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A cabin is more than just a shelter in the woods; it’s a sanctuary that allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The right interior design can turn a simple cabin into your ideal getaway. Whether you’re building from scratch or renovating an existing space, several key considerations can help you create a cozy retreat that reflects your style and enhances your connection with nature. Let’s explore the essential elements of cabin interior design to craft a perfect hideaway.

cabin living room with large windows

Consider the View.

If you love cabins, you probably also love nature. Why not prioritize all that natural beauty as a main feature of your cabin’s interior design? The best way to do that? Windows! Incorporating as many windows as possible will allow you to enjoy all those serene views surrounding your cabin. Large picture windows and full-lite doors can create a seamless connection between the indoors and outdoors. However, it’s crucial to balance this with your sense of privacy. You may want to strategically position some windows or use frosted glass in certain areas to maintain seclusion while still enjoying the natural light.

Similarly, also think about the sightlines of the overall floor plan. Where will you spend the most time? Consider the view from the kitchen sink, the living room sofa, or from your bed as you wake up. Placing furniture to frame the best views not only enhances your experience but also encourages a relaxing atmosphere.

If you’re building a new cabin, take the time to study sun patterns throughout the day. Positioning your cabin to maximize natural light and the view will be worth it in the long run!

 

Consider the Style.

We think your cabin interior design should reflect a combination of the era of the home and your personal preferences. Here’s a few ideas to inspire you…

modern rustic cabin

Modern Rustic Cabin

This style is probably the most prevalent, and for good reason. The resurgence in vacation properties has meant a lot of older cabins are getting renovated. And we’re here for it! This style combines natural materials like wood and stone with clean lines and contemporary design elements. Think open spaces with exposed beams paired with clean-lined furniture  and a color palette inspired by nature.

 

Retro Cabin

If you love nostalgia, a retro style cabin might be for you. Incorporate classic cabin elements like green plaids, vintage signs, and wooden light fixtures. This approach can evoke a sense of warmth and familiarity, making your cabin feel like a cherished family retreat.

 

Scandinavian Cabin

Scandinavian design is very well suited for cabin interiors. This style promotes a minimalist approach, allowing nature to take center stage with large windows and a neutral color palette. It emphasizes simplicity and functionality while maintaining a cozy vibe. Think about using light wood floors, white walls, and black accents to create an airy space.

 

boho cabin bedroom

Boho Cabin

For those who prefer more maximalist style, a boho cabin design might be the perfect fit. Focus on incorporating vintage furniture pieces along with lots of different textures and décor. And if all ese fails….add a plant! If your cabin isn’t frequented often enough to care for live plants, don’t hesitate to explore the world of faux greenery.

 

Consider Your Comfort.

What’s the point of a getaway if you’re uncomfortable the whole time? Ensuring a cozy cabin interior is crucial for your relaxation. Start with quality furnishings: mattresses, sofas, and lounge chairs. You’ll want pieces that invite you to sink in and unwind. A well-chosen sofa can become the centerpiece of your living space, while a plush mattress ensures a restful night’s sleep after a day of outdoor adventures.

Next add in some warmth with cozy blankets and pillows. These textiles not only enhance comfort but also allow you to introduce color and texture into your space. Opt for natural fibers like wool or cotton, which are both durable and easy to maintain.

You can also consider incorporating your favorite creature comforts from home. They may need to be smaller, but appliances like a compact washer/dryer, a dishwasher, or a coffee pot can really elevate your cabin experience.

 

 

cabin living room with leather sofa

Consider the Budget.

Your cabin getaway is a time for relaxation, not financial stress. Take some time in the beginning of your journey to decide how you want to prioritize your interior design budget. Now, be honest with yourself about that budget and track your purchases along the way for each room.

Focus on investing in the major comfort pieces, like a quality mattress or sofa. These are the items that will make the most difference in your experience. Over time, you can transform your cabin’s interior design with accessories and décor that fit your style.

You can also look to quality secondhand wood dining table and side tables for a budget saver. Thrift stores, flea markets, and online marketplaces can be a treasure trove for unique finds that add character to your cabin design without breaking the bank.

Cabins often see plenty of wear and tear, so opting for outdoor fabrics, faux leathers, and  washable rugs are smart choices. They are not only practical but can also bring warmth and style to your space. As a bonus measure, you can use patterns to help camouflage those inevitable spills (aka memories).

 

Insighed Designs Home Page

Consider asking for help.
We believe in affordable interior design and would love to help create the cabin of your dreams! We source from familiar retail brands but intentionally do not have vendor affiliations so that we have complete flexibility to choose the right items for your style and budget. Each of our designs come with a photorealistic image of the room and a clickable catalog. You can then piece together the new space in your own timeline.

 

boho bedroom with colorful rug

Find our pre-fab designs in The Collection. Here you can purchase your favorite design for just $50 and instantly receive a 6-item clickable catalog!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or send us photos and measurements for a custom design with Online Interior Design. You will receive a 1-hour consultation, floor plan, detailed design narrative, photorealistic images, and a 12-item clickable catalog.

If you’ve been following along, you know that we’re planning to remodel our 1955 ranch home on the east side of Madison, WI. We’ve already talked about the new floor plan and design for the primary bedroom. We now continue our tour into the office – welcome!

 

Insighed Designs Remodel Primary Office Overview

Much like the room choice for the primary bedroom was obvious, the office knew its role from the beginning as well. Though its small footprint could also work well as a nursery or child’s bedroom. As you can see here, the previous two owners showed this room with a twin bed.

Insighed Designs - office remodel - before

 

 

Insighed Designs - office remodel - before

 

Insighed Designs - office remodel - before

When we bought the house, we decided this room would serve as my office. While I had furniture pieces that technically fit in the space, the room really didn’t function very well.

Insighed Designs - office remodel - before

 

Insighed Designs - office remodel - before

 

And we all know how I feel about that. So…to the drawing board we went! Having used the space for a few months, I knew it needed these three things:

  • a window seat for Willow
  • closed storage for supplies and a hidden printer
  • enough desk surface to fit a laptop and a freestanding monitor

We knew this iteration of the room would not be forever, so we kept the budget affordable. Incredibly, the combination of the Billy bookcase and a laminate countertop from IKEA sits just at window height for Willow. AND their Micke desk would just barely fill in the remaining length of the wall. Like, literally, within a half inch. And yes, in fact I did re-measure everything about a thousand times before pressing submit on that order – ha!

ID - space plan - before + after

This left the opposing wall open for more of that closed storage we need. Namely, the hidden printer. Now folks, I have dreamed of a vintage mid-century credenza for a very, very long time. When I realized this would be a great spot for the printer AND could actually fit into both this and the future vision for this office?! It took 2.5 seconds to decide to stretch the budget a little.

 

Insighed Designs - our remodel - office - desk view

 

 

Insighed Designs - our remodel - office - credenza

 

Someday, when the budget allows, we may consider adding custom millwork to the space. A wall-to-wall desktop is supported by a centered storage cabinet. Floating shelves fill the wall space above the desk.

 

Insighed Designs - office remodel 3D rendering

 

We kept the walls neutral to allow the wood tones to anchor the space. These heavier feeling wood tones balance out the levity of the floating desktop and shelves. Finally, the books, area rug, and artwork add just the right touch of bold color to the space.

 

Insighed Designs - office remodel 3D rendering

 

Who’s excited for the next stop on the tour? Up next….the bathroom!

 

3D floor plan

 

 

 

Welcome to the second stop in our remodel tour! We’ll be talking about the design of each room on the main level, starting with the top left corner (the primary bedroom) and working our way around the main level to the new dining room.

Insighed Designs Remodel Primary Bedroom Overview

While the house technically has 4 bedrooms, it was pretty obvious which one would become the primary bedroom. One will become the dining room, the second only fits a twin bed, the third is downstairs and only the last one would fit a king sized bed. And this side sleeper really wanted to upgrade to a king sized bed. So, yeah. The primary bedroom was a pretty obvious choice.

We managed to find listing photos from two sales ago and here’s how they used the room. It appears they have a full or queen sized bed, two nightstands AND two dressers. Knowing the space, I can imagine it was quite challenging moving around the room.

Insighed Designs - primary bedroom - listing photos 2013 (2)

And here’s the ill fitting blow up bed from the listing photos from when we purchased the house in 2022.

Insighed Designs - primary bedroom - listing photo 2022

And here it is as the blank slate we started with! Since we were moving up to a king sized bed, there was really only one good spot for it: under the window across from the door. Now, some folks may say that a bed shouldn’t sit under a window. And I respect that. Doesn’t the light bother you in the morning? Nope; we added blackout shades. But how do raise and lower the shade? Ah, yes. Fair point. It’s not great, but also not impossible. And maybe someday we will incorporate automated shades?

But I digress. The king sized bed and two nightstands sit comfortably along that window wall. While the room doesn’t fit much more that, it works well for our needs. A fresh coat of paint and a few interesting pieces will make a big difference, don’t you think?Insighed Designs Primary Bedroom Space Plan

As for style, we want to incorporate mid-century pieces as a nod to the house’s roots, but lead with our own comfortable style. Which typically leans ‘light and bright’ with careful but fun additions of color. And this design certainly fits that bill! We kept the bigger components of the room neutral – warm white paint, natural oak floors, jute rug, and white bedding. Then brought in a contrasting bold black floral pattern on the curtains that sit behind a beautiful emerald green tufted headboard. The classic mid-century nightstands sit below a pair of modern globe pendants.

Insighed Designs Remodel Primary Bedroom Design

Which, by the way, you never really notice how much space a bedside lamp takes up until it’s gone. When you bedroom has a small footprint, every little bit counts. If you can relate – stay tuned! We’ve got some things in the works with you in mind. Everyone else stay tuned for the next room in the remodel design tour…the office!

Insighed Designs Remodel Primary Office Overview

 

Insighed Designs - Terry and Nancy

I met Terry in April 2020 and we were moving in together by July of 2021. After a year and a half in a beautiful but under-maintained turn of the century home, we finally found a home of our own. It’s a pretty standard mid-century ranch on the east side of Madison; in fact, one of our friends has the same layout!

 

I think our realtor was surprised when we told her we wanted to make an offer because honestly, the house didn’t show very well. It was in need of a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. And then they staged it with sporadic blow up furniture and a too-big dining table.

 

Insighed Designs - our basement listing photo

– listing photo –

 

Insighed Designs - our dining listing photo

– listing photo –

Also, there were some fundamental problems with the layout. A full height wall right inside the front door made for a claustrophobic little hallway. Well, that and the stairs to the basement in the middle of a living room wall.

 

Insighed Designs - our entry per listing

– listing photo –

 

So yeah, pretty sure she was a little surprised.

 

But what we saw was that they had flipped the direction of the stairs to make a pantry space in the kitchen. So if we were to flip the stairs back and remove the entry wall, the main level would be more open and function better overall. [This is where having a background in remodeling was a blessing and a curse. Because I was all “oh, yeah. We can flip the stairs back easily and open this up for a better dining room.” Which is true, but apparently the cost of remodeling has gone up a bit in the almost decade I’ve been away. But I digress…]

Insighed Designs - our house remodel - main level before

 

And we also saw that there were already two full baths AND the basement was fully finished. Did I mention that it was also close to the lake, bike path, and our friends? Why would we ever pass it up?! So when our offer was accepted, we felt like we really lucked out! Thankfully, this house also happened to be the lowest offer we had made. So that helps with the remodeling budget. Now armed with a solid space plan, a decent amount of paint, and a bit of elbow grease, we will have managed to get ourselves a pretty dreamy little house!

Insighed Designs - our house remodel - main level - after

 

What all are you remodeling, you ask? Well, someday we will replace the kitchen and enclose the laundry room, but for now our plan is to:

  1. Remove the entry wall.
  2. Align opening to dining with entry.
  3. Move closet next to new dining bench.
  4. Reverse direction of stairs.
  5. Lower stairwell walls to half walls.

Where are we at now? Well, we have met with several remodeling firms but did not find a good fit. At this point, we plan to lean on my experience in managing remodel projects and will get individual bids to coordinate the trades ourselves. In the meantime, we will be sharing our plans with you, room by room. Stay tuned for our first big reveal . . . the primary bedroom!

 

Insighed Designs - 3D space plan - primary bedroom