Cabin-inspired design ideas to bring the toasty trend into your home
It's an undeniably inviting silhouette: a smoking, secluded cabin set deep into frosted hills and surrounded by pine trees. Indeed, the emerging trend of 'cabinous' interiors (our port-manteau of cabin and cavernous) feels like a natural antidote to the January blues that typically descend this side of the winter solstice.
It invites us to celebrate winter's harshest month, using it as an opportunity to transform our homes into alpine sanctuaries, rather than caves for hibernation.
Taking cues from the Danish and Norwegian word 'hygge' (which describes a feeling of inner contentment and cosiness), the cabin lifestyle evokes visions of winter's finest rituals: curling up by the fire, layering up the blankets, and indulging in wholesome pleasures.
When it comes to design, interiors inspired by cabins rely on natural materials and earthy colours.
Country Living's Houses Editor, Daisy Bendall, weighs in on how to embrace the look at home. She says: "For those of us who aren't lucky enough to dwell in splendid isolation in the woods, it’s still possible to bring the cosy, rustic charm of cabin living into our homes. Start with an earthy palette – think deep olives, chocolate browns, mustard yellows and rust reds."
Daisy adds: "Pair these warm tones with plenty of wooden furniture, ideally with some folk influence – a carved pinewood bed frame or a weathered chest of drawers will work. Layering is key, so drape patchwork quilts and woollen throws over beds and sofas or layer jute rugs with kilims for warmth underfoot."
Invest in beloved British textiles
Adding cabin-chic interest to your space, heaped textiles in varying weights, textures, patterns and styles are also a way of honouring the past.
In the 18th century, cabins dubbed ‘bothies’ took over Scotland's farms and estates, offering accommodation to their workers. Though sturdily built against the outdoor elements, inhabitants still relied on heavy blankets and layers to keep toasty indoors. Embracing tartan, quilted, stitched textures and Melin Tregwynt's unique woven styles will nail the brief.
Bring the outside in
One of the most appealing aspects of cabin living is its close proximity to nature: particularly the snowy, rural landscapes we associate with cabins. With that in mind, incorporating elements, tones and motifs drawn from the outdoors is top of our design list.
Debbie Leigh, Design Manager at ILIV, says: "The benefits of having a connection with nature in our homes have been widely documented, including stress reduction and the enhancement of our overall wellbeing."
Foraging is an easy way to do this: bring in stems of rosemary and bay, evergreen branches, pinecones: anything that strikes a cord while you're out on your winter walk. If you're a crafter, try incorporating inspiration and items from outdoors into your makes. Below (a craft-in-progress), feathers and twigs are paired with block-printed oak leaves and acorns, and leafy fabric cut-outs.
When choosing your palette, take Daisy's advice and bring earthy inspiration in from the cold. Toasty tones are always a good starting point for warming schemes, but cabin interiors also lend themselves to slate blues and greens ranging from olive to forest, particularly come the spring.
Incorporate timber
Rich-toned timber on the floors, walls and even the ceiling conjures up the look and feel of a tucked away cabin – and it's good for insulation, too. Choose a timber with character, whether that's from knots in the grain or a slight variation in colour between the planks. Reclaimed wood is an attractive and sustainable choice here.
Ian Tomlinson, MD of Chaunceys Timber Flooring, advises: "Reclaimed wood can be found in a variety of forms, from floorboards to beams and cladding, offering versatility for almost any interior design project. Wood can significantly enhance the cosiness of a bedroom, transforming it into a warm and inviting sanctuary.
"While wood is commonly used for flooring, its application on walls can create an even more relaxing atmosphere. Using wooden planks as wall cladding adds texture and depth, creating a rustic charm that feels both timeless and sophisticated. The natural grain and colour variations of timber bring a sense of organic beauty, making the space feel calm and cosy."
Display stoneware crockery
Showing off a curation of your favourite handcrafted crockery will add warmth and help you achieve that homespun look.
Stoneware and terracotta have a robust and rugged quality, while handmade bowls and mugs with organic imperfections are a cheerful reminder to celebrate unconventional beauty and slow living. Increasingly, vintage plate racks are on the rise, so consider incorporating one in your kitchen and living space, and swap out the display to keep it fresh and visually exciting.
Jack Welbourne Herringbone Jug
Mixing Bowl Set
Brigitte Colleaux Large Mug
£34.00 at davidmellordesign.com
Gather around the hearth
Make an open fire or wood burning stove the centrepiece in your living room. In a traditional cabin, it's often the main (if not, the sole!) source of heat, as well as a place to cook.
Catharina Björkman, Scandi interiors expert at Contura, advises: "No cabin – or Scandi home – is complete without the inviting flames and crackling sounds of a wood burning stove. Consider the best space to place your wood burner, as it is a hub for all to gather around.
"For an open plan kitchen, dining and living room, think of placing the stove in the centre of the room, as a way to break up and zone the space, as well as allowing multiple areas to benefit from the heat. If your home already has a chimney breast, inserting a compact wood burning stove is a great way to enhance the original features, whilst also creating a more modern aesthetic."
Using a pale scheme in this space – including even a white wood burning stove, like the one below – can make cabin-inspired decor feel more airy and evergreen. Matthew Currington, Technical Director at The Lighting Superstore, says: "While the ‘cabin fever’ aesthetic is dominated by muted earthy tones such as muddy olive greens or dark burnt reds, don’t be afraid to introduce contrast. Light beige, white, or neutral colours add variety, breaking through the darker tones and ruling out the risk of creating a monotonous space."
Create pools of candlelight
Using a blend of scented candles and beeswax dinner and pillar candles – no matter the time of day – will up the 'hygge' factor in a home. When selecting a scent, be sure to opt for wintery herbs, such as thyme and rosemary – or something rich and warming like cedar and cinnamon. Display dinner candles in enamel or antique brass candleholders, or be bold and suspend them from high fittings, as shown below (though be cautious of any curtains that might catch).
However you decide to enjoy the cabin fever interiors trend, remember it's really about finding pleasure in life's simplicities.
If you can infuse a sense of warmth, community and seasonality into your decor, and prevail during this cold and dark time of year, you're already ahead.
Wood Candle
Naso Flur Sandalwood Candle
‘Hearth & Home’ Refillable Scented Candle: Book Pages & Woodsmoke
£54.00 at greathousefarmstores.co.uk
From modern A-frames to the classic log look, cabins evoke a sense of rustic simplicity that should always be accompanied by a level of lived-in comfort. While this certainly can be achieved through the paint palette or the right floor plan, it’s the small stuff that makes a room really come together. (Never underestimate the power of a well-placed throw pillow, especially one that can be used to build the ultimate pillow fort on nights in with kids.)
Below, we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite cabin-style must-haves from cozy blankets to vintage accessories. Think of these suggestions as the finishing touches you’ll need to quickly and easily pull your space together. And, yes: While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to decorating, we think it’s okay if you follow a bit of a formula to produce the coziest, comfiest cabin imaginable!
For more rustic-inspired design ideas, check out these stories..
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