How to Get Your Cabin Ready for Winter: A Simple Checklist

The leaves are down, the mornings are crisp and it's officially blanket season. Whether your cabin is a weekend getaway or the place you call home all year, a little prep in the fall makes winter a lot more comfortable. Here's our simple checklist for getting a cabin ready for the cold months.

1. Check the chimney and fireplace

Before your first fire of the season, have the chimney swept and inspected. Look for loose bricks, cracked mortar or a missing chimney cap, and make sure the damper opens and closes smoothly. It's also a good time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and swap in fresh batteries.

2. Seal up drafts

On a windy day, run your hand along doors and windows to feel for cold air. A little weatherstripping or a fresh bead of caulk goes a long way. In log homes, check the chinking between logs too, since gaps can open up over the years as the wood settles.

3. Protect the pipes

Frozen pipes are one of the most expensive winter surprises. If your cabin sits empty for weeks at a time, keep the heat at around 55°F, or shut off the water and drain the lines before a hard freeze. Insulate any pipes that run along outside walls or through crawl spaces.

4. Stock and store the firewood

Stack firewood off the ground and under cover so it stays dry all winter, and keep a few days' worth close to the door for stormy nights. Dry, seasoned wood burns hotter and cleaner than green wood.

5. Clear the roof and gutters

Clean out leaves and pine needles so melting snow has somewhere to go. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams, which push water back under the roof. Trim any branches hanging over the roof while you're at it.

6. Cozy up the inside

Once the cabin is buttoned up, it's time for the fun part. A few simple changes make a cabin feel warmer the moment you walk in:

• Warm up the floors. Wood and stone floors get cold in winter. A thick cabin rug under the couch or beside the bed makes a big difference. (Here's our guide on how to layer rugs in a log cabin.)
• Switch to winter bedding. Trade lightweight sheets for a heavier comforter or quilt. Our rustic cabin bedding collection has plenty of warm, woodsy options.
• Add warm light. Short winter days call for soft, warm lighting. A table lamp in the reading corner or a rustic pendant or chandelier over the table makes long evenings feel inviting.

A soft rug like the Pine Haven Rug takes the chill off wood floors.

Winter bedding like the Cozy Winter Woods Comforter Set makes cold nights something to look forward to.

Make a winter reading nook

Long winter evenings are made for a good book. All you need is a comfy chair near a window, a warm throw, a soft rug underfoot and a lamp with a warm glow. Keep a small basket nearby for books and an extra blanket.

Bonus: easy mulled cider

Warm a half-gallon of apple cider in a pot with two cinnamon sticks, a few whole cloves, a sliced orange and a spoonful of brown sugar. Keep it just below a simmer for about 20 minutes and the whole cabin will smell like the holidays. Ladle into mugs and enjoy by the fire.

Ready for winter

With the cabin sealed up and the cozy touches in place, all that's left is to enjoy the season. If you're looking for a few finishing pieces, browse our rugs, bedding, lighting and log furniture. Stay warm out there!