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It seems the rustic cabin and lodge look decorating theme has gained much popularity these days.

Picture yourself here: A rustic log home, standing amongst the pine trees, it’s steep metal roof dripping with dew from the mornings crisp air, a swirl of smoke spiraling up from the chimney, the birds chirping in the trees, the morning sun rising over the distant hill. A slight breeze blowing, just enough to put the wind chimes into a soft soothing motion. The smell of pine trees, the meadow alive with newly opened wildflowers, in yellows, whites and purples, the sky a crystal clear blue, a hint of wood smoke in the air. You’re sitting in your comfy chair, gazing outside upon this majestic beauty, a crackling fire dancing in the stone fireplace, your sipping a steaming mug of hot cocoa, the golden honey tones of your log home, giving you a feeling of warmth, serenity and comfort.

For those of us who are fortunate enough to live this lifestyle, there is no greater feeling. For those of you who merely dream this lifestyle, there is hope. You don’t have to live in a secluded forest or nestled next to a remote lake to give the inside of your home a warm cabin feeling.

Not only are we seeing log homes becoming more and more popular, we are also seeing more and more contemporary homes decorating with the cabin décor theme.

There is NOT just one perfect decorating style for a home. Your style should be whatever makes you feel comfortable and secure. You want a place to unwind, a comfortable hang-out, a place where you can feel at ease. Carefully consider your lifestyle and habits, as this will play a great role in your decorating theme. Incorporate what you like in your decorating.

Do you long for the cozy cabin feeling throughout your home, or do you just want one or two rooms that reflect that rustic cabin charm?

There is one item that plays a major role in the rustic cabin feel, this item being wood. Oh, the joy of wood! Bringing Mother Nature’s beauty into your home. There is an abundant variety of beautiful wood products to choose from, some of the most commonly used for interior decorating are: Pine, aspen, maple, hickory, alder, cherry, oak, weathered barn wood and red cedar. Wood flooring can generate that country feeling, wood ceilings and wood walls add warmth and coziness to your home. And then, we have the furniture and accessories, coffee tables, end tables, dressers, dining room tables and chairs, desks, kitchen cabinetry, log beds, rustic rocking chairs, and the list goes on and on. Wood, with its distinct splendor, gives a feeling of warmth throughout your home.

Other important aspects of cabin/lodge decorating are color, texture and lighting. Introducing color and texture is essential. I have found that there are no boundaries here. I haven’t found a color that does not compliment the woodsy surroundings in a log home. Anything goes, from the pale hues of sage green, buttery yellows and powder blues to the dramatic forest greens, rich purples and deep reds.

Accentuate your home with colors you love. Add braided area rugs to the floor, lay Indian blankets across the backs of furniture. Brightly colored quilts can be folded at the foot of beds. Include rustic touches by adding colorful plush pillows. Gather a bucket of pine cones and fill your wicker baskets. Strategically place pottery on tables and next to furniture. Place vibrant colored placemats on the dining room table. Add handcrafted items throughout your home. Scour estate sales and garage sales for antiques and items from past eras. Think beyond framed art to decorate your walls, anything on the walls can be a captivating display. I have a seven foot aspen log on my bedroom wall above my headboard. I peeled, sanded, finished it with a low gloss varnish and then added some greenery and pine cones. It looks remarkable. Curtains and window coverings can also help to enhance the lodge feeling, and can be handcrafted at a fraction of the price if you have your own sewing machine. Choose materials of different textures and colors and design your window coverings to compliment you decorating theme. Walls can be painted in a variety of colors. One wall in an otherwise white room can be painted in a deep dramatic color, to give warmth. Plants and flowers are great accessories, whether real or artificial, these can add splashes of color throughout your home. Remember, colors create moods, so let your imagination soar.

And now we move on to texture. You can create a rich mix of textures and incorporate visual interest throughout your home with various materials. Something that has always been admired among the cabin lovers is the look of stone. Whether natural or manufactured, stone creates a warm welcoming space. Some of the most widely used are: Marble, slate, granite, moss rock and river rock. If you are fortunate enough to have a massive rock fireplace that extends from floor to ceiling in your great room, then you are one of the lucky ones, so just keep putting wood on that fire (you think that stuff grows on trees). However, the massive stone fireplace is not the only option to enjoying a warm fire. Wood burning stoves come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and generate a huge amount of cabin ambience, while giving off large amounts of radiant heat. If you don’t have the massive stone fireplace, but long for the look and feel of stone, there are several less expensive ways to add this distinct look to your home. Adding a stone backsplash in your kitchen will add drama, or a slate entryway at your front door can really bring out the rustic feeling when your guests enter. Marble countertops can give your kitchen that special country feeling.

Another form of adding texture to your decorating is with the accessories you choose. Select accessories that compliment your decorating theme. Include fabrics of all different types, colors and textures. Animal furs, antlers and leather also bring out the rustic feeling. I’m not suggesting that you need to overload your home with taxidermy and wildlife themes, but a rabbit fur on a coffee table, an antler candle holder as a centerpiece for the dining room table, a pair of leather chaps hanging from a peg on the wall or a ratty old straw cowboy hat placed upon a corner table always brings out the country cowboy in all of us.

Last, but not least is lighting. Lighting plays a huge role in any decorating theme. Lighting is basically divided into two categories, natural lighting and artificial lighting. Natural lighting is the light that we receive from our windows and is critical to our homes, as is artificial sources of lighting. First we’ll talk about natural lighting. Windows, windows, windows. Big windows, small windows, floor to ceiling windows, half moon windows, a grand wall of windows, windows for viewing sunrises and sunsets. An abundance of glass, letting that wonderful golden sunlight in, all year long. We can enjoy an endless supply of warmth and brightness, and it’s absolutely free.

Now I will focus on artificial lighting. Artificial light plays an important role when it comes to home décor. Rare is the rustic home that doesn’t feature some pretty remarkable lighting accents. Lighting adds to the appeal of a room and can enhance overall brightness in your home. First you need to consider how much natural light you have and then consider how each room is used. Lighting can be a challenge when deciding where it will be placed. You may want a combination of lighting schemes in a certain room to make it bright and cheery, and in another room you may desire softer lighting with more of a romantic atmosphere. There are hundreds of choices to choose from when shopping for rustic lighting. You can select from various styles, shapes and sizes from an extensive list of electrical lighting manufactures or you can design your own creation and custom order from a vast list of handcraft woodworkers that design beautiful wood creations. So the first thing to do is to decide what works best for your decorating theme, your light fixtures should compliment their surroundings. Rustic lighting, such as, metal wall sconces and fine handcrafted aspen or pine table lamps and floor lamps are the perfect lighting sources to compliment your rustic decorating theme. A chandelier can make a bold statement in your grand entryway. Elk antlers and deer antlers have become very popular with decorative lighting, and look awesome with cabin décor. High ceilings are very common in today’s homes, and this is just the spot for a massive chandelier to light up your great room. Track lighting can illuminate a specific area. Handcrafted aspen table lamps are a favorite of log home owners who cherish the classic cabin look. Place handcrafted aspen table lamps on your end tables. Set an aspen floor lamp next to your comfy chair for your overhead reading light. For an added touch of charm, you can furnish your lamps with handmade lampshades.

Another lighting suggestion is candles. Colorful candles, candles of every shape and size, aromatic candles in every scent imaginable. Candles in each and every room. Not only do candles give off a soft romantic glow, they also come in a variety of scents and aromas to heighten the senses and create a warm welcoming space. Oil lamps are also a great lighting suggestion and do the same as candles, but their lighting is brighter and lamp oil isn’t scented, however it does come in vibrant colors of blue, red and yellow.

The overall beauty of your home can be significantly enhanced with the appropriate lighting.

Have fun with your decorating, and just remember, your home is more then just a place to live, it’s a place in your heart. Do what makes you feel good, get creative, incorporate a piece of yourself, add a touch of your lifestyle, the results will be nothing less then spectacular.