A Look at How Modern Horse Barns Are Helping Inspire Outdoor Living

Rural living goes far beyond farm life and getting out of the city. 

People are trying to get back to nature and wellness through the basics of being at one with nature, providing the best for their animals, and gaining more peace and calm on a daily basis. Sophistication, outdoor enjoyment, and country living are coming together in modern ways, and you not only get a contemporary home for you and your family, but modern horse barns and outbuildings that can transform your land and spoil your extended animal family.

In this article, we'll go through how horse barns are shaping this 'rural renaissance' in this day and age, and we'll deep dive into what makes these barns unique.

Outside Entertainment

A horse barn today isn't just to stable the horses; they can become the social centerpiece of your rural homestead. They can be part of your modern-type home.

With large overhanging eaves and large bay doors, you can have the community over for a BBQ with long tables set to encourage mingling with neighbors, trigger new friendships, and bring people together, something we all miss with all these technical gadgets around these days.

In states that are blessed with a milder climate (south and west), barn parties are thrown all year round, and even in regions where the air is heavy/humid, the barn design helps improve the airflow.

Whereas in the North, barns are constructed with insulation and transitioning doors that easily convert the outdoor gathering to a cosy indoor event. A barn for every season.

Wellness Retreat or Creative Workspace

I know we have all heard of the 'she-shed' or 'he-shed', but imagine this on a bigger scale.

You can have a quiet yoga class in the hayloft or a studio with an enormous window to see the panoramic scenery for painting, writing, or reading a book. 

Any creative re-work of a space, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, will use insulated barns for things such as workshops, art studios, gyms – things like that. The sturdy construction will fully shield what's inside from the weather. 

In warmer climates, open-air spaces and breezeways blend nature and serenity with sunshine and fresh air.

Design and Climates

Your local climate will definitely shape how you design and use your horse, aside from sheltering your horses, that is. 

In states where you have very hot and humid air (e.g., Florida, Texas), people often opt for open-sided barns and shedrow barns to help maximize ventilation as much as possible. This is made possible with large overhangs and covered porches, which also help protect against the sun. 

In the North, you are more likely to see steeply pitched roofs and centre aisle barns as these provide more wind resistance and are free of snow. In New England, the Red Barn (red gambrel) is popular, while in the west, low-profile structures dot the open prairies. Barn design is so adaptable and can focus on your particular needs and purposes. 

Feel inspired by what you see around you and make these areas pleasant for anyone who uses them.

Inspirational Art 

There's no denying the impact a classic barn has on a landscape. But what really changes is how home builders are taking inspiration from this in a MAJOR way.

Exposed beams, recycled wood, and custom ironworks are appearing in home design, sheds, guest houses, and garden structures. There's plenty of natural light, upcycled DIY projects, and quirky style that blend the old and the new for something particular to your personality. 

I've seen an old bicycle used as a water feature and old cutlery as a wind chime. Simply charming. It inspires me to build one as well. But since I love horses, it'd be best to find horse barn builders near me to make this happen. 

Horse barn builders will probably be the best first step for such a project, because that would be the centerpiece of the whole property.

Make It Multi-Functional

Flexibility can be the word of the day.

With the changing interests and needs of yourself and your family, each designated area can grow or expand. A modular design will serve you well to make quick changes. Today's tack room is tomorrow's office, or the old hayloft, and will become the young lads' new digs. 

Maybe a new silo is storing the feed, so you can now store all your winter canning in a purpose-built area of the loft.

In states such as Pennsylvania, where you get harsh winters, barns are usually built more as a storage area, rather than just a barn.

Some of these (larger property) barns are even built as part living spaces because they tend to house workers.

Technology and Sustainability

Solar panels on the roof, smart lighting, and wind turbines, today's barn goes beyond tradition.

Old barns were those 'build in one day' super functional buildings that served that one purpose.

Today, barns are so much more. And it's no wonder, considering how much technology has advanced. And why shouldn't these technologies be used? All of them are very sustainable and aim to produce cleaner energy – energy that'll be put to good use.

In more modern (and expensive) barns, you see technology such as heated doors, remote monitoring, automatic watering, and WiFi surveillance, which helps owners manage their time more effectively, leaving them to either enjoy it or use it to be productive in other areas – none of which was before an option.

Back in the forties, barns looked a lot different. A lot more plain, more bland, more silent. 

Today, a barn can literally be the focal point of a whole property because of how cool and ‘livable’ they can be. With all the tech and modern design, the way barns are built is also different to how it was before.

Today barns aren't just for storing your tools, your hay, and your tractor. Oh no… Today, with all the creative ideas and design options, and with people being much wealthier than before, creative minds have found ways of transforming these structures into something more, and in turn, these newfound barns have helped inspire a better outdoor living.

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