When someone says luxury cabin, what do you picture in your mind? Vacation homes are popular for those who need to get away, whether you head to Big Bear Lake in California or the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. While cabins are typically remote, they can quickly become your home away from home with a few upgrades.
These seven renovations make your cabin feel luxurious and your trip a true getaway.
Add a Hot Tub
The lap of luxury in your cabin starts with a hot tub. These tubs of hot water are ideal for relaxing, especially during the cold winter months. There are different types of hot tubs, and the kind you get will affect the cost. Some you’ll see may include:
- Portable: Portable hot tubs are among the most common in people’s cabins. You may also know them as prefabricated hot tubs. They have become energy efficient, and you can move them around with the proper equipment.
- Inground: An inground hot tub is a popular choice for those who also have pools at their cabin. Usually, you’ll see the swimming pool and hot tub next to each other. Inground tubs are the best at adding property value, especially when you pair them with landscaping like a gazebo, deck or pathway.
- Inflatable: If you’re looking for an inexpensive upgrade, an inflatable hot tub may be what you’re looking for. These smaller vessels only require space when you’re using them and are much more affordable than the previous two options. You can move it around readily and set it up with standard electrical outlets.
Build an Outdoor Kitchen
Adding an outdoor kitchen is an excellent way to entertain guests in the summer. It’s ideal for warm-weather cookouts and parties. An outdoor cooking area starts with a grill, and you can buy many types. However, most grillers like to use pellet grills because of their versatility. These machines can smoke, bake, grill, roast and braise anything you want to cook at your cabin.
Besides grills, you can also upgrade with a pizza oven and a fire pit. Outdoor kitchens are preferable because they keep the food outside so your cabin’s interior won’t smell like the food you cooked, even if it is delicious. It’ll also keep the heat outside, which will help in the summertime when your air conditioning unit won’t have to run as much. You’ll also save space and allow more room in your indoor kitchen.
Renovate the Indoor Kitchen
It’s worth your time to renovate your indoor kitchen. If you’re looking to renovate but don’t know where to start, this part of your cabin is a great place to start. This room is a common area where you and your guests will spend a lot of time, so personalize it and make it work for you.
A kitchen upgrade is essential if you have a cabin that you rent out to others. When on vacation, your guests who rent short-term want to cook instead of going out to dinner every night. Even minor updates can go a long way, including upgraded lighting, painted cabinets, faucets and cutlery. More significant upgrades like new appliances can save money on utility bills and make your home more appealing to renters and buyers.
Construct an Indoor Bar
Another terrific upgrade for entertaining guests is an indoor bar. This renovation is practical because you can combine it with a kitchen redo. Indoor bars create an intimate and fun atmosphere, even if you’re many miles away from the nearest bar. You’ll always have your favorite drinks on hand, and you can control the atmosphere, whether you want a quiet or upbeat night.
A solid indoor bar starts with the countertops. You’ll want sturdy materials to protect from spills, so look for quartz. Many commercial bars use quartz because it’s highly resistant to scratches, chips and cracks. Another popular choice is granite because it’s visually appealing. Granite countertops are stain-resistant but can be porous. They may require yearly resealing, depending on how often you use them.
Start a Wine Cellar
A wine cellar is an excellent complementary piece to an indoor bar. Special occasions like a cabin retreat call for a special bottle of wine. If you’re lucky enough to get a 1947 Château Cheval Blanc, you’ll want to take care of it to ensure it doesn’t spoil. Though wine is notorious for how it ages, it can still expire if it rests in suboptimal conditions. A wine cellar will keep your bottles cool for years.
Wine enthusiasts use cellars for temperature and humidity regulation. Most bottles need storage at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, the range can be between 45 and 65 degrees as long as the temperature stays constant. Wine cellars also protect bottles from humidity. High moisture can cause molding, whereas low humidity dries out the cork and allows liquid to exit the bottle.
Provide a Game Room
Every night is fit for game night, whether you have 10 adults or 10 kids hanging out at the cabin. Upgrading with a game room is a wonderful way to entertain those who want to let loose and have fun while on vacation. This entertainment room can be a great complement to your bar and create a fun atmosphere for parties.
Game rooms have endless upgrade possibilities. Some family-friendly amenities may include a ping pong or foosball table, which are classics anyone can enjoy. Some games for older children and adults may feature a dart board or a table for card games like blackjack and poker.
Enhance the Wi-Fi
Some people like to disconnect when vacationing to get away from it all. However, one essential feature is a good Wi-Fi setup if you're looking for a home away from home. Suppose you don’t need it for recreational purposes. In that case, Wi-Fi will come in handy in emergencies, whether at home or in the cabin. For entertainment purposes, having Wi-Fi allows guests to watch the big game on TV and access their favorite streaming services.
Wi-Fi is also essential because of the rise in remote work. Many people have chosen to work from home since the pandemic or take work with them to the beach or their cabins. The number of remote workers has risen significantly since 2019. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that nearly 28 million people work primarily from home, tripling the number of teleworkers in 2019. Your guests will appreciate fast internet access when they stay in your cabin.
Making Your Cabin a Luxury Resort
Everybody needs a vacation once in a while. What do you consider your home away from home? For some people, that place is a cabin in the woods or mountains. Yours may be in the Blue Ridge Mountains or sitting by Lake Tahoe. Wherever it is, make it a luxury vacation home with these seven upgrades.
