Outfitting A Cabin

Living Room

• A cabin conveys a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Furnish your living room accordingly by outfitting the space with comfy sofas that embrace plump seat cushions, cozy armchairs for snuggling, and recliners where you can stretch out and take a quick nap. Durable leather upholstery enhances an upscale rustic look, but expect to pay a hefty price for leather furniture. Cover your seating in hard-wearing microfiber for budget-friendly upholstery that holds up well to both kids and pets. Accent tables provide handy spots to set your drinks and snacks. Select compact nesting tables that stack neatly on top of each other until you need them. These tables are lightweight, portable and convenient, especially suitable for small cabins with limited floor space.

Kitchen and Dining Areas

• Outfit your kitchen with functional furniture pieces, cooking utensils, dishes and pots and pans. If you're residing in your cabin year-round, stock the cabinets with assorted seasonings, canned goods, boxed foods and other packaged edibles, as you would in any primary home. For secondary homes or vacation cabins, wait until each visit to stock the pantry, which ensures you have fresh canned and boxed foods. Furnish your kitchen with an island to make optimal use of the available space. Choose an island to fit the size of the kitchen, as well as your family's needs. Kitchen islands surrounded by bar stools offer an informal spot to chat and dine. Furnish your kitchen or separate dining area with a sturdy wooden table and benches to provide flexible seating that enhances any cabin decor. Add a sideboard or cabinet and hutch to the dining area for storing table linens, dishes, mugs and drinking glasses.

Bedrooms

• Take advantage of cabin bedroom space by outfitting them with built-in bunk beds for children and young adults. Add functional dimension to a built-in bunk by constructing a bookshelf along its side and storage cabinets or drawers underneath. Equip the adult bedrooms with beds that fit the occupants and the room size. Comfortable mattresses are a must for everyone to get a restful night's sleep. A dresser or chest of drawers delivers storage space for socks, underclothing, T-shirts and other small clothing items. Attach a wall shelf on each side of a freestanding bed to function as a space-saving bedside table. Affix a decorative wall sconce above each shelf to radiate task lighting for bedtime reading. Cover each cabin bed with layers of cozy bed linens -- bed pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, coverlets -- to fashion snug sleeping spaces.

Outdoor Living Spaces

• Don't neglect the outdoor living spaces when furnishing your cabin. Screened and covered porches, in addition to exposed decks, require weather-resistant furniture pieces, such as chairs, dining sets, settees and accent tables, to meet your outdoor entertaining, lounging and dining needs. Wrought-iron furniture is sturdy and heavy; it's designed to withstand blowing winds and inclement weather. Adirondack chairs offer casual outdoor seating with unbelievable comfort and a charming ambiance. Add a patio umbrella to your outdoor dining set to protect against the hot sun. Furnish your cabin's outside living spaces with a portable outdoor heater to offer cozy warmth on chilly evenings.