The Best Interior Paint Colors for Log Cabins

Photo: Madison Inouye / Pexels 
 
 
So many log home owners fall into the trap that a log home has to be all brown, all the time. Not true! Color has the power to affect our moods, our creativity — even our appetites! It can transform a space from cold and sterile to warm and inviting, so why not use it to its fullest potential?  To spark a little log cabin creativity, we've uncovered the basic meanings of your favorite colors and offer a  a few ideas (and examples) as to how you can incorporate them into your log home. (Keep in mind that these are western culture values and are subject to interpretation and even religious differences.)
 

• Black
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red
• Purple
• Pink
• Blue
• Green
• Gray
• Brown
• White

 

Black:

Best used as an accent or on non-permanent surfaces. It is sophisticated, classy, and somber and is the most submissive of any color. Black makes rooms look smaller, and is hard to cover up, so use black carefully- but don’t forget to add a little to each space, somewhere! Black acts like an anchor in the room, creating a sense of gravity and realism. 
 
In the log home pictured above, black cabinets add striking contrast to the pale knotty-pine log walls, while quartz countertops, a soapstone farmhouse sink and stainless steel appliances round out the efficient kitchen’s offerings. Tour this little log cabin here.
 

Yellow:

Photo: Courtesy of Summit Log & Timber Homes / See more here

This color may be energetic and alive, but in fact, yellow causes more eye fatigue and arguments than any other color. In small doses, yellow is a friendly and happy complement to other colors like white and brown. In the home pictured above, one-of-a-kind dividers showcasing sunny yellow aspens flank the entry to the open kitchen and dining area, proving yellow doesn't have to be so jarring.  Tour the whole home here.
 

Orange:

Photo: Courtesy Coventry Log Homes / See more here

Orange exudes vitality, life and cheerfulness. Orange improves appetites without being ravenous. Terra Cotta colored dining rooms helps satisfy full bellies. A great accent to brown, black and shades of white. Word to the wise: take care with this hue. Many log home walls have naturally orange undertones. Your shades could clash or you could suffer from orange overload.
 

Red:

Above, painted drywall above the stairwell leading to the basement lends a pop of color to the compact but texture-rich space, which includes barn-wood sliding doors and hand-scraped maple floors. See more of it here.

Purple:

Pink:

If you think pink and log homes simply don't match, note how seamlessly the mauve-y pink hue blends with the wood details in the room above. The naturally hearty and rustic style of log homes prevents pink from ever coming across as too "frilly." See more of this home here.
 

Blue:

In the room above, shades of blue, when paired with warm, rustic logs, make for a farm-fresh style that's totally classic. Click here for the full tour.
 

Green:

The new "neutral" of the 21st century, green is the most common color found in nature. It is alive and represents health and healing. Lighter shades are timeless, while lime and teal make great trendy accents.
 
Green is one of the best colors to use in a custom wood home because it maintains the natural aesthetic of the home. These homeowners chose light green walls for their entry, creating a soothing and pleasant nature-inspired welcome. See more of this log home here.
 

Gray:

 
Gray is often the forgotten neutral, and if the right shade is chosen, can be cozy or clean and not drab. Gray invites creativity and production in offices and studies, as it is not distracting. Grays can be very stylish and sophisticated, and with a little brown mixed in look great in contemporary timber homes as well as in the silver patina of traditional early American style.
 
In the hybrid log and timber home pictured above, clear-coated white pine logs create an airy and bright backdrop for sleek grey cabinets. Click here to see more of this home.
 

Brown:

Photo: Courtesy Winterwoods Home / See more of this home here.
 
The color of wood, varied shades of brown are the epitome of strength, warmth and security- no wonder the perfect backdrop in a log home! Browns live forever and hide dirt and wear extremely well. Make browns pop with an unexpected bright color punch, add soft color with a pastel, or warm it up with spicy colors like yellow, orange and red.
 
When it comes to wooden homes, brown is an expected element of the home's interior design. These homeowners managed to effectively incorporate the color brown beyond the logs of their home with leather and velvet touches, as well as pops of red. See the full tour of this fire tower-inspired home here.
 

White:

A blank, fresh canvas; feels cool, pure, bright and airy. Clean, but has a tendency to feel sterile and uncomfortable if too stark or lacking layered textures.