7 Mountain Cabin Vacation Rental Decor Tips
Tips and Tricks for Decor in Cabins
If you could imagine your dream mountain cabin getaway, how would it look? Rustic wood interiors and traditional materials like leather and hides or modern and minimalist, with neutrals and whites dominating the space?
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to decoration, but for those who are hoping to turn their mountain cabins into successful vacation rentals, there are a few basics that are important to keep in mind. Today, we’ll share with you 7 insider tips and tricks that can help you upgrade your cabin’s interior and land even more bookings for your vacation rental.
#1: Make Comfort a Priority
Any mountain vacation rental worth its salt knows: when cold nights descend upon the mountains, comfort becomes of the utmost importance. Give your travelers (who have probably spent their days out in the cold, enjoying mountain activities) a reason to look forward to the coziness of your cabin by providing them with a ton of ways to keep warm. Whether that’s sitting in front of your roaring stone fireplace or curling up underneath a soft, warm blanket, be sure to prioritize and point out these comfort items to your guests. Not only will this make them feel more at home, it’ll also leave them with the memory of mountain cabin comfort on a cold winter’s night.
#2: Don’t Go Overboard with Patterns
Rustic decor can be difficult to get right, but one important thing to keep in mind is that it’s all about balance. Some vacation rental owners go hog wild with patterns and colors, trying to brighten up often-dark cabin interiors. However, the best and most welcoming cabins typically blend a mix of patterns and neutrals when it comes to textiles, furnishings, and wall decor.
Select and feature only your most favorite patterns, and allow them to be the focal point of your space by adding accent decor that is more neutral and single-toned.
#3: Minimalism Over Maximalism
If you’re hoping to appeal to the widest variety of guests, it’s best to follow the path of minimalism rather than maximalism when it comes to decorating your mountain cabin vacation rental. While some guests may appreciate a more authentic and patchworked assortment of interior decor, maximalist decor can make your cabin feel cluttered and jumbled.
Instead of focusing on fitting as many decorations in as possible, keep things simple by sticking the principles of minimalism. This also has the added benefit of making your cabin appear larger and roomier, since there are only the essential touches in each room.
#4: Give Antiques a Try
For vacation rental owners who want to evoke an authentic cabin or lodge experience, antique decor is a must. It might not be a good idea to head out to your antique store and empty your furniture budget for the year, but finding unique and interesting items from days past can help give your cabin a more genuine mountain-inspired feel.
Take a look at your local antique shop or dealer and see what you can find that dates back to the time when your rental was built, or the time it was inspired by if it is a more modern construction. These small touches can add a lot of genuine value to your short-term rental and keep your guests coming back for more.
#5: Take Inspiration From Nature
When it comes to figuring out the color palette for your mountain cabin, one of the best ways to brainstorm is to gaze straight out of the windows and take in your surroundings. Examine what colors dominate your landscape, and gather inspiration straight from nature. If you see a lot of deep green and brown hues, complement and highlight them in your own color scheme. When you allow nature to dictate your rental’s colorscape, you can’t go wrong.
#6: Go Warm With Lighting
One of the easiest mistakes that mountain vacation rental owners make is to go with bright, white bulbs for lamps and overhead lighting. Cabins typically look best when lit with softer, warmer colors rather than harsh, intense white lighting, so lean into this principle. In addition to changing out white bulbs for yellow-toned ones, think about how you can enhance your decor with vintage-looking Edison bulbs. These types of bulbs usually come in a variety of tones, allowing you to replace your lighting with a more suitable tone and add another interesting design element to your mountain cabin at the same time.
#7: Focus on the Views
Our final tip for making your mountain cabin decor shine is to help bring focus to the spectacular views that your rental offers. From gigantic picture windows that open out onto the best panoramas your heart can imagine to windows that just offer a glimpse of the mountain fun available right outside the door, decorate with one focal point in mind: the view. This means always giving your guests the option to let the light in or keep it out with easy-to-use blinds or curtains. You can even go above and beyond and perch a sitting area in a place where it will have the best view, so your guests can enjoy it anytime they wish.
More Decor and Landscaping Tips for Vacation Rentals
Decorating your vacation home can be a challenging endeavor, especially if you’re chasing after a certain style, like going rustic with your mountain cabin’s decor. If you follow the basic tips listed out above, you’ll be well on your way to creating the mountain cabin vacation rental of your dreams.
Hoping to find even more vacation rental decor and landscaping tips and tricks? Have a glance at our guide to upgrading your rental’s style and decor or take a look at our writeup on landscaping your vacation rental like a pro.