While a deer mount or two may give just the right amount of the “I’m a sportsman and here are my trophies” vibe, having a large number of a variety of taxidermy just gives creepy vibes! This is your home, not the final resting place for animals.
If you walk inside your home and the first thing you’re greeted by is the cold, blank stare of a stuffed animal, you may want to reconsider your decorating. Again, a little taxidermy is okay—just try not to get too carried away.
Repurposed antlers can be a really cool decoration—in moderation. When you start using them as chandeliers, coat hangers, even toilet paper holders, the antlers become tacky. Remember, they actually come from a living deer—you’re using parts from an animal for decoration!
Having one small item or focal point incorporating antlers can be tasteful, but once you use them it can be hard to draw a line. Soon your living space can look like a deer graveyard or an antler shedding ground! So use caution.
We know, we know, the moose-print bedding is like a cabin staple. It’s still overused! You can ditch the pattern, go with a more neutral tone, and still keep all the cabin vibes! Moose-print is such a cliche pattern at this point.
And since we’re on the topic, moose-print is not the only print to avoid. Bear-print, deer-print, and in some cases pine tree-print is off the table as well. If it’s a hand-me-down, use it sparingly, but, for absolutely no reason should you go buy one brand new.
You know when you’re hiking a trail and you come across a sign that says “Bear Country”? Or maybe one that names all the trails and points in all different directions? Yeah, please leave those on the trails. They don’t belong on your walls.
Some may have clever phrases or witty puns, but don’t let them fool you. These signs posing as wall decor will turn your space tacky before you can say “What happens at the cabin stays at the cabin”. Just admire them from a distance.
We get it, your cabin is in the middle of nature, why not bring some nature inside? We know what you’re saying, but do you really need couches, chairs, and beds made from rough wood? Purposely attempting to make your furniture look like branches is not doing your home any favors.
Chances are, your cabin already has plenty of wood incorporated into the look—you can ditch the tree furniture and opt for a more modern look. If you want to sit amongst the limbs, go outside and climb a tree. Leave the woods outside!
While they may be cute to look at in a store, you really shouldn’t be bringing home animal decor. Especially the slightly cartoonish ones—bears sitting in a boat fishing, holding your toilet paper, wearing a hat, or doing other comedic poses should be left at the store.
Again, we know wildlife is a core theme for cabin life, but this kind of thing is pushing a little too far. Unless you’re a collector of these items, you should not be using them for decoration. They cheapen the look of your home and also make it look less modern.
Cabins are made from exposed logs most of the time. So usually, the walls are going to be a type of wood. Now imagine the floor of a cabin—you’re right, it’s probably a hardwood. Now what about the ceiling? What would give it a real cabin-y feel? Wood!
For the love of all that is tasteful, do not make every bit of your cabin surface wooden. Choosing one of those three features should be okay, but choosing the same type of wood for every floor, wall, and ceiling of your living space is too much. Even if you don’t choose the same type of wood, you now have clashing woods. Keep the wood to a minimum.
Shabby-chic furniture is a great way to bring a cozy feel to a space. However, when all your furniture follows the shabby-chic theme, your home begins to feel more run-down than comfortable. A worn look can be cute, but you need to be careful with what you choose.
A piece, maybe even two, per room is plenty when attempting shabby-chic. It gives “lived-in” vibes while still remaining fashionable. If your home is already filled with shabby-chic items, consider updating a few pieces! You’ll be surprised what a difference it will make.
If you’re the type of cabin owner who enjoys canoeing and fishing, you may be tempted to start using oars as wall decor or boats as bookshelves. DON’T. Using one or two oars probably won’t hurt the looks of your cabin, but an oar and boat theme will.
Seeing this type of decoration reminds us of standing in line for a water ride at a theme park. It’s gimmicky and not meant to be overused in a home. When it comes to using these decorations, you’re going to be up a creek without a paddle.
Very much like the oars and boat counterparts, skis and snowshoes are equipment and should only be used for that purpose. We get it, you have a cabin where it snows a lot and you want your walls to reflect that. There are other ways, trust us.
Like many of the other items on the list, there’s a good chance you can get away with maybe one small area featuring a pair of skis or snowshoes. But we recommend just steering clear of them altogether. There are many more modern items that give the same rustic feel.
Want to make your cabin look more DIY? Add a ton of pinecone crafts! From filling mason jars to wreaths to garlands, there’s no end to the different ways you can incorporate pinecones into your cabin. Why stop there? Add in the whole pine tree look!
The sarcasm is real. The pine theme is so overdone. Just look outside your cabin window to see the pine trees; you don’t have to bring them inside. It’s easy to overdo it with pinecones, especially when they’re so accessible right outside your door. Don’t give in to temptation.
When buying lamps for your cabin, you may let your mind wander to printed shades featuring bears, moose, wolves, or even pine trees. These types of lampshades quickly up the tack-o-meter in the room. Instead, opt for a more neutral shade.
Along with trying to avoid a lampshade mishap, there are numerous lamp bases out there targeting cabin owners. The three black bears posing along the base of a tree add no value to your look. Again, stick with a more modern base to keep your space fresh and tasteful.
An outdoorsy light switch cover can look fun, but when it comes to the overall style of your cabin, it can really bring the value down. It draws the eye to a light switch of all things! When taking in a room, the last place you want to focus on is where you turn the lights on.
A basic cover is the safe route to go. If you still feel like it’s too boring, you can opt for a different neutral shade than the run-of-the-mill white. You will have a personalized cover, but it will be stylish instead of tacky.
A lantern on the mantle can be a nice touch. Lanterns on multiple shelves in multiple rooms throw the whole cabin back to the 1800s. There is no need for a lantern theme. Limit yourself to one lantern and you will be okay.
As long as you stick to one, you can also choose from a variety of lanterns—the old, functional lantern, the modern just-for-looks lantern, or maybe even a kerosene lamp! Just don’t make them the focal point of your cabin. Keep it classy.
You can break him out for special occasions, but for everyday decor, please do not under any circumstances hang a singing largemouth bass on your cabin wall. These reached peak popularity in 2000, and that is where they should stay.
While entertaining, these toys on the wall will make those who live there and guests alike fight over who gets to take a sledgehammer to the jabbering fish. This decoration is the epitome of tackiness and should never come near your cabin.
