How to Make Your Home Look Like a Log Cabin

Cover your home's exterior with real or imitation log siding to set the backdrop for your log cabin look. Acquire a professional to complete this remodeling task if you don't feel comfortable tackling it by yourself.

Accent your log-clad exterior with stone. Incorporate large river rock as a design element to cover up your existing front porch pillars or wrap your exterior fireplace chimney with decorative stone. Use flagstone to build a charming pathway to your front door. Choose economical faux stone over natural rock if your prefer.

Construct a front porch onto the front of your home using wide wooden planks for the floor. Build a rail around the porch to add a cozy country feel. Use actual logs for the handrails supported by hammered wrought-iron spindles to complement the earthy log-cabin style. Top the porch with a metal roof for rustic aesthetic appeal that also provides welcome shade on a sunny day.

Choose a rustic wood front door to visually boost the woodsy cabin appeal. Doors that incorporate carved animal motifs and metal hardware with a weathered finish are especially appropriate for the nature-inspired entrance, as well as adding another layer of rustic flair to your home's exterior.

Install lodge-style lighting fixtures to the front of your home to provide decorative and functional illumination. Hang a pair of burnished bronze sconces beside your front door and light up the pathway to your home's entryway with matching lantern posts. Mission-design light fixtures, which were popular in the 1940s, complement log-cabin style and often include wildlife motifs for added rustic appeal.

Accessorize your front porch to increase the nature-inspired ambiance. Decorate the porch with rustic lodge-style accessories, such as old rowboats, pots of colorful flowers, fishing items, Adirondack chairs, antique carts, weathered winter sports equipment and old benches. The addition of a few cabin-style accessories enhances the rustic exterior of your home.