Painted Cabin Ideas: 10 Creative Ways To Spruce Up Your Cabin

Spring cleaning has arrived! While freshening up the insides, vacuuming, and tidying every nook and cranny, it is also time to give your cabin a much-needed facelift. Whether this is your first painted cabin or most recent project, there is plenty of room for fun, creativity, and, as always, your style!

If you’re looking to spruce up the decor in your cabin, check out some of my other articles on some more tips and the best places to buy new decor.

Your Cabin Bedroom: Knowing Your Style and How To Decorate

Without further ado – let’s talk painted cabin ideas!

Outside-In: Exterior Painted Cabin Ideas

1. The Au Naturale Painted Cabin – Stain

Log Cabins – WARNING!

Alert, alert! If you have a log cabin, no matter what you read in the rest of this article, remember: STAIN your exterior, don’t paint. Paint doesn’t allow the wood to breathe while also soaking the wood. That moisture will destroy your beautiful getaway. Whether a professional crew or honey-do project, painting a LOG cabin is an absolute no-go.

On that note…

For any readers with a log cabin, consider the limitless elegance of a natural-looking stain. Try a bright, natural wood enhancing stain for a warm welcome or this mahogany finish for your rustic luxury. I love to pick up swatches at Home Depot to gain inspiration before surfing Amazon for favorably reviewed products.

Stains don’t last as long and require more freshening up, but if you treat your body like a temple, treat your cabin like the Taj Mahal by coating it in a quality product that will make it more and more inviting.

Check out my article on how to stain your log cabin.

2. Go Acrylic

If there was ever a place to read the fine print, it is on any painted can you would buy to make your painted cabin dream a reality. It will pay off to shell out a little more upfront for quality, long-lasting paint for painted cabins. That extra dough now could give you years – that’s right, years – of extra time before the next paint project.

Here’s where the fine print comes in – buy 100% Acrylic Latex like this one. Vinyl acrylic latex is cheaper but doesn’t last as long. Likewise, if it only says “Acrylic Latex” instead of having that 100% distinction, you can be sure that you aren’t getting enough bang for your buck. Check out this charming, lively blue paint job on cedar siding.

3. Trim and Accents Painted Cabin

Whether it is the trim of your door and windows or revitalizing shutters, livening up your cabin’s look with a bold contrast. Don’t have shutters but are you rocking the natural log cabin vibe? Shake it up by installing these durable shutters, which measure up to the real thing, in my opinion. The best part is you are adding to the painted cabin finish while saving yourself extra upkeep in the future. Play with color here.

And speaking of color…

4. Color POP – Be Bold!

My favorite TV theme song lyric is “She’s the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan.” (That’s right. Throwback to “The Nanny.”) That lyric sums up how I feel about cabin exteriors. For log cabins, preserve your elegance, but search for color splashes – like a red metal roof for a painted cabin statement.

Other color pop opportunities for any accent are highly encouraged.

Want more whimsy than a vibrant red, dark green, or classic blue selection? Get as quirky as you like for a quaint cottage feel that gives witchy vibes.

I think I am officially obsessed with yellow as an accent color.

Now, let’s take a look inside for –

Inside Painted Cabin Ideas

5. Stain Strong, Friends

There’s a reason it is classic. Keep your cabin’s beauty, but enhance it. I like to think of the stained-painted cabin look as giving your home a glow-up. Try this walnut stain, or keep it light with this cherry finishing stain. Staining is far away from my preference, especially in shared spaces, but what if you are ready to switch it up?

6. White Bright Painted Cabin

A chic new trend in town may not be for everyone, but there is an undeniable charm in going for a white-painted cabin interior. It adds an understated elegance while flooding your home with irresistible light. Get funky and fresh with no apologies if you are into a boho cabin or rock the she-shed (women warriors – I am WITH you)!

7. Treating Indoor Furniture

Just like you search for trim and accents to punch up on the exterior of your home, don’t forget to look at unexpected places to paint or stain inside! My favorite DIY painted cabin facelift has got to be refinishing pieces of furniture so that you are drawn to them, and they become the stars of every room! Try making over a bookshelf, desk, or even a bar! (And if you don’t have a bar, check out this beauty that you can assemble at home.)

8. Kids’ Rule

We have always treated our cabin as an incredible retreat from reality. That goes for our kids, too. When it comes to cabin living, a painted cabin of elegance for me includes an entirely magical cabin bedroom for my daughters. For a family fun twist, let your kiddos paint their room! After selecting a base layer, create a beautiful tree together, like below. However, if your family is as artistically deficient as mine is, go for the safe bet with this I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-paint woodsy wallpaper.

9. Accent Walls

You know how I love a good accent. Instead of relying on stuff to be your color inspiration, paint your life with the exact shade you need! This year is the year of yellow, and I am all about it! Add that sunny accent wall in your family room, letting its bright light bring out the warmth in pillows and rugs.

10. Fresh Fireplace

Using the fireplace is a daily MUST for us, and yet, we don’t give the fireplace the upkeep love that we totally should. Don’t forget this spring cleaning to give your fireplace a clearing out and a sprucing up!

And, if you are looking to switch it up instead of simple upkeep, don’t forget to use your mantel as an accent opportunity. Get that painted cabin glow by color-popping your mantel. Just like the bright white ceilings can flood your home, add some drama by painting your mantel black.

Spring cleaning isn’t all about the dust bunnies. Remember, cabin queens and kings, that spring cleaning is a fresh start in your safe spot. See you next time!