Enhancing Lodge Décor Style with Framed Local Landscapes

Have you ever spent time in a mountain cabin or ski lodge? If so, you can picture the scene in your mind. Simple or grand, your surroundings may have included rugged furnishings, thick plaid blankets, wood-paneled or log walls, a stone fireplace crackling with flames, and glorious views of nature just outside the door. Some of us fall so in love with this ambiance that we want to recreate it at home. That's what Lodge Decor is all about.

Log cabins came to North America by way of Swedish settlers in the 1600s. The construction involved no nails and consisted of just one room measuring 10 feet wide by 12 to 20 feet long. There was one window and a loft for sleeping. From the late 1800s through the early 1900s, America's pioneers built similar structures, stacking notched logs cut from timber they chopped down. These log cabins were sturdy and even rainproof. This style gained traction in the early 1900s when America's national parks built grand lodges, treating visitors to unforgettable mountain, geyser, and wildlife vistas.

The earliest Lodge Decor Style fulfilled only the most basic needs — no hot tubs, balconies, or skylights in sight. But today’s version of Lodge Decor welcomes modern luxuries. Depending on your taste, you can embrace Lodge Decor by leaning more into the rustic or contemporary side of the spectrum. And at Bill Gardner Photography, we have the frames for wall artwork to complement this décor. You might consider family portrait work or a local landscape scene.

Lodge Decor conjures specific roughhewn elements, which you can balance with contemporary or refined furniture pieces and wood-framed artwork at your discretion. 

• Wood galore — including massive beams and reclaimed barn wood

• Soaring ceilings

• Natural light via big windows or skylights 

• Textiles and fabrics and local artwork in roughhewn wood frames (both available through Bill Gardner Photography) to soften the space

• Stone or hardwood flooring

• Hides and leather 

• Neutral colors like browns, tans, creams, and whites dancing with blues, greens, reds, and golds

• Gallery wall with vintage maps, prints, or flags, displayed in shiplap-style or distressed barnwood frames. Bill Gardner Photography has a large assortment of wood frames which complement the Lodge Décor perfectly.

• Textures mixed-and-matched for depth

• Pale-colored rugs to lighten up the space

• Mirrors and glass to also lighten up the space 

• Antique furniture to which can be juxtaposed with angular pieces to enhance the modern feel, but with rich fabric or leather upholstery

What can be tricky with Lodge Decor is if you cross the line through naïve imitation, being overly eccentric, gratuitous or of banal taste. Of course, a few themed pieces can add substantial fun to your space. Let's consider options room-by-room. 

If you have wood walls (or actual logs) in your living room, and want to leave them natural, painted interior doors can add a nice touch of brightness and contemporary flair. You can also whitewash the wood to lighten the space, conveying a Scandinavian feel (a nod to those early Swedish settlers). This can apply to any room. If you're lucky enough to have soaring ceilings, hand-hewn beams will emphasize the height. Hides and antlers are totally appropriate with this design style, strongly imparting a cabin-in-the-woods look. A sleek leather, suede, or two-tone sofa can add a contemporary spin, especially if it's low-profile and not overly tufted. Stone or exposed brick fireplaces are quintessentially Lodge Decor. A wooden coffee table fits right in, but to make it less predictable, consider topping it with modern accessories like a sleek black bowl or a polished vase; maybe go with two or three smaller wood tables of various heights; or perhaps choose a contrasting material like metal. Add a soft glow to your Lodge Decor living room with oversized pendant lights. And don’t forget to bring the outdoors into your living room by displaying a local landscape photograph, possibly as a hand-crafted digital painting, in a wood frame to complement your Lodge Décor style. Bill Gardner Photography has a private collection of local landscape photographs available for purchase along with a suitable wood frame to match your style. Call or message us for more information.

You'll achieve a more organic overtone for a Lodge Decor kitchen if you play loose with the space and steer away from symmetry. Painted cabinetry in a deep rust or another earth tone brings warmth to the heart of your home. You could even select cabinetry to energize other less refined elements like a stone floor which tends to give you a timeless look and the durability you need in a kitchen. A reclaimed wooden table — as large as your space allows — begs to be surrounded by family and friends. Hang cast-iron or copper cookware from a wall-mounted pot rack. Showcase stoneware or treasured dishes in a vintage China cabinet. Open shelving above counter space for glass storage jars filled with flour, sugar, and oats. Cover lower open shelves with fabric curtains for softness and an authentic "Little House on the Prairie" look. 

One key to a Lodge Decor bedroom feeling calm and cozy is to avoid pattern overload. For example, you may prefer simple, neutral bedding paired with a thick cream wool rug. The pop of pattern can come from a camp-style blanket draped across the end of the bed. A deep-green velvet headboard can provide a burst of color. Of course, if you want to go all-in with plaid or a modern Aztec pattern, we suggest that you choose one significant element: the bedding or the rug. If wood dressers and nightstands lend to a cohesive appearance, that’s great. But if you feel they add too much wood, then you should consider painting them a light color. The same goes for the walls; painting them a soft shade lets you keep a tranquil feel without being overly woodsy. Metal lamps, sconces, and a chandelier will brighten the space in an understated way. A custom photograph of a floral arrangement, or a composite of several types of flowers, displayed in a Lodge Décor appropriate wood frame, would be the perfect accent piece for your cozy bedroom. Bill Gardner Photography can custom-create a floral photograph arrangement to your specifications provided that such flowering plants are in season. We currently do not have a private collection of floral arrangements from which to choose; all such framed photographs would be custom made just for you. Please call or message us for more information.

For the bathroom, shiplap works well in natural wood, a whitewash stain, or painted a soft earth tone.  You can repurpose weathered furniture into a do-it-yourself wet sink. Just as functional   the modern version, it would contribute beautifully to the Lodge Decor look. Hang a wrought-iron mirror over the sink. Consider a claw-foot tub, either pure white or painted pale green. Vintage brass is an excellent choice for fixtures, pulls, and sconces. Accessorize with dried flowers, plants, wicker baskets, and floral-patterned linens, which add whimsy without going overboard. You might also want to consider fine-art custom floral photographs as described in the bedroom section above, but in a smaller size. Again, please call or message us for more information.

We hope these tips give you the confidence to create your own slice of cozy chic at home. As you plan and shop, you may find yourself siding more toward traditional Lodge Decor than modern — or vice versa. That's perfectly okay! Go with it, knowing the result will be the lodge-inspired home of your dreams.

Please check out our previous blog, “Portraits & Frames & the Cottagecore Decor Style – A Perfect Match!”, for another interior design trend that has historic roots and weaves in elements of nature. 

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