a bathroom.
Next, consider how your needs may change. Young children may enjoy a play loft now, yet teenagers may want a quiet study later. Therefore, include outlets, lighting and data connections for more than one purpose. Small choices like these can keep the room useful for many years.
Check the Stairs and the Space Below
Stairs take up more room than most buyers expect. As a result, a stair can reduce the size of a closet, a pantry or a bathroom below. It helps to look at both floors together rather than one at a time. In addition, consider how furniture will get upstairs, because a tight turn can make moving difficult.
The rooms under the loft also need attention. A loft floor lowers the ceiling beneath it, so those rooms will not share the great room's height. However, that lower ceiling can feel cozy in a bedroom or kitchen. Therefore, place the loft above the rooms that benefit from a more intimate scale.
Plan the Budget and Future Finishing
Some owners want to save money by finishing the loft later. In that case, plan the framing, stairs and rough-in work during the first build. Otherwise, adding them afterward could disrupt finished rooms. Also confirm with your builder and permit office how an unfinished loft will be treated.
Construction costs vary by region, builder and materials. Meanwhile, the steel or post-frame supplier may charge differently for a building designed with a loft. Consequently, request quotes that clearly include the added loads and stairs. Comparing quotes on the same plan makes the numbers easier to trust.
Finally, tell your lender and insurance agent about your plans early. They may want to know how the finished loft will be used and what structural system you have selected. Clear drawings can help you answer their questions.
What's Included in Your Barndominium Plans
Our plans are drawn to give you, your builder and your permit office the information needed to move forward. A typical set includes floor plans, elevations, sections, roof plans and foundation details. Moreover, you receive free customization and 30 days of free revisions after delivery.
Pricing is based on the size of your home. Plans for homes of 1,501 to 2,000 square feet start at $1,495, while homes of 2,001 to 2,500 square feet start at $1,695. A typical custom home lands between $2,000 and $3,000 all-in, depending on your options. See every choice on our pricing page.
How to Order Your Plans
First, tell us about your rooms, loft, shop and foundation in our online designer. Next, compare concepts from multiple designers and pick your favorite. You pay 75% to start, then the balance once the final plans are ready. Standard delivery takes ten business days, while Rush and Super Rush deliver in 48 or 24 hours.
Have a question about your land? Please contact our team before you begin. You can also browse our house plans by state to find your local page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a barndominium have a loft?+
Yes. Tall walls and an open shell make barndominiums well suited to lofts. The structure must be engineered for the added floor load.
Does a loft count as a bedroom?+
Only if it meets local code. A bedroom generally needs an emergency escape opening, adequate ceiling height and other requirements set by your permit office.
How much headroom does a barndominium loft need?+
Habitable rooms generally need at least 7 feet of ceiling height under the International Residential Code. Sloped ceilings have separate rules, and local amendments can apply.
How much do barndominium floor plans with a loft cost?+
Custom plans start at $1,050 for homes up to 1,000 square feet. Plans for 2,001 to 2,500 square feet start at $1,695, with free customization.
Can a loft go above a garage or shop?+
Yes, and it is a popular choice. Fire separation rules may apply between a garage and living space, so we address them in the plan.
Start Your Barndominium Floor Plans With Loft Today
From Texas ranchland to the Carolina mountains, your barndominium should suit your land and your life. Our designers will shape the loft, shop and living spaces around your needs. Call or WhatsApp us at +1 (217) 426-5403, email hello@house-plan.net, or get your free quote today.
Our service area around TX, TN, FL, OK, OH & NC
We draw plans for lots across TX, TN, FL, OK, OH & NC and every nearby town, plus all 50 states. Call +1 (217) 426-5403 or email hello@house-plan.net.
