{"id":19761,"date":"2020-10-27T15:26:24","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T22:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=19761"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T15:15:08","slug":"log-cabin-curb-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/log-cabin-curb-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create Authentic Log Cabin Curb Appeal: Skip the Country Kitsch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Log cabin owners struck the lottery in 2020 when the coronavirus drastically heightened the appeal of remote getaways. A desire for more outdoor space and the urge to get out of the city top the list of this year\u2019s moving motivators<\/a>, our research reveals. Meanwhile, from June 2019 to June 2020, searches for rural properties increased 34%<\/a>. With your name on a log cabin, you have both the perfect escape and a goldmine on your hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to the pandemic, we’ve seen a huge influx of investors who aren\u2019t wanting to invest their money in big cities like Chicago, or New York, or San Francisco right now,\u201d says April Ganser, a real estate agent who\u2019s part of a top-selling team in Knoxville, Tennessee,<\/a> and resident log cabin expert. \u201cInstead, they see the cute log cabin rentals in Tennessee that are making money hand over fist, so they’re investing in our market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking to get more enjoyment out of your log cabin, sell it at a premium while the opportunity lasts, or rent it out to more Airbnbers, take a glance at your cabin\u2019s exterior and how it\u2019s held up in what\u2019s likely a heavily wooded area.<\/p>\n

A little spruce up and staging could be just what your log cabin needs to attract more interest and shine online. To achieve authentic log cabin curb appeal, skip the country kitsch and capture the cabin chic look city slicker buyers are looking for with these five tips.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Peter Thomas \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Stain your logs \u2014\u00a0don\u2019t paint them<\/h2>\n

Repainting your exterior might be the go-to way to spruce up the look of a traditional sided home, but paint is a definite don\u2019t for log cabins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPainting the exterior of a log cabin basically destroys it. Logs are a natural material that needs to be allowed to breathe, and painting traps moisture within the logs. Plus, once you paint the exterior, you can’t ever stain them again. So it\u2019ll never look like a log cabin again,\u201d explains top-selling agent Carl Young<\/a>, who leads the real estate team in Knoxville.<\/p>\n

Proper staining and sealing won\u2019t just improve your log cabin\u2019s curb appeal, the condition of your logs will come up during a home inspection<\/a>, so it\u2019s best to get this done before you list or rent it out.<\/p>\n

Staining a log cabin is costly, so you need to be careful when choosing your stain color. If you dislike the color after it\u2019s done, you\u2019ll have to pay to re-stain the whole cabin. Depending on the stain you choose, refinishing your log cabin exterior will run a minimum of $2,000 for a 2,000 square foot log cabin<\/a> \u2013 that\u2019s on the low end and doesn\u2019t account for adding a sealing coat.<\/p>\n

A quality finish coating to protect the moisture content (which is ideally 12%<\/a>) is a top priority for home inspectors. Testing yours is as simple as spraying your logs with a water hose<\/a> or spray bottle. If the water beads up, your finish coating is intact. If not, you\u2019ll need to re-seal your logs before selling.<\/p>\n

2. Reserve paint for architectural accents<\/h2>\n

While most of your log cabin exterior will have a rustic wood appearance, it shouldn\u2019t be devoid of color. Front doors, shutters, and even the wood frame windows are a great place to add a pop or color. Just don\u2019t get too carried away with your color choices.<\/p>\n

Stick with hues inspired by nature, such as:<\/p>\n