If you want a log home whether building it from scratch or converting an existing house into a log home, we have some great ideas. Think about both the exterior and interior areas including a garage, porches, and a deck.

Do your tastes extend to a traditional rustic log home or do you favor a modern style log home? Both are exciting places to live, entertain, or work from a home office. Let’s look at some trends you may want to incorporate into your house.

With our current rate of inflation looming over our heads, look for ways to achieve your home goals at lower costs. Your own creativity is one of your best assets.

Rustic Exterior Log Home Ideas

Many people only think about working with the interior of their homes but there is much you can do to the exterior. You can add more curb appeal and raise the home’s market value with a few simple touches. Some of them you can do yourself to save money.

  • Save a bundle by building with pine wood log siding instead of full logs. Both smooth surfaces and hand-hewn surfaces are available.
  • Add log railings and posts on the porches
  • Go for a color other than common ones to add zest to the exterior’s appearance.
  • Landscape the yard with items that take you back in time.
  • Install a vintage or hand-crafted front door, door frame, and hinges.
  • Add shutters to some of the windows with colors that match or contrast with the siding
  • Use some natural elements like natural stone or an old-fashioned porch

Rustic Interior Ideas

There are differences of opinions about what makes an interior look rustic. Some old and new ideas you can use are based on simple living, dining, and relaxing that include:

  • Knotty pine floors in one or more rooms
  • Log furniture and log stair railings
  • Add affordable antiques all through the house
  • Create an old-fashioned kitchen or bath area
  • Use colorful area and throw rugs both large and small
  • Use natural and organic textiles like canvas, burlap, wood, and linen
  • Display faux animal skins, deer antlers, or old photos

You can create moods by varying the interior colors of walls, ceilings, floors, appliances, and furniture. Choose them to create a relaxing atmosphere throughout the entire house. Check out this amazing log home video with decorating ideas.

“Think about both the exterior and interior areas including a garage, porches, and a deck.”

Modern Exterior Log Home Ideas  

How do most people define a modern log home versus a traditional log home? Here are some super ideas you may want to use to distinguish them:

  • Create an elegant entryway to the front entrance
  • Stain the log siding with a modern color
  • Install a hot tub in the yard
  • Build a patio with a table and chairs
  • Use large bay windows for better views and lighting
  • Add modern-style roofing material and color
  • Landscape with trendy flowers, shrubs, and trees
  • Install an elegant custom-made front door
  • Add color lighting in the yard and to the house

Another idea is staining the door and window trims and log corners a different color than the siding to add character and contrast. You can glean other ideas for your home’s exterior by observing other house styles that are not made of logs.

Modern Interior Ideas

Modern log home interior ideas tend to revolve around appliances, furniture, flooring, colors, decorations, and other furnishings. A very useful idea is experimenting with stains and finishes that bring out the characteristics of the knotty pine wood. These trends may also work for you:

  • Balance rustic elements with contemporary materials and finishes
  • Contrast dark tones on walls and beams with white furniture, textiles, or décor accents
  • Stain ceilings and some walls with a whitewash color stain
  • Choose light-colored window treatments
  • Use a sleek and modern staircase including some metal
  • Try a plastered fireplace instead of heavy stone
  • Update the lighting fixtures in all rooms

You may also want to use stainless or colors for your kitchen appliances. Try plush textiles for bedding and rugs, or add an accent wall.

Convert Your Existing Home To A Log Home

Converting your existing home to a log home is not as difficult as it may sound. This is one of our best ideas for the new year. You can remove the exterior siding and replace it with real wood log siding or cover the existing siding where feasible.

Log siding or knotty pine paneling can be used on the interior walls. The drywall or other wall material can be removed and replaced with log siding or paneling or covered with siding or paneling. Discuss these options with your contractor to make the best decision.

We hope these log home ideas inspire you and enhance your log home living experience.

Resources And References: