Written by Wena Roeloffze, Real Estate Consultant and Lifestyle Expert. Owner of Realty Club 74, brokered by Coldwell Banker Realty.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission. When you purchase a product using one of my affiliated links, the company compensates me.

In Wisconsin, the winters can be long and hard, which is why we go absolutely bananas when the weather is hot. And one of the most amazing things to do in summer, is go Up North. No, it’s not a place - it’s more a description of people going camping and having relaxing weekends in a cabin in the woods and/or at a lake. Up North is kind of saying NOT where you are going to so that you cannot be disturbed by other people, while still telling the truth. Definitely a Wisconsin thing….

A lot of my friends and clients long for a cabin they can escape to - a secret hide-away they can unwind at. And they always ask my advice on how to deck it out. Well, I have some ideas to share on a few items that can make it practical and cozy at the same time. You can view (and even purchase) all the items by following the link: https://www.chirpyest.com/s/Wena

Just because you are in the woods, doesn’t mean you have to build a fire for each meal and you are not cooking up a storm! I saw this compact kitchen unit, complete with sink and faucet, small refrigerator and freezer, cooktop and countertop. It might be somewhat of a challenge to get it delivered and installed in the middle of nowhere, but it got me thinking of space planning. Even if this single unit is not a suitable solution, can you see how much is packed into that cube?

Even if you have a normal size fridge, you would need a dedicated beverage cooler to house your favorite drinks and snacks coming from outdoor activities and a free-standing unit is just the answer. You also don’t need a dining room table, but a place where you can sit and enjoy a snack or meal. The counter height dining set with 4 high chairs are easily stored and doesn’t take a lot of space. The kitchen cart on wheels is that perfect little extra space you need to prep for a meal with little to no counterspace. You can easily move it around to be near the stove or use it as a serving station.

Moving on to the bedrooms, what would a cabin be without a daybed and bunkbeds? Daybeds are versatile and can used as a proper bed or extra seating. They come with storage space or drawers, which can hold the linens, blankets and more. It’s not only kids who love bunkbeds - this space-saving design can help you provide some much needed napping time to everyone in the family or friend circle. The accent cabinet from Wayfair is the cutest place for putting your clothes. I love the “barn-door” style on the cabinet! Since you will be packing for activities that might change during the year, you will definitely not need a huge closet. I might be totally wrong, but that’s just me. What makes this awesome is that you can use the drawer as a worktable, have a space for a lamp and hang jackets from the side and make this a practical little space saver for any room.

In any cabin, there will be a small living space where you can hide from the mosquitos, read your favorite book or watch that movie without interruptions. For Up North, you still want cozy yet practical. What’s better than removable slip covers over a couch? Whoever came up with this brilliant idea, needs the Nobel Prize! It’s even better than sliced cheese (or bread for that matter). Even better is that you can switch things up with different color slip covers.

Last, but not least is the Bayside plastic folding chair. I am choosing that because you can store it indoors or in a shed while not at your cabin. There is something to say about a plastic folding chair that looks this good!

I hope these products and goods I am sharing with you gives you great ideas on how to not only decorate your cabin and make it your own cozy retreat, but also make it a practical space. You will want to minimize clutter and make cleaning as easy as pie. Let me know what you think of the suggested items by commenting below. You can also get in touch by filling in the form below.