Winter is sneaking up on us, and you know what that means: soon, you will be retreating to your cold weather cabin to soak up the best aspects of the season. But, if you are new to cabin life, you might need to make some preparations to ensure that you aren’t disappointed by your wintertime experience in the woods.
Cabins in cold weather can be incredibly cozy — but only if you choose the right cabin upgrades. Here are a few comforts you need in your cabin to ensure your winter retreat is as warm and welcoming as you deserve, before the season hits.
The Fireplace
The hearth should be the heart of your cabin, where everyone congregates to relax and enjoy one another’s company during the long winter nights. Plus, the fireplace often provides a significant amount of indoor warmth. Therefore, your fireplace deserves priority as you prepare your cabin for ultimate coziness. Some considerations you should make include:
Your fireplace should be clean and well-maintained.
Before you light your fireplace for the first time this season, make sure it is safe and in good condition. You need to clean the firebox of excess ashes and soot, check that the damper is free of debris and repair any cracks or other damage you may find. You can hire a professional to check over your hearth and chimney if you can’t do it yourself.
You should have enough fuel ready for your whole cabin stay.
The last thing you want to do every day of your relaxing retreat is chop firewood. You should try to prepare enough firewood to keep your fireplace stocked for most, if not all, of your stay and keep the firewood in an easily accessible location, like a wood box near your hearth or on your deck.
If your fireplace burns gas instead of wood, check your tank. If the gauge is low, you should buy more — or schedule a refill if your tank is large — before you settle into your vacation.
You should dress up your fireplace.
How your cabin looks impacts how your cabin feels. You should put effort into the design and décor around your fireplace to enhance the cozy vibe of this essential space. You should arrange your most comfortable furniture around the fireplace, with plenty of seating to accommodate any guests who will join you on your trip. You should also put time into decorating your mantel, perhaps arranging a sumptuous winter garland or placing framed pictures of family and friends.
Don’t have a fireplace?
You will need to think of other ways to keep your cabin warm during the cold season. You will find space heaters effective, as you can place them almost anywhere to add some much-needed extra warmth. Even if you have a working fireplace, you might consider adding space heaters to bedrooms to ensure you and your guests stay warm and cozy all night long.
The Materials
Perhaps the easiest and most effective way to make your cabin as cozy as possible is to fill your interior spaces with the right kinds of materials. A good suggestion is filling your cabin with natural materials: wood, stone, fur and leather. These materials help connect the space to nature, making it feel grounded. You might consider using unpainted shiplap on the walls, covering the fireplace in Austin limestone and investing in leather (or faux-leather) furniture.
If you can’t renovate to introduce these materials, you can at least paint your cabin in earthy hues. You can also add smaller nature-inspired décor such as antlers, branches or crystals to walls, shelves and side tables.
The Spa
If you are looking for a luxurious cabin upgrade that will keep you entertained all year round, you might consider creating your own personal spa. You might renovate one of your cabin’s existing bathrooms or build an addition to make enough space for you to relax and unwind in the middle of winter. Some essential elements of an at-home spa include:
- A hot tub. There are notable health benefits of using hot tubs during wintertime, whether it is to warm up cold bones or to soothe away seasonal stress.
- A cold plunge. Submerging yourself in ice-cold water is said to have health benefits as well. If your cabin isn’t close to a lake or pond, you might consider installing a cold plunge in your spa.
- Indoor-outdoor living. A door from your spa that leads directly onto your deck or into your yard will help you balance your cold and heat, deepening your body’s relaxation and healing.
- Heated floors. Tile floors can be unpleasant during chilly winter weather. You might consider installing radiant heating underneath your tile — not just in your spa but everywhere in your cabin to keep your feet warm all season.
The last thing you want is to waste a winter weekend at your cabin feeling confined and stressed. With just a few meaningful changes to your cabin, you can create the cozy winter retreat of your dreams.
