Whether you’re curled up under a blanket by the fireplace during the cold winter months or parked in an Adirondack chair roasting marshmallows in the middle of July, there’s just something about being in a cabin that makes you feel good.
While these year-round happy places are usually associated with some sort of retreat, there’s no reason why you can’t recreate the same chilled-out vibes in the comfort of your own home—even if you don’t have a working fireplace. “I think that anything you can do to make yourself feel comfortable in a space is going to approximate the kind of cabin-y vibe in it,” says Ruben Caldwell, the designer behind Scribner’s Lodge, a luxe, rustic getaway in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Take a deeply personal approach, he advises: “You need to find colors and ways of working that are comfortable for you, and that’s what sort of creates the vibe.”
According to Kylee Trunck, a senior designer at Havenly, cabins are meant be “approachable and comfortable spaces with a lot of natural elements” that make you feel like you’re surrounded by nature, even when you’re inside. “Think greens, browns, beiges, whites, and blues,” says Trunk. “Natural textures like jute, rattan, and distressed wood are great, when juxtaposed with cozy ones like faux fur and knits.” She’s a big fan of natural textures like reclaimed wood and leather, and likes to throw in a decorative branch or two to really tie it all together.
She also notes that sense of smell is important, too. Pine- and bonfire-scented candles really help to set the scene, and for an added level of ambience, Trunk suggests playing with lighting using dimmers, layered window treatments, and different light sources, then filling the room with greenery to bring even more of the outside into your indoor space.
So no matter the season at hand, here are some of Trunk’s suggestions for how to get your very own cabin vibe at home—no precious vacation days needed.
Shop cabin essentials
Ikea Rens Rug $30
Margo Faux Cowhide Beige/Brown Area Rug $103
Ethan Allen Cross Cable Throw $149
Serena & Lily Blakely Plaid Pillow Cover $168
West Elm Source Kudu Lamp $143
Article Ceni Chair $599
Mini Bohemian Forest Wooden Wick Tin Candle $12
Kiwa Handwoven Jute Ribbed Solid Rug $45
If you are looking for a full-on getaway, pack your coziest PJ’s into one of these rolly bags and head to one of our favorite AirBnB cabins where you can unplug in style
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