Create A Mountain Retreat At Home With Cabin Decor

Today's busy urban lifestyles surrounded by concrete, steel, and humming electronics cause many to yearn for a relaxing retreat from it all to a cabin in the woods. Drawn to peaceful landscapes graced by wildflowers, woods, birds, and Rocky Mountain wildlife, those who can't get to the mountains have discovered a way to create that atmosphere in their homes with cabin decor. This increasingly popular interior design option features natural materials, warm colors, simplicity, and above all, comfort.

Cabin decor is less a style of design than it is a feeling. This means there are no real definitions or rules beyond bringing as much of nature indoors as possible to make the space feel like a mountain retreat. Any room can be transformed into such a retreat simply and inexpensively. In fact, older, hand-me-down furnishings and garage sale finds with a few dings and chips are perfect to attain that rustic, comfortable ambience. Colorful slip covers, quilts, and chenille throws offer welcoming warmth and coziness with an invitation to snuggle in and put your feet up.

Few homes offer rustic log cabin walls and beams, but the feeling can be recreated with wall colors in warm tans, perhaps using a faux paint technique for added depth and texture. A wood floor is ideal for the look but if that isn't an option, a nature themed rug, for example an earth toned rug with a leaf design, or even an old-fashioned braided rug can help to create that cozy, rustic feeling. In furnishings and accents, focus on the colors of nature: greens, golds, browns, and reds. Don't hesitate to bring traditionally outdoor furniture inside, such as an Adirondack chair, adding tapestry pillows and a throw to soften it and make it more inviting.

As with all interior design styles, the accessories make the space. Wildlife and wildflower photography displayed in rustic wooden frames is an ideal choice for wall decor. Mountain scenes will draw the eye and the imagination away from urban sprawl to a feeling of peace and solitude. Dried wildflowers or pinecones arranged in simple baskets and woody-scented candles nestled among river rocks create tabletop or mantle accents with texture and sensual appeal. Wrought iron and pottery lamps and/or an antler chandelier keep the materials natural in essential lighting.

The best two words to offer when advising on how to achieve a cabin retreat design are "have fun!" Let your creativity and even sense of humor guide your way to creating your cabin retreat at home.