Steel siding, aluminum roofing, small windows, cavernous space: When most people picture an outbuilding in Minnesota, these things likely come to mind. Others may believe outbuildings are just for commercial or agricultural use. But if you use your imagination, you can design an outbuilding to suit any purpose, from the functional to the far-out.
Do not limit your concept of outbuilding to a large, single room with metal siding and roofing. An outbuilding’s design can be as diverse as any other structure’s. Structural Buildings designs and constructs steel frame, post frame, and stud wall outbuildings customized to your needs.
Here are eight imaginative ways you can put an outbuilding to good use.
1. A Great Escape
No space for your pool table or craft supplies in your house? Turn an outbuilding into a great escape. Add a big-screen TV, pool table, and bar to create a freestanding man cave or construct a crafting getaway with space for sewing, scrapbooking, and your other crafty hobbies.
Artists and writers can use an outbuilding to escape distraction and focus on their craft. So can people who work out of their homes. Outbuildings make excellent home offices.
2. Extra Storage
Many people use outbuilding for extra storage. Outbuildings can be designed to store all sorts of items, from your baseball card collection to your boat, snowmobile, or RV.
Whether you work at home or have a commercial space, outbuildings are good places to store extra inventory. Design a building with shelving for your products.
3. Airplane Hangar
If you’re a pilot, use an outbuilding as a hangar to store your aircraft. Or, perhaps you’re building your own airplane and need a space to work. Either way, an outbuilding can provide the storage and workspace you need.
4. Equestrian Estate
Outbuildings are necessities for people with horses. Custom-design your own stall barn or indoor arena. Add a small building to your existing structures to hold your tack or a large gambrel for lots of extra storage.
5. Indoor Pool
If you’d like to go for a swim in Minnesota in February, you’ll need an indoor pool. An outbuilding can be the perfect structure for housing an indoor pool. Include ample room for the deck, pool mechanics, and changing area.
6. Entertaining Space
An outbuilding can make it possible for you to add a home cinema, pool hall, bar, bowling alley, or other entertainment space to your residence. If you own a commercial orchard or winery, an outbuilding can add event space, retail store, or sheltered picnic area.
7. Community Room
A well-designed outbuilding can bring people together. Create a sense of community at your campground or RV park with a gathering space for your campers. For small municipalities, an outbuilding community room can be an economical way to add common space and a place for residents to meet.
8. Investment Property
Outbuildings can make you money, too. Divide a large building into two storage areas: Fill up one side with your stuff and rent out the other side. If you operate a working farm or orchard, erect an outbuilding as lodging for farm-stay guests.
If you’ve been thinking about adding extra space to your property but you’re not sure where to start contact Structural Buildings today for helpful information and inspiration for your building project. If you can dream it, we can build it!
