7 Cabincore Decor Ideas for a Cozy Interior

We all got familiar with the cottagecore style that enjoyed the spotlight for well over a couple of years. Picturesque images of meadows awash with flowers, freshly baked bread atop gingham tablecloths, and cottage-inspired interiors took over our social media feeds. However, it didn’t take long before a new design style known as cabincore took center stage as a must-have style. Cabincore favored the aesthetic of idyllic woodlands, crackling bonfires, wool blankets, and hot cocoa.

A quick scroll through the endless posts under the cabincore hashtag on TikTok and Instagram will reveal a spectacle of misty mountains and rustic cabins adorned with string lights and wood panels. The style aims to engender a sense of calm and repose away from the bustling city life. Fortunately, you don’t need to own a lodge in the woods to capture the cabincore vibe. A number of design elements allow you to emulate the outdoorsy aesthetic in your home. 

What Is Cabincore?

Cabincore interior design draws inspiration from the great outdoors while creating a cozy living space.

The cabincore style focuses on taking a rustic design and adapting it into something more urbane yet closer to nature. It strays away from lavish design styles like Regencycore, adopting a more laid-back spirit. Cabincore interior design thrives on bringing the outdoor vibes inside and etching them into the elements of maximum comfort. This involves placing emphasis on the areas of the home that allude to the natural world and the lifestyle that comes with it — think panoramic windows, stone fireplaces, and lumberjack-themed patterns.

The Cabincore Lifestyle

Cabincore is more than just an interior design style; it is a way of life that centers itself around the great outdoors. One who adopts this lifestyle may enjoy activities such as trekking, stargazing, and mountain climbing. Reading, roasting marshmallows, and enjoying hot drinks on a cold day are also associated with this way of life. The world of cabincore also refers to a style of clothing designed with comfort and durability in mind — the kind you’d wear while camping or hiking. We’re talking plaid sweaters, quilted jackets, and ranger boots.

Ultimately, the cabincore lifestyle romanticizes the notion of living in a cabin surrounded by a mountainous landscape. It embraces the concept of escaping the hustle and bustle of the city and retreating to remote locations in the woods where the chaos of modern-day can’t follow you.

The cabincore way of life highlights the desire to be closer to nature.

Key Features of the Cabincore Style

The idea of leaving your daily life behind to settle in a secluded cabin in the woods is certainly exciting. However, it is often easier said than done. After all, who’s going to pay the bills and do the taxes? But you can still emulate the quaint way of life in your home by adopting some of the elements that constitute the cabincore aesthetic.

1. Cozy Aesthetics

A display of folded throw blankets can evoke a sense of warmth and comfort.

One major difference between cottagecore and cabincore in their aesthetics is the weather. The cottagecore style alludes to the warm vibes of spring and summer, as well as the activities that pertain to those vibrant seasons — such as having a picnic or growing a herb garden. Cabincore, on the other hand, is mainly associated with fall and winter. In other words, enjoying hot cocoa beside the fireplace while being nose-deep in a good book.

Consider draping a throw blanket over the back of your favorite couch and tie the cozy look together with shag-pile area rugs. You can also keep another quilt or two folded up in a wicker chest for instant warmth. In the bedroom, flannel sheets featuring plaid or wilderness-themed patterns can make it seem like you live in a cabin somewhere in the mountains.

2. Natural Materials and Elements

An extensive use of natural elements is the hallmark of cabincore interior design.

The main source of inspiration for the cabincore trend is the great outdoors. As such, the design style features an abundance of natural elements. Materials such as weathered or unfinished wood, faux hides, leather, as well as natural fibers are great at bringing the outdoor world inside. Try incorporating rustic accessories like potted conifers, and dried floral arrangements, in addition to wall art that portrays forest scenery or woodland animals such as elk or eagles to manifest the calming effect of nature. If possible, you can take it up a notch by creating a wall feature out of stone — such as the wall around a fireplace. 

3. Antique Decor

Decorate your cabincore-style home with a selection of antique finds.

You don’t need to break the bank in order to give your living spaces the cabincore treatment. As a matter of fact, you’ll most likely find all the perfect cabincore decor at your local antique store. Look for novelty items such as hardcover books with ornate spines, tin bowls and cups, vintage earthenware, old-fashioned glassware, rustic mugs for hot beverages, and just about anything that gives out an outdoorsy vibe.

The accessories you curate will essentially reflect your own taste and as such, it’s where you can tailor the cabincore aesthetic to your personal style. Displaying a set of vintage board games, for instance, can allow you to create a trip down memory lane. Or if you’re an avid backpacker, an antique globe can channel the spirit of adventure. Scattering these treasures throughout your living spaces will lend a dash of nostalgia to your cabin-inspired interior design. 

4. Moody Tones and Ambient Lighting

The cabincore style typically favors ambient lighting over ceiling fixtures.

Consider leaning towards a duskier aesthetic to replicate the aura of a remote cabin. Wood paneling or dark paint colors, for example, can maximize coziness in both bedrooms and living rooms. Instead of overhead lighting, try going for moody ambient lighting in the form of wall sconces, vintage lanterns, table lamps, or string lights. At night, you can even turn off the lights completely and let the charming glow of a fire or pillar candles in a decorative lantern take care of the illumination. 

5. Earthy Color Palette

A cabincore color scheme mainly consists of earthy shades of green, orange, red, and yellow.

The cabincore aesthetic best resonates with warm autumn shades and earthy tones inspired by nature. Simply imagine the colors you would normally find when hiking through the woods. These can include burnt orange, moss green, deep red, and amber yellow. For a calming effect, you can also pair your cabincore color palette with neutral shades such as deep gray, creamy white, and musky brown. This can translate into, let’s say, a green throw blanket draped over a dark brown chair. Artisan rugs, antique vases, and patterned upholstery in earthy hues can complete the color scheme. Nature-inspired colors are also ideal for creating a cabin-inspired rustic kitchen. This means choosing earthy colors and finishes for cabinets. 

6. Emphasis on the Fireplace

The fireplace usually serves as the focal point in a cabincore home.

A warm, roaring fire on a cold autumn evening is synonymous with cabincore. That being said, consider turning your fireplace into the room’s focal point as a way of highlighting the cozy atmosphere. For instance, adorn the mantel with dried foliage or decorative earthenware and place a wildlife-themed painting above the firebox. A fireplace installation that features reclaimed wood or rustic stone automatically reinforces the cabnicore aesthetic. And if you don’t have a fireplace, you can recreate the look with a faux mantel made of stone or wood.

7. Warm and Comfy Textiles

Creating the essence of hygge is the epitome of cabincore interior design.

While cottagecore design revolves around creating a light and airy atmosphere, cabincore favors warmth and comfort. Equip your cabincore bedroom with layers of plush blankets and soft bedding. Place wool rugs for underfoot comfort and cover bare wooden chairs and benches with faux pelts. Anything from fuzzy fabrics to chunky throws can add to the cabincore vibes.