The log cabin aesthetic was made for winter. It’s charming and cosy, and if the snow happens to fall it can’t help but feel festive. But you probably don’t want to deck out your entire house in log cabin chic. Your garden room, however, presents the perfect opportunity! You just have to think about the details of the design.
8 Tips for Transforming Your Garden Room into a Cosy Log Cabin
Think natural
Part of the appeal of the log cabin is its reliance on natural materials. So, choosing a design that deploys wood cladding is the perfect place to start. If you want to continue the theme, you could add a wall of wood panelling internally. Then bring in natural furnishings too. Faux fur rugs. Wooden chairs and tables. Woolen throws. Anything that can help to create that rustic vibe.
Pay attention to your colour scheme
In an authentic log cabin, anything goes. But when you’re building an aesthetic from scratch, cosy should be your guiding principle. That means neutral colours – browns, creams, and greens – with warm highlights. Patterned textiles can work as an accent. But you have to get your baseline in place first.
Use lighting
Lighting can make or break a room. If you rely solely on overhead lights, the room will always look stark and bright, regardless of how you style it. But when you add in table lamps, wall lights, uplighters, festoon lighting, or fairy lights, you can create your own unique atmosphere.
Create a focal point
It’s the log fire that typically makes a log cabin cosy. It doesn’t just create warmth, but delivers a beautiful focal point. While you may not want to install a wood burner in your garden room, you could install a plug-in fire with realistic flame effect. As technology has evolved, the fires have become more realistic. Making for a really cosy environment.
Invest in cosy seating
You can’t have a log cabin without a cosy armchair or two! But you don’t have to stick to traditional seating styles if you’re short on space. Bean bag armchairs are lightweight and easy to move around, and typically have a smaller footprint. While wooden rocking chairs have more of an authentic feel.
Dress your space
You might not want to use antlers in your decorating, but log cabins need to feel homely. So, dress your walls, add some pictures, find some nicknacks that complement the style. Add a houseplant or two and some shelves if your walls are strong enough to support them. A book case if they’re not. The idea is to make the space feel friendly, warm, personal, and inviting.
Keep it organised
While it’s fine for log cabins to be slightly cluttered, your enjoyment will be impaired if the space is messy. So, integrate some storage solutions. And only bring in things that have a designated home. A coffee table with built-in storage is a great place to start. Or foot rests with hidden compartments.
Don’t forget the entertainment
A garden log cabin should be about securing quality time. Having something to do – a pile of books, a cupboard of board games and playing cards, crochet and knitting gear – can help to make that more achievable. Especially if you add in some snacks and a kettle for those warming winter drinks!
The very best thing about garden rooms is that you can make them into whatever you need them to be. Home office. Garden gym. Granny annex. Or log cabin. The only thing that’s stopping you is your imagination.
Are you looking for garden room inspiration? Get in touch with Garden Room Sanctuary.
