10 Modern Cabin Exteriors to Inspire You

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The word “cabin” is often associated with a small, bare-bones structure in the woods. But cabin living doesn’t have to mean roughing it out in the middle of nowhere. In fact, today’s modern cabin is anything but basic. This home style seamlessly blends contemporary and rustic design elements and often features impressive indoor-outdoor living spaces. Whether you have a cabin or simply want to incorporate some of the style’s rustic charm into your home, the designs in this roundup are sure to inspire you.

Stuck between paint colors or struggling to update your home while staying true to its original architecture? Our team of expert exterior designers is ready to help you visualize your home’s potential. Learn more about our virtual design services.

A rendering of a large modern cabin

#1 // Woodsy Wonderland 

This home’s earth tone color palette — Benjamin Moore’s Mohegan Sage on the siding and Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black on the trim — helps it blend right in with its surroundings. Natural elements like stone, wood columns and beams, and shake siding also add to the woodsy feel of this modern cabin. Large windows and several seating areas on both levels make it easy to enjoy nature’s riches.

A virtual rendering of a one-story home with wood details

#2 // Keep it Au Naturel

This home’s cedar siding was beautiful and in great condition, so our designers opted to keep it natural instead of painting it. They continued the au naturel feel with wood columns, beams, and doors, plus striking stone siding on the lower half of the home.

Blueprints and a virtual rendering of a cabin-style home

#3 // Nature-Inspired New Build

The owners of this new build requested green paint on the siding, so our designers opted for Mohegan Sage by Benjamin Moore. The earthy hue perfectly complements the home’s wood siding and stone elements. This nature-inspired color palette is perfect for a modern cabin in the woods.

A before and after photo of a home in the woods

#4 // Dark and Dramatic Modern Cabin

Dark hues are growing in popularity — you’ll find several in our roundup of on-trend modern exterior house colors — and this design is a great example of how they can add the perfect amount of drama to a home. Our designers suggested new Woodtone siding in Black Canyon and painting the trim in Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black. The updated color palette really modernizes this home and makes it stand out from its surroundings. 

A cabin with a large front porch

#5 // Charming Modern Cabin with Front Porch

What’s a modern cabin without a stunning outdoor space? The front porch area is the focal point of this home and offers plenty of space for the homeowners to enjoy the great outdoors. Large planters on either side of the porch and rustic siding round out the charming cabin design. 

A two-story modern cabin with large screened-in porch

#6 // A Modern Cabin That Stands Out

The owners of this modern lake-house-meets-cabin wanted to ensure their home wouldn’t blend in with all the surrounding trees. To make this home pop, our designers recommended stunning stone siding and lap siding painted with Benjamin Moore’s Deep Creek — one of our favorite green exterior paint colors. The screened-in porch on the upper deck offers plenty of indoor-outdoor living space.

#7 // Next-Level New Build

This home isn’t your average cabin in the woods. Multiple outdoor spaces, wood and stone accents, and a dramatic color palette — this home has all our favorite elements of a modern cabin. Our designers used Benjamin Moore’s Iron Mountain on the siding and Black on the trim to create a moody modern cabin vibe. 

A virtual rendering of a modern cabin

The back side of a modern log cabin style home

#8 // Modern Log Cabin

This homeowner wanted the look of a log cabin without actually using any logs. To achieve it, our designers recommended concrete siding that looks like real wood. The green metal roof adds a pop of color that gives the home an earthy feel. Stone siding helps create a rustic-but-sleek look for this modern cabin. On the back side, a spacious second-story deck provides an outdoor space that’s a mainstay for many modern cabins.

#9 // Luxurious Modern Lodge

The owners of this home wanted a modern, moody lodge-style vibe for their exterior. Our designers delivered by incorporating lots of stone and wood elements, plus updated fixtures and a new garage door, into the design. They also lightened up the entryway and created an outdoor seating area to make the cabin more inviting and boost its curb appeal.

A virtual exterior design rendering of a cabin-style home
The back of a cabin-style home

#10 // Outdoor Entertaining Spaces Galore

This lakefront mountain home feels both modern and rustic. The front of this cabin is cozy and inviting, but the backyard is the star of this design. With a fire pit, expansive deck, and outdoor kitchen area, this backyard is the perfect spot for entertaining. 

A rendering of a home's exterior

The Bottom Line on Modern Cabins

Modern cabin living offers homeowners the best of both worlds. It’s cozy and luxurious at the same time. Plus, outdoor spaces tend to be plentiful and perfect for hosting guests. We hope this roundup of modern cabin exteriors has provided you with plenty of inspiration.

Are you ready to make the modern cabin of your dreams a reality? Get started on your exterior design project today.

Author

Britteny has worked as a professional writer and editor for more than a decade. She launched her career as a features writer in New York City, covering fashion, food & beverage, and hospitality. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including International Business Times, Glam, Thirsty Mag, and Cardinal & Pine and has worked with famous faces such as Kate Upton and Nigel Barker throughout her career. Britteny has been covering the exterior home design industry as a writer for brick&batten for almost two years. Britteny splits her time between New York City, her home state of Michigan, and Caye Caulker, a small island off the coast of Belize in Central America. When she’s not writing or editing, Britteny can be found at the beach or in the kitchen testing out vegan recipes.